Walking Trails

Ten walking trails are available for exploring throughout Pinery. Each trail is designed to explore a different aspect of Pinery. Four trails have an accompanying trail guide and three are wheelchair accessible. A trail ready wheelchair, donated by the Friends of Pinery Park, is available to borrow from rentals, free of charge. 

Bittersweet Trail (1.5 km)
Click here to link to Bittersweet Trail Guide
Flat terrain
Stairs
Viewing Platform
Search for mammal signs on this enjoyable 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.

Carolinian Trail (1.8 km)
Hilly terrain
Stairs
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.

Cedar Trail (2.3 km)
Click here to link to Cedar Trail Guide
Flat terrain
All but the extension is wheelchair accessible
Open year round
Viewing Platform
Journey through one of the rarest North American habitats – Oak Savanna. A 1 km trail extension also provides the user with access to the shore of Lake Huron. Excellent example of Oak Savanna habitat.

Heritage Trail (2.5 km)
Click here to link to Heritage Trail Guide
Flat terrain
Wheelchair accessible
Open year round
Viewing Platform
0.6 Km extension
Meandering through the rare Oak Savanna habitat, this trail was the site of a prescribed burn in 1990. The colour trail guide highlights the human history of Pinery.

Hickory Trail (1 km)
Flat terrain
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.

Sassafras Trail (1 km)
Viewing platform
Hilly terrain
Stairs
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 know as Lookout Trail.

Nipissing Trail (2 km)
Click here to link to Nipissing Trail Guide
Hilly terrain
Viewing platform
Stairs
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. Observe the dramatic re-growth of plant life that has occurred after the controlled burn of 1993.

Pine Trail (0.8 km)
Flat terrain
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.

Riverside Trail (1 km)
Flat terrain
Wheelchair accessible
Viewing Platforms
Passing from dry upland oak/pine forests, onto the Old Ausable Channel floodplain, this trail is home to a diverse variety of plants and animals. Benches and viewing platforms make this trail ideal for nature watching.

Wilderness Trail (3 km)
Flat terrain
Stairs to beach
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.

Bike Trail

Savanna Biking Trail (14 km)

This 14-kilometre trail follows a wooded path from the Park Store to the traffic circle. It then takes over the left side of the one-way Day Use Road, along the Old Ausable River Channel, and travels through the wooded landscape to Picnic Area 8 – Please watch out for one way traffic using the right side of the road. The Savanna Trail then continues by turning into the forest once again. This section of the trail follows a wooded path to the Visitor Centre, where it exits the forest and runs along the left shoulder of the road, over the Store Bridge, taking you back to the Park Store.

Cycling has traditionally been a popular activity at the park and our picturesque bicycle trail will allow you to explore Pinery by pedal power. The development of the trail was a joint partnership between the Friends of Pinery and the park. Since its opening in June 1997, the bicycle trail has been used and appreciated by thousands of campers and day users.  Be sure to check out our wide selection of quality rental bicycles available at bike rental building across from the park store.

Cyclists may begin their ride at the Park Store parking lot, the winter activities area, Picnic Area 8, or the Park Administration Buildings. From the Park Store, the trail winds Northward through a beautiful section of Pinery’s Oak Savanna. The trail crosses the main road at the traffic circle, follows the bank of 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 bicycle trail utilizes the left lane for two-way bicycle travel. The paved trail allows the rider to quietly explore Pinery’s natural wonders, ending at Picnic Area 8. The trail extension from Picnic Area 8 back to the start of the trail was completed in the Spring of 2003.

Check the current Pinery Provincial Park Activity Schedule for dates and times of guided bicycle trail tours!

Winter Trails

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