9 Must-Visit P.E.I. Provincial Parks
Do yourself a favour and get out into nature.
If you’re like me you like to be prepared with some kind of imaginative plan for adapting to colder months. One of my fool proof methods for maintaining a positive attitude while winter approaches is simply to stare the problem right in the face by connecting with nature as much as possible. By doing so, I can embrace the change and flow with it which works a whole lot better than staying inside and hating the oncoming cold weather.
Here’s a simplified list of PEI provincial parks we encourage you to visit this fall. These parks are free to enter and are for day use.
1 — Argyle Shore
📍 35 Lucys Rd, Bonshaw
Open from mid-June to mid-September… This doesn’t necessarily mean that the park is closed after mid-September. It could just mean that the park will not receive any maintenance from government employees until it opens again next year. If the park does stay open, be extra mindful and careful when you visit!
- Unsupervised
- Playground
- Picnic facilities
- Showers & toilets
- Leashed pets permitted
2 — Basin Head
📍 318 Basin Head Rd, Souris
While growing up in PEI, the Basin Head bridge was extremely popular for bridge jumping, a kind of underground islander activity. But, as of July 22nd 2020, all jumping and diving has become prohibited due to shallow waters.
- Supervised
- White sand beach
- Play area
- Food on site
- Washroom & shower facilities
- Wheelchair beach mat path & floating wheelchair available
- Basin Head Fisheries Museum
3 — Belmont
📍 349 Belmont Park Rd, Miscouche
My family and I took our best/most recent family photo here! The water was full of seaweed, rocks and jelly fish making it un-swimmable but the beach was sandy and perfect for a few games of catch!
- Open: mid-June to mid-September
- Unsupervised
- Playground
- Fireplaces
- Picnic facilities
- Toilets
- Leashed pets permitted
4 — Bonshaw
📍 29 Green Rd, Bonshaw
This park is one half of a whole, the other half being Strathgartney. It features an amazing ‘one-size-fits-all’ walking/hiking trail, meaning anyone can do it and have fun at the same time. The trail ends at a field where you can give a shout of joy to commemorate your experience.
- Map
- 18km of hiking & mountain biking trails
- Picnic facilities
- Playground
- Leashed pets permitted
5 — Green Park
📍 364 Green Park Rd, Tyne Valley
This is a personal favourite of mine because it’s literally the first park I remember visiting, ever. I remember spending most of my time there on the jungle gym and eating hot dogs at my family’s campsite.
- Open: mid-June to mid-September
- Playground
- Frisbee golf
- Nature trails
- River beach
6 — Kings Castle
📍 1887 Gladstone Rd, Murray Harbour
Three kilometres east of Murray River is this magical family friendly park. It’s the only park in PEI to have life sized statues of fictional storybook characters!
- Open: mid-June to mid-September
- Storybook character statues
- Playground
- Riverfront beach
- Change rooms
- Two-sided kitchen shelter
- Leashed pets permitted
7 — Pinette Park
📍 3829 Trans-Canada Hwy, Belfast
14.3 km (13 min drive) east of the Point Prim Lighthouse. You could make a nice day trip out of visiting these two locations, finishing the day with seafood at the Point Prim Chowderhouse.
- Open: mid-June to mid-September
- Picnic facilities
- Toilets
- Playground
- Fishing
- Riverside beach
- Leashed pets permitted
8 — Strathgartney
📍 Bonshaw
My absolutely favourite thing about this place is that it has 5.8 km of curvy, hilly trails. One time, to subdue a negative mental state, I took a trip out there to jog off the stress and found myself completely thrilled at how much fun it was to speed along the trail. Make sure you don’t jog too fast because you could trip and hurt yourself.
- Open: mid-June to mid-September
- Self-guided nature trails
- Playground
- Kitchen shelters
- Washroom facilities
9 — Union Corner
📍 PE-11, Wellington
Similar to Green Park, Union Corner is one of the first parks I can remember. While my dad tended to the family business, my mom would take my siblings and me out here for something enjoyable to do. It’s very heart warming to see this beach/park operating still to this day.
- Open: mid-June to mid-September
- Playground
- Beach
- Change rooms
- Fireplaces
- Leashed pets permitted
