Prince Edward Island National Park in Prince Edward Island, Canada - map, photos and visitor information

Prince Edward Island National Park protects several sections of the island's north shore. Cavendish–North Rustico, Brackley–Dalvay and Greenwich each have their own beaches, trails and road approaches. Choose a sector before setting out; bays separate these areas, and a visit across the whole park involves additional driving.

Highlights on PEI's north shore

• Cavendish–North Rustico: sandy beaches, red sandstone scenery and coastal walking or cycling routes.
• Brackley–Dalvay: beach stops, woodland trails and the Gulf Shore Way East.
• Greenwich: dune landscapes and a boardwalk route, with access subject to current construction notices.
• Coastal wildlife: watch birds from established routes and look for signs of red foxes without approaching or feeding them.

Plan around coastal conditions and the season

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Respect surf, cliffs and winter conditions

Rip currents can pull swimmers offshore. Use supervised swimming areas when operating, follow surfguard advice and check daily conditions. Flags are flown during supervised hours only; no flags does not mean safe water. Pool loungers, inner tubes and similar recreational flotation items are banned in beach waters. Read the water safety guidance before a beach outing.

Sandstone cliffs can be undercut and may collapse without warning. At Oceanview, unmown areas beyond signs or fencing are closed. Use the designated lookoff rather than going around barriers. Winter visitors should expect closed washrooms, no warm-up shelters and limited park emergency services.

Use boardwalks and leave dunes undisturbed

Sand dunes are closed to public travel. Cross them only on designated paths and boardwalks. Respect signed nesting closures for piping plovers and bank swallows. Leave shells, rocks, plants and possible artifacts where they are, and never feed or entice wildlife.

Pets are prohibited on all national park beaches April 1–October 15 each year. Where allowed, dogs must remain on a leash no longer than 3 m. The end of the seasonal pet ban does not override construction or habitat closures.

Choose a campground and accommodation type

Cavendish and Stanhope offer tent and RV sites as well as alternatives such as oTENTiks and bunkies. Reserve through Parks Canada's reservation service or call 1-877-737-3783. Review the site services, arrival instructions and cancellation terms on the camping information page before booking.

Campgrounds are seasonal. Do not use an old summer booking page as evidence that an October stay is available. Buy firewood at the campground; bringing firewood from elsewhere, including another place on PEI, is prohibited.

Maps, sectors, and road access

Cavendish is reached using Route 6. Brackley is reached from Charlottetown using Route 15, and Greenwich is approached through St. Peters and Route 313. Select your beach or trailhead rather than navigating to a broad national park search result. The Charlottetown mailing office is not a beach entrance.

Download sector maps from the official maps and guides. The Parks Canada app also offers an offline map. Keep the three sectors separate when planning parking and travel time.

For current access changes, consult the park work notices. Ross Lane visitors are directed toward Stanhope Main Beach while coastal access is unavailable. Cavendish Campground's perimeter road also has resurfacing work from October 14 to approximately December 2026. Stay clear of equipment and follow on-site signs.

Other provincial parks within driving reach

• Cabot Beach Provincial Park: a road option west of the Cavendish sector, at Malpeque on Route 20. Its visitor operation is seasonal, generally June–September.
• Brudenell River Provincial Park: an eastern-island option off Route 3 at 283 Brudenell Island Boulevard. Plan a separate road trip; it is not connected to Greenwich by a park trail.

Walk coastal trails or ride the Gulf Shore Way

In Brackley–Dalvay, Bubbling Springs is a 2.5 km loop and Farmlands is a 2.8 km loop. These provide alternatives to spending the whole visit on the beach. Gulf Shore Way West runs 8.5 km one way; Gulf Shore Way East runs 12.2 km one way. Plan your return transport or the return distance.

Greenwich Dunes is listed as a 4.6 km return route. Check construction access before making it the focus of your day. Trail listings describe normal routes; they do not override work sites or posted closures.

Seasonal services and accessible options

During the operating season, the park provides beach access infrastructure, day-use areas, visitor information and two campgrounds. Off-season visits require more independence: washrooms and warm-up shelters close, and beach accesses are not maintained through winter. Some roads and selected parking areas are cleared, but current construction may change access.

Both campgrounds have designated accessible sites, parking and washrooms. Beach mobility mats and loan equipment operate seasonally. Companion-assisted beach wheelchairs are offered at Cavendish, Stanhope and Brackley; reserve at least two days ahead during their operating period. Contact staff through the accessibility information page to match equipment and routes to your needs.

About Prince Edward Island National Park

Mi'kmaw connections and the national park

The park was established in 1937, within a landscape with a much longer Mi'kmaw history and later Acadian and other settler histories. Coastal archaeology helps document those connections.

The Toquktmekl agreement sets out a co-management framework between Parks Canada and the Mi’kmaq Epekwitnewaq Kapmntemuow. It covers this national park and Parks Canada's historic sites on PEI. The separate Pituamkek National Park Reserve has a different establishment and governance context.

Animals of the dunes, wetlands and forest

Red foxes and snowshoe hares use the park, while beavers and muskrats occupy wetland habitats. Piping plovers nest on beaches and bank swallows use sandstone cliffs. These species need undisturbed habitat, including places that may otherwise look like convenient routes or viewpoints.

Contact Parks Canada on PEI

Call +1 902-672-6350 or email [email protected]. The mailing address is 2 Palmers Lane, Charlottetown, PE C1A 5V8. For accessibility equipment, call +1 902-566-7050. Call 911 for police, fire or ambulance emergencies; Parks Canada dispatch for safety, fire or wildlife incidents is +1 877-852-3100.