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Rondeau Provincial Park has incredible natural features, making it a popular draw for campers and day visitors. The park sits on 11km of Lake Erie shoreline, which is blanketed with old-growth Carolinian forest.
Credit: Ontario Parks
This gives the main beach area of Rondeau Provincial Park a bright array of colours in the summer, from the blue water to the lush forests. The natural environment of Rondeau also makes it a hub for wildlife, most notably migratory birds.
11km of Lake Erie Beach
The Rondeau peninsula borders Lake Erie and the Rondeau Bay. The bay, on the west side of the peninsula, is a marsh home to a diverse bird population. And on the Erie (east) side of Rondeau Provincial Park/peninsula are those 11km of sandy beaches.
- Swimming and beach space is easy to find, with a beach access point along the park’s trails every kilometre and near parking lots.
- The Rondeau Bay side of the park also has smaller and quieter swimming areas.
Fishing on the Bay or Lake
Enjoy a peaceful morning or evening fishing from either the Rondeau Bay, or Lake Erie. Perch could be caught from either body of water, while many other species are also out in the waters.
- In Rondeau Bay, fishers might catch largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie, catfish, or pike.
- Lake Erie offers salmon and walleye.
- Rondeau Provincial Park also offer fishing gear rentals!
Paddling or Powerboating
The Rondeau Provincial Park boat launches are located on the Rondeau Bay side of the peninsula. The Bay is a wonderful place for a paddle in a canoe or kayak, with the wetlands around you offering a ton of wildlife to see and appreciate. The Rondeau Bay paddle may reveal bald eagles, one of six types of turtles, or the spotted gar fish.
- Motorboating and paddling are permitted in both Lake Erie waters and Rondeau Bay waters. Keep in mind that the dock and launch are best suited to boats 19 ft. and shorter.
Lakeside & Forest Trails
The hiking and cycling trails around Rondeau Provincial Park can provide a full day of recreation with routes totalling as many as 15 or more kilometres. All the park’s trails are relatively level and flat, making even the longer trails an easier hike!
- The park’s cycling trails offer nearly 40km of path to explore. On top of the wooded or forest trails, the park’s paved roads are also a great way for cyclists to explore or get around Rondeau Provincial Park.
- The Marsh Trail covers the shoreline along the Rondeau Bay for 7.2km, making it over a 14km return trip.
- Hiking the Erie side of the Rondeau Peninsula can start with the Black Oak and Harrison Trails, which create 9.4km one-way or 18.8km out-and-back. The south end of the Peninsula also offers the South Point Trail, an 8km loop.
- For those visiting with kids, the Spicebush Trail and Tulip Tree Trail wind through an old-growth southern hardwood forest, featuring spring wildflowers and a transition between Carolinian forest and marsh. Ideal for birdwatching, the loop includes boardwalks over wetlands, offering views of diverse wildlife like birds, frogs, and deer.
Fall Colours
As autumn descends, the park emerges as a sanctuary of Carolinian forest, alive with the vibrant golden yellows of Tulip Trees, Shagbark Hickories, and Northern Spicebush.
- The Harrison Trail offers a 16 km journey accessible to walkers, bikers, and mobility aids, winding through diverse habitats like Oak Woodland and Savanna—perfect for wildlife spotting amid the fall colours.
- The Spicebush Trail spans 1.5 km of scenic loop decorated with dense understories and towering deciduous trees adorned in autumn’s best.
Camping at Rondeau
Rondeau Provincial Park boasts over 250 campsites, along with over 150 sites that come with electricity. Plus, 11 lucky RVers will get the luxury of pull-through campsites. The campground sits under the old-growth forest to provide plenty of shade or shelter from rain and wind. Campers get access to amenities like tap water, a park store, the Visitors Centre, and comfort stations. These stations include flush toilets, showers, and laundry facilities.
Park Programs & Events
The guided tours and events hosted by Rondeau Provincial Park and the Friends of Rondeau Organization focus on the natural environment around the park. Learn about many different parts of Rondeau through many different ways over all four seasons.
- Rondeau’s annual Festival of Flight is hosted each May to celebrate the park’s busy spring migration season.
- Join the park guides for Birding Workshops throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
- Throughout the summer, the beach events include mindful mornings for watching the sunrise, Beach Bingo, or guided Canoe Hikes.
- The park offers many other guided hikes throughout all four seasons.
More Attractions Near Rondeau Provincial Park
Only a short drive or bike ride are needed to get out of Rondeau Provincial Park and explore the nearby attractions, trails, or museums.
- Rondeau Joe’s Pub & Eatery is located right outside the park boundaries, with an expansive patio looking out over Rondeau Bay. Blenheim is the closest town to Rondeau Provincial Park to offer more dining options.
- The communities and towns near Rondeau Provincial Park all have their own unique history to explore with places like the Ridgehouse Museum (Ridgetown and open June-August), Blenheim Military Museum & Resource Centre, or the Chatham-Kent Museum (year-round).
- Around the Bay from the Peninsula is the small community of Erieau, along with the local beach and the Rondeau West Front Range Lighthouse.
Planning your Trip – Rondeau Provincial Park
Named after the French “rond d’eau” meaning “round water,” Rondeau Provincial Park covers almost the entire Rondeau Peninsula on an 8 km long crescentic cuspate sandspit extending into Lake Erie.
As Ontario’s second-oldest park (founded in 1894), it’s famous for its Carolinian forest, unique ecosystems, and rare species of trees and plants. A crucial stopover for migrating birds, it hosts over 80% of Ontario’s bird species.
With this, visitors have the option of exploring the marshy and ecologically diverse waters of the Bay, as well as the waters of Lake Erie. The park is a popular spot for camping, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, or winter hikes and snowshoeing. The park is abundant with aquatic life, wildlife, and over 200 bird species throughout the year.
Best time to go: March to December
Cost: Day-use permit ($18 – Daily Vehicle Permit) or camping rates
Location & how to get there: Highway ON-3 runs parallel to the Lake Erie shoreline from Leamington in the west to Fort Erie in the East. Use ON-3 in Eatonville to access ON-15 and Rondeau Provincial Park.
Rondeau Provincial Park is located:
- 288 km from Toronto
- 225 km from Hamilton
- 290 km from Niagara Falls
- 117 km from Windsor
- 110 km from London
- 672 km from Ottawa
For more information:
Friends of Rondeau Provincial Park
