Toronto 
The GTA is surrounded by excellent beach destinations in all directions. This includes the north shores of Lake Ontario, dozens of small lake or river beaches, and the larger lakes like Simcoe.
Credit: Ontario Parks
Among some of those beaches closest to the GTA, without being in any metro areas, is the beach at Darlington Provincial Park. The park, outside of Oshawa, offers a close escape from anywhere around metro Toronto or the GTA. Not only this, the park is also a campground, hiking area, and picnic site.
A Quiet North Shore Beach
Many of the beaches around Lake Ontario’s north shores, which are part of the GTA are city- or town-adjacent. Between Burlington and Oshawa are dozens of beaches managed by each municipality. These are great options for those who want a beach experience with restaurants, shops, or other city services. Plus, these local Ontario beaches are summer havens for the locals. But for those looking for a quick escape, the beach of Darlington Provincial Park is one of the closest options to the GTA. Plus, it is the only Provincial Park on the north shore,e located right off the 401 to make it easy to find and just as easy to access.
Once off the 401, visitors to Darlington Provincial Park will quickly forget that the highway, Oshawa, and Bowmanville are minutes away from their hideaway. This Darlington hideaway is open to day use visitors and campers where the hours or days are spent by the beach, on the forested trails, or enjoying the waters with a boat or fishing rod.
Darlington Provincial Park sits between the shores of Lake Ontario and the McLaughlin Wildlife Reserve; this reserve also acts to separate the urban areas of Oshawa from these quieter parklands. With all that natural separation from Oshawa, and even more between Darlington and Bowmanville, this Provincial Park is a perfect home away from home that may also be quite close to home!
Darlington’s Lakeside Trails
As a park with a long border along the shores of Lake Ontario, most of Darlington Provincial Park’s hiking trails offer great lakeside views. These trails are also the best places for birding and wildlife viewing within the park, a spot that is especially busy with birds during the spring and fall migration seasons. Along with wildlife, these parks reveal forest and meadow scenery alongside the lake, and glimpses into local history.
- The Darlington Waterfront Trail is the longest of the four main trails at 2.6 km while it runs parallel to the 401. It is a small section of the 350km multi-use trail which runs between Trenton and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
- Get a quick glimpse into local history on the Burk Trail, central within the park. The 1.25km trail passes through a mature forest, around a pioneer cemetery, and to a lookout over the lake.
- Darlington’s McLaughlin Bay Trail creates a pleasant walk around the Bay and surrounding marshes to offer some excellent birding opportunities. At 1.5 km, the simple trail may take a while still from the birding, photography, and viewing.
- Get a good look at the diversity of plant life and trees around Darlington Provincial Park with the 1km looping Robinson Creek Trail.
Summer Fun on McLaughlin Bay & Lake Ontario
The southern side of the Provincial Park lines Lake Ontario, as well as part of McLaughlin Bay. Both areas offer recreational opportunities both on and off the waters.
- The swimming area and beach are directly on Lake Ontario, while the park’s boat launch brings canoers and kayakers into McLaughlin Bay. Motorized boats are only permitted with a motor under 9.9hp.
- That same area as the boat launch is where some of the park’s best fishing opportunities are also found. Plus, Darlington Provincial Park provides rods and tackle on loan, and a Learn to Fish program during the summer. Some of the bay’s fish include pike, catfish, and bass.
A Picnic or Day Trip to Darlington
Whether as a quick stop off the 401, or for a full day of fun, Darlington Provincial Park makes for a perfect picnic destination. Find picnic sites all across the parking including closer to the highway but sheltered in the forests, near the beach and Lake Ontario shores, or near the boat launch on McLaughlin Bay; each of those three areas has parking, picnic tables, and washrooms.
- On a hot summer day, the beach day use area is ideal with direct access to a swimming area on Lake Ontario. A spring or fall picnic, however, might be better near the boat launch as the wildlife and migratory birds are usually busier and more abundant during these seasons.
- A fall picnic at Darlington Provincial Park creates an especially beautiful setting as the diverse range of trees around the water start to change colours.
- And while Darlington Provincial Park will offer a sense of seclusion, it is still near a great deal of services and amenities between Oshawa and Bowmanville.
Explore the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve
The areas of Darlington Provincial Park that surround the McLaughlin Bay on Lake Ontario are the area’s best places for birding and wildlife viewing. Part of this is because of the natural habitats and ecosystems, of course, but another part of that is thanks to conservation. The area on the Bay directly west of Darlington Provincial Park is the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve where hikers can embrace more of the lakeshore’s diverse flora and fauna.
- In total, the Wildlife Reserve’s 11 trails create 7km of path. The trails wind around McLaughlin Bay, Oshawa Second Marsh, and to a lookout over Lake Ontario. While at the lookout, watch for hawks, and while around the marshes, keep your eyes open for great blue herons or swans.
Camping at Darlington & More Accommodations Nearby
There are three campground loops within Darlington Provincial Park; and central to all three campground loops is a comfort station with laundry, showers, and flush toilets. Relax by the fire, take in evening sunsets over Lake Ontario, explore the campground roads by bike, or explore the trails by foot. As a camper, there is a lot to do in a day at Darlington.
- Camp at Lakeside for the guarantee of electricity, and to be the closest to the beach! The Lakeside campground is also radio-free at all times.
- The Cliffside and Hilltop campgrounds offer a mix of sites without services and those with electricity.
- All of the three loop’s sites are well treed in to offer some privacy between sites, or shade on the warmer summer days.
- Bowmanville, to the east of the park, and Oshawa, to the west of the park, both have dozens of hotels, inns, and motel options for anyone wanting to explore Darlington Provincial Park but doesn’t want to or have the equipment to camp.
Planning Your Trip – Darlington Provincial Park
What: Darlington Provincial Park, also the only Ontario Park with direct access from the 401, sits on the north shore of Lake Ontario to the east of Oshawa and the McLaughlin Wildlife Reserve.
Both the Wildlife Reserve and Darlington Provincial Park serve to protect environmentally important shoreline areas, lake and marsh wildlife, and the diverse range of plants and trees around this part of the lake. The two major sections to the park include the half near Lake Ontario and the beach, and the other half of the park, which surrounds McLaughlin Bay.
The Bay is a separate body of water separated from Lake Ontario by a thin stretch of land. McLaughlin Bay is also surrounded by dense woodlands and marshes to make it a thriving habitat for an array of birds.
100 Adventures in Ontario Provincial Parks
Location and how to get there: 1600 Darlington Park Rd, Bowmanville; use ON-401 in southeast Oshawa to access the Darlington Park Road
Best time to go: day use open year-round; camping open May-October
How much: Camping $23.25-$52.50 per night; day use $18 per day
For more information:
