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This 25-mile-long sandy peninsula in Lake Erie is a critical refuge and resting point for migrating birds and waterfowl in North America.
Unique to Canada, the delicate nature and varied habitat of the peninsula has earned it recognition as a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Long Point is a sand spit built by sediment carried here by southwesterly winds and shore current. Skirting the sand beach are low ridges and dunes covered by a thick blanket of sedge, grass and trees.
On the other side of the peninsula are marshes and wetlands.
The southern location provides ideal habitat for thousands of migrating and mating waterfowl, shorebirds, spawning fish, reptiles, amphibians and plant species, many of which are threatened or endangered in Canada.
The marshes and wet meadows support native plants such as the grass-of-parnassus, fringed and bottle gentians, ladies-tresses orchids and sneeze weed.
Cottonwoods, red cedar, turkey-foot and prairie grasses grow on the sand dunes and beaches.
A bird checklist, which is available at the park, lists 378 recorded species, of which 160 have nesting records.
Resident amphibians include the rare Fowler's toad, and there are a variety of harmless reptiles such as the eastern hog-nosed and black garter snakes. In early June, up to seven species of turtle can be seen making their annual trek from the marshes to the sand dunes to lay their eggs.
Long Point is popular among bird watchers, anglers, campers and boaters. The park has 253 campsites, 78 with electricity. All campsites are within a five-minute walk of the beach.
Comfort stations provide flush toilets, hot and cold running water, showers and laundry facilities.
Swimmers enjoy 6,600 feet of sandy beach and clean, shallow waters. There is also a children's playground and picnic area.
Access to most of the point is restricted, but you can explore the park on foot or by boat. To protect the environment, you must stay on established paths. Launch your boat or canoe at the park's boat launch and explore the waters of Long Point Bay.
This area offers some of the best bass fishing in Ontario. You can also fish for northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, trout and salmon.
The Long Point Bird Observatory near the park entrance is North America's oldest, privately funded bird observatory. Stop by the Field Station and Visitor Centre to watch banding operations and learn more about the many birds that gather here.
The park is situated on a peninsula in Lake Erie, 28 miles southwest of Simcoe, at the south end of Hwy. 59.
Outdoor Activities |
