Discover the best campgrounds near Bayfield, Ontario with hiking

Directly on the shores of Ontario’s Lake Huron, Bayfield is a small beach community with charm, character, and adventures galore. The main settlement boasts historic buildings from the 1800s on Main Street, but the town itself is only the beginning. Area parks like Inverhuron Provincial Park, MacGregor Point Provincial Park, Long Point Provincial Park, and Pinery Provincial Park offer lakeside attractions to explore on foot, by bike, or on the water. Bayfield and the surrounding region also feature a variety of outdoor stays from open-sky campgrounds to private RV sites.

Where to go

Inverhuron Provincial Park

Sandy beaches, rolling dunes, and spectacular Lake Huron sunsets are the main draws to Inverhuron Provincial Park. Choose from three park trails—ranging from easy to moderate difficulty and length—to explore its wetlands and new-growth hardwood forests. Get a view from the water with kayak, canoe, or small boat launches, perfect for some offshore fishing for salmon, trout, and bass. Here, Hipcampers are a short drive from scenic coastal campgrounds and cabin rentals.

MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Spanning more than 1,200 hectares of pristine land, MacGregor Point Provincial Park is one of the Bayfield region’s most important nature reserves. This diverse ecosystem supports all manner of life in its many biomes, including swamps, cattail marshes, bogs, and seven kilometres of lakeside beach. It’s even home to 10 species of rare, carnivorous plants, including the pitcher plant. Among the wildlife, the park offers activities year-round, including hiking and paddling in summer, and snowshoeing, ice skating, and cross-country skiing in winter. A number of yurt rentals are also available nearby.

Long Point Provincial Park

Long Point Provincial Park is one of the top destinations in North America for birdwatchers thanks to large migrations of more than 80 species of birds and waterfowl. Featuring stretches of peaceful marsh to canoe through, sandy beaches to swim off of, and a short network of paths for cyclists to explore the inland forests and bogs, Long Point camping is a must. Pitch a tent at a waterside or forested campsite.

Pinery Provincial Park

Just outside Bayfield, Pinery Provincial Park supports 700 plant species, 300 kinds of birds, and 60 butterfly species—consider it Canada’s wonderland of flora and fauna. The park also contains a rare oak savanna ecosystem, one of the only in Ontario. Here, campers can explore 10 kilometres of lakeside beach, 10 hiking trails, 14 kilometres of cycling paths, plus find opportunities for cross-country skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The park is close to secluded river flat campgrounds and quiet RV sites.

When to go

Bayfield is a year-round attraction, though it’s busiest in summer. Because it’s a lake town, tourists are drawn to the sandy beaches and Main Street from May through September, though large parks nearby can serve as breaks from the crowds. Keep up to date on the quickly changing lake conditions, as winds and currents can pick up unexpectedly. Summer visitors can expect warm days (average July highs of 25.1°C) and clear skies, while winter visitors should prepare for chillier temperatures (average January lows of -8.5°C) and ice or snow on the ground.