Toronto 
At Sauble Falls, you’re stepping into a place with a cool mix of history and nature. Once a bustling logging hub, it’s now all about relaxing by the river, hiking through red pine forests, and exploring ancient sand dunes. You can camp near the water, paddle the Sauble River, or walk the scenic trails. Just a quick trip takes you to Sauble Beach, perfect for swimming, sunset strolls, and grabbing food on a patio. It’s a spot where you can truly slow down and enjoy.
Today, southern Ontario’s Sauble Falls on the river of the same name offers a beautiful sightseeing opportunity any time of the year. But at the start of the 20th century, Sauble Falls had a much different purpose. Along with the picnic, day use, and Sauble Falls area, the modern Sauble Falls Provincial Park is also a camping and canoeing destination, with the nearby Sauble Beach adding to the Provincial Park’s appeal.
Here are all the ways to make the best of your getaway to Sauble Falls Provincial Park:
A Quick History of Sauble Falls
Before the advent of the Provincial Park boundaries, the office, rentals, or campground, this was an industrial area. Logging was a major driver for the local economy, with local companies using the power of Sauble Falls to power mill turbines, and later, the light and electricity for the area.
First were the mills. The planning, shingle, and grist mill was built over the Sauble River in the late 1800s, with the Hydro Electric Plant to follow in 1905. As these industries grew, the area started to develop homes, a school, a post office, and a general store. This community is now the north end of Sauble Beach on the west side of the Sauble Falls Parkway.
Due to the early-20th-century logging industry of the area, which is no longer, the red pine plantation and forests around Sauble Falls are relatively young forests. The red pine plantation was quite intentional, too. Those red pines help to stabilize the ancient sand dunes over which parts of the park lie.
Sauble Falls & Ancient Sand Dunes
Sauble Falls Provincial Park surrounds the Sauble River on both the north and south sides, as well as to the east where the river bends. Between exploration on the campground roads, the Sauble Trail, and the Falls Viewing Area are a huge variety of landscapes to see, birds to listen or watch for, as well as the unique scenery of the park’s ancient sand dunes.
- Access the 2.5km Sauble Trail loop from the East Campground. Part of the looping trail brings the hike closer to the Sauble Riverbanks, with the rest leading through a thick cover of mixed forest and a Red Pine plantation. The trail will directly cross over the ancient sand dunes
- There is access to the Sauble Falls Viewing Area Trail from both the north and south banks of the Sauble River. Both the north and south side of the trail have amenities like parking, washrooms, and picnic tables. The south side viewing trails are accessible from the West Campground. These areas are connected to one another with a footbridge that crosses over near Sauble Falls. The waterfall is a low-laying and cascading sheet of rocks along the riverbed. The flow of the water is fast and low, with parts of Sauble Falls shallow enough to walk across with the right shoes. The cascading and low rocks create smooth and long step-like structures across the Sauble River.
- During the spring and fall, the Sauble Falls area is a great place to catch the mass movement of rainbow trout and chinook salmon over those smooth rocks as they head upstream to spawn.
Paddling the River
Even with waterfalls on the river, a canoe, kayak, or paddle along the Sauble River is a relatively easy and low-intensity activity. Plus, the park offers a launch area from the north side of the Sauble River where canoes, kayaks, and standup paddleboards are available for rent.
- A popular route that makes for a leisurely 3-4 hours on the river is from the Sauble Falls Provincial Park launch to Country Road 8.
- On the other hand, paddlers will use Sauble Falls Provincial Park and the Sauble River as a take-out point when paddling the smaller Rankin River.
- As with the hiking trails, the paddle route offers excellent chances for seeing the red pine forest, ancient sand dunes, birds and smaller wildlife, and rural Ontario farmland.
Camping near the Falls
Sauble Falls Provincial Park operates two main campgrounds; among those two are a combination of sites with electrical hook-up, and sites without services. These campgrounds are on the south side of the Sauble River, opposite from the Falls viewing area. And given the way the Sauble River bends around the East Campground, there are several opportunities for camping near the river. Both the East and West Campgrounds offer campers the comfort of washrooms, showers, and tap water at the park comfort stations. Kids can also keep busy with access to the Adventure Playground, horseshoe pits, and a basketball court.
A Day at Sauble Beach
With the Lake Huron shores within a 5-minute drive, 10-minute bike ride, or 20-minute walk of Sauble Falls Provincial Park, a beach day is simple! Sauble Beach is a lakeside community on the shores of Huron, which follows the beach north to south (with the Sauble Falls area on the north end of Sauble Beach). All along the community’s Lakeshore Boulevard are access points and paths leading to public beaches, sand, and swimming areas.
- The beach area at the end of Sauble Beach’s Main Street is where you’ll find some of the largest sandy beach areas, picnic tables, and close access to restaurants and shops.
- Lakeshore Boulevard is lined with several waterfront dining options, including many patios that face the beach.
- Sauble Beach is home to a handful of indoor and outdoor family attractions, too, like the Ascent Aerial Park, mini golf courses, or arcades.
More Trails near Sauble Falls
There is much to see and explore along the southwest shores of the Bruce Peninsula from the waterfalls, rivers and riverbanks to the birds, aquatic life, forests and fall colours, to the sunsets over Lake Huron. These nearby trails offer the chance to see all of the above and more.
- Explore more of the nearby Rankin River, the small waterway which eventually ends at the Sauble River. There are two looping hiking trails a short drive north of the Provincial Park at around 4.5km each which offer beautiful scenery and great birding opportunities any time of the year. During the winter, these are popular for snowshoeing.
- The scenic sandy shores of Sauble Beach extend for roughly 15km north to south. And as a west-facing beach, the area has some of Ontario’s most beautiful opportunities for a sunset walk.
- Port Elgin, to the south of the park and Sauble Beach, has several hiking and cycling opportunities close to the waterfront, within town, or in MacGregor Point Provincial Park.
Planning Your Trip: Sauble Falls Provincial Park
What to See and Do: Sauble Falls Provincial Park is in a nice and central spot among some of southwestern Ontario’s best beaches, waterfronts, parks, and attractions. The park is at the base (south) of the Bruce Peninsula and therefore near the shores of Lake Huron. The Sauble Falls waterfall is part of the Sauble River, which starts from Huron nearby; also close to the Provincial Park is the popular summer destination of Sauble Beach. Sauble Falls Provincial Park boundaries cover the north and south riverbanks of the Sauble River to include viewing areas of the falls, trails, and a campground rich with amenities. You can camp near the river, hike scenic forest and sand dune trails, or paddle the Sauble River. Many consider the park an affordable accommodation option for a weekend at Sauble Beach.
Location and how to get there: 1400 Sauble Falls Rd, Wiarton
6km north of Sauble Beach via Highway ON-13
Sauble Falls Provincial Park is located approximately 225 km (3 hr drive) from Toronto, 150 km (2 hr 20 min drive) from Barrie, 215 km (2 hr 50 min) from London, 180 km (2 hr 30 min drive) from the KW Region, 250 km (3 hr 10 min drive) from Hamilton, and 480 km (5 hr 15 min drive) Kingston.
Best time to go: camping and day use areas open April to October
Cost: day use $12.25-$21 per group; camping $50-$60 per night
For day trips, book a vehicle permit in advance.
For more information: Sauble Falls Provincial Park
