Point Pelee National Park in Ontario, Canada - map, photos and visitor information

Point Pelee National Park is a Lake Erie peninsula near Leamington, Ontario. Marsh, forest and shoreline meet at the southernmost tip of mainland Canada. Plan a day around short walks and birding, then choose whether to add the Tip shuttle, a picnic or an overnight stay at Camp Henry.

Highlights at Point Pelee

• Marsh Boardwalk: a 1 km loop through wetland habitat, with views across cattails and open water.
• The Tip: walk to the end of the mainland peninsula while staying on dry land.
• Forest trails: explore Carolinian woodland on routes such as Tilden Woods and the Woodland Nature Trail.
• Migration: birds and monarch butterflies use the park as a stopover. What you see depends on season and conditions.

Prepare for a visit beside Lake Erie

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Stay out of the water at the Tip

Swimming and wading at the Tip are prohibited. Strong currents make even shallow water dangerous. Stay on dry sand or at the forest edge, and keep children close. Do not treat a walk to the Tip as a swimming stop.

Ticks and poison ivy occur in the park. Use designated trails, wear protective clothing and check yourself, children and pets for ticks after outdoor time. Bring food for your visit; the park has light refreshments rather than a place to buy full meals. Mobile reception is unreliable, so download maps and tell someone your plans.

Keep wildlife and wetland habitat undisturbed

Leave plants and natural objects where you find them. Do not feed, pursue or crowd wildlife. Keep pets leashed and attended. Leashed dogs can use trails, the Visitor Centre and the Tip shuttle, but accommodation rules need a separate check.

Only non-motorized watercraft are allowed in the marsh, and recreational marsh fishing is prohibited. E-bikes are not allowed on park trails. Follow the park regulations when planning activities.

Book an oTENTik at Camp Henry

Camp Henry offers year-round oTENTik accommodation: permanent shelters with beds and a raised floor. Reserve through Parks Canada's reservation service or call 1-877-737-3783. Units hold up to six people, with at least one guest aged 19 or older. Minimum stays vary by weekday, weekend and holiday.

The listed nightly rate is CAD 147.50, with park admission charged separately. Check-in starts at 3 p.m.; check-out is 11 a.m. Overnight parking or sleeping in a vehicle at an ordinary day-use area is not allowed.

Confirm the pet policy for your chosen Camp Henry accommodation before booking.

Maps, location, and road access

The park address is 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington, ON N8H 3V4. From the Highway 401 approach, follow the signed route toward Leamington, then Bevel Line and Point Pelee Drive to the entrance. Check local road work and detours before departure. Parks Canada lists no public transit access to the park.

This is the mainland park, not Pelee Island. Use the official park map to locate parking, the Visitor Centre, Marsh Boardwalk and shuttle stops. The Parks Canada app also provides a downloadable offline map.

During the published Tip shuttle season, park at the Visitor Centre for shuttle access; the ride is included in admission. For a winter visit, confirm the vehicle route and parking arrangements before driving toward the Tip. The shuttle is accessible to wheelchair and walker users.

Other parks within driving reach

• Wheatley Provincial Park: the closest of these road options, on Klondyke Road in Wheatley. Ontario Parks places Point Pelee about a 20-minute drive away; allow for traffic and park entry stops.
• Rondeau Provincial Park: a farther Lake Erie option reached by road at Morpeth. Use its entrance at 18050 Rondeau Park Road for a separate visit.

Short walks, birding and marsh outings

The Marsh Boardwalk loop is about 1 km, with a suggested walking time of 45 minutes. Its observation tower is not accessible. Tilden Woods is another 1 km loop, passing swamp forest and savannah. The 2.75 km Woodland Nature Trail gives more time in forest habitat. Narrow, unsurfaced footpaths are different from the wider surfaced trails.

Allow time at the Tip without entering the water. Birdwatchers can explore several habitats rather than staying at one viewpoint. Marsh paddling provides another perspective, but each person needs a life jacket and the required safety equipment. Ask staff about conditions and rental operation before relying on a boat outing.

Parking, washrooms and accessible services

Parking is available at the Visitor Centre, Marsh Boardwalk and beach or picnic areas. Use designated spaces. Washroom availability varies by season; facilities at the Marsh Boardwalk, White Pine, Visitor Centre and Tip are listed for year-round use.

The Visitor Centre, DeLaurier exhibits and Camp Henry have wheelchair access. Free all-terrain wheelchairs are available in limited numbers; reserve through the Visitor Centre at +1 519-322-2365, extension 0. Camp Henry has four designated accessible units. Its comfort stations provide drinking water, showers and flush toilets; the accommodation units do not have running water.

About Point Pelee National Park

A protected peninsula with a longer human history

The park was established in 1918 to protect natural resources and ecological processes in the Carolinian region. Its human history extends well before national park designation. The area lies within the traditional territories of Caldwell First Nation and Walpole Island First Nation.

Migration and marsh life

Point Pelee supports migrating songbirds and monarch butterflies as well as resident species. Six of Ontario's eight native turtle species occur here. Wetland and Carolinian habitats support this variety; staying on routes and watching without disturbance helps protect it.

Contact Point Pelee

For visitor information, call +1 519-322-2365 or email [email protected]. The address is 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington, ON N8H 3V4. Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency. Parks Canada's warden dispatch is +1 877-852-3100 for other incidents.