Trails

• Features flat terrain, stairs, and a viewing platform
• Search for mammal signs on this walk along the Old Ausable Channel. Since most mammals are nocturnal, the best time to take this walk is in the early morning or evening.

Bittersweet Trail Guide

• Features hilly terrain, stairs, and a pond.
• This trail is located in a floodplain forest dominated by Carolinian plants and animals that are at the northern extent of their range. Stairways, benches, and viewing platforms make nature observing an enjoyable experience.

• Features flat terrain, wheelchair accessible except for extension, a viewing platform, and is open year round.
• Journey through Oak Savanna, one of the rarest North American habitats. A 1 km trail extension offers access to the shore of Lake Huron by walking through Freshwater Coastal Sand Dunes.

Cedar Trail Guide

• Features flat terrain, wheelchair accessible, a viewing platform, and open year round.
• Meandering through the rare Oak Savanna habitat, this trail was the site of a prescribed burn in 1990. This trail features excellent examples of Oak Savanna habitat and the Old Ausable Channel.

Heritage Trail Guide

Features flat terrain and stairs.

This trail leads you along the Old Ausable Channel. Watch for the ragged bark of the Shagbark Hickories and the seedpods of Bladdernut as you examine the rich diversity of plants along this trail. Parts of the trail can be wet and muddy in spring and fall.

• Features hilly terrain, stairs, and a viewing platform
• This challenging trail leads you to the top of Pinery’s oldest and largest dune ridge, affording a view of most of the Park, Lake Huron, and adjacent farmland. The ridge is an old shore of the glacial Lake Nipissing. Observe the dramatic re-growth of plant life that has occurred after the controlled burn of 1993.

Nipissing Trail Guide

• Features flat terrain and stairs
• The dense stand of Red Pines is the result of a catastrophic fire in the late 1800’s. This section of forest is very different from the Oak Savanna found throughout most of the Park.

• Features flat terrain, wheelchair accessible, and viewing platforms
• Changing from dry upland oak and pine forests to the Old Ausable Channel floodplain, this trail is home to a diverse variety of plants and animals. Explore the trail in springtime to see birds and early-blooming wildflowers. Benches and viewing platforms make this trail ideal for nature watching.

• Features viewing platform, hilly terrain, stairs and open year round
• From the viewing platform at the top of the dune, you might see a soaring turkey vulture. Bring your binoculars! This trail was formerly the Lookout Trail.

• Features flat terrain, stairs to the beach, and a viewing platform
• Pinery’s longest trail takes the visitor through some of the Park’s oldest forest growth. This path wanders through a Red Pine and mixed Oak-Pine forest to the shore of Lake Huron.

This 14-kilometre trail follows a wooded path in a loop around half of the park. Savanna Trail is mostly paved, with some gravel sections, and follows the path of the eastern one-way road to several beach areas and walking trails.

From the Park Store, the trail winds north through Oak Savanna. The trail crosses the main road at the traffic circle, follows the Old Ausable Channel, and joins the Day Use road. The right lane of the road is designated one-way for motorized vehicles, and the Savanna Trail uses the left lane for bicycle and foot travel. Please watch out for car traffic using the left side of the road. A section of the Savanna Trail also extends from the Visitor Centre to Dunes campground, connecting park facilities like the Outdoor Amphitheatre, the Park Store, the Visitor Centre, and the ice cream shop without driving.

The development of the trail was a joint partnership between the Friends of Pinery Park and the Park and opened in June 1997. Be sure to check out the rental bicycles available at the bike rental building located next to the park store.

Consider camping or visiting in the winter if you would like a more peaceful experience. When snow conditions allow, you can explore the park on cross-country skis, snow shoes, or ice skates!

Pinery offers walking and snowshoeing trails as well as cross country ski trails for winter visitors. For updates on snow conditions and winter trail maintenance, check the Ontario Parks Snow Report. 

For more winter trail information, click here to view the Pinery Winter Map.