Sandbanks Provincial Provincial Park Review

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Last Updated on April 7, 2024 by Cory Kawa

Blog Cover photo with four pictures showing a campsite, kids playing in the sand, and the dunes.

We’ve been fortunate to visit Sandbanks Provincial Park several times over the years, and we’ve been blessed with fantastic weather, sunny skies, and the joys of family.

This review of Sandbanks Provincial Park will focus on our late September experiences at West Lake Campground, visiting Dunes Beach, exploring Outlet River Campground, and the lovely Town of Picton.

Sandbanks Provincial Park Review

Since purchasing a trailer a couple of years ago, we’ve developed a bit of a routine: an early-season stay at Point Farms, a Canada Day stop by Grundy Lake, exploring a few more parks throughout the summer, and then capping off the year with a late-season stay at Sandbanks.

Sandbanks is located slightly over two hours east of Toronto in Prince Edward County. There’s lots to do close by, including exploring Presqu’ile Point Provincial Park, visits to The Big Apple for their famous Apple Cinnamon Bread, many a winery throughout Prince Edward County, and our favourite… the wonderful Town of Picton for all manner of good eats.

Read on for my review of West Lake Campground and Dunes Beach, a quick introduction to the larger park, a few notes on Presqui’le, and some ideas for places to visit in Picton.

panoramic view of sand dunes with a small lake in the background — Panoramic View of the Dunes and Dunes Beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park

SandBanks Provincial Park Highlights

🌅 – The sandbanks at Dune’s beach are simply amazing.

🏖️ – Outlet Beach is one of the best in Ontario, with clean, clear waters and a shallow beach that goes out forever.

🏕️ – There are some truly epic sites available along the shores of the Outlet River Campground.

🏪 – The store at Outlet Beach offers a few supplies, a basic restaurant, and a cool book about the park’s history, Sandscapes.

🏙️- The beautiful Town of Picton is just a few minutes away, offering fantastic food, farmers markets, ice cream, and plenty of cool events at Base31.

🥾 – Decent hiking and biking trails, including the rustic Cedar Sands trail.

🌅 – The sandbanks at Dune’s beach – it’s worth repeating.

a silver camper parked on the sand with the beach in the background — Outlet River Campground Hosts the Best Site I’ve Ever Seen

Sandbanks Provincial Park: Dunes Beach Review

The sandbanks at Dune’s beach make the trip.

With sand dunes that stretch for miles, it’s a true playground suitable for young and old, combined with a short but spectacular hike along the Dunes Trail.

Having come late in September both times, I can’t comment on the water at Dune’s Beach beyond noticing it was cold and pretty weedy.

looking down the downs towards the water at sandbanks provinical park — Looking out at West Lake from the Top of Dunes Beach

a girl going head over heals rolling down the dunes at sandbanks provincial park — Spending Our Days Rolling Down Sand Dunes

two little girls climbing the sand dunes at sandbanks provincial park — What Climbs Up Gets to Roll Down

three kids wathcing another roll down the dunes at sandbanks provincial park — Rolling, Rolling, Rolling at Sand Banks Provincial Park

Park Ameneties and West Lake Campground Review

I first came to Sandbanks about six or seven years ago, staying at Outlet River Campground. With a Dunes beach-type feel, the sites close to shore were truly an epic experience. Unfortunately, they are hard to get and aren’t electric.

These last two years, we’ve come later in September and ended up at the somewhat easier-to-book, much more open West Lake Campground.

West Lake Campground Offers:

🚻 – A clean and modern comfort station.

🐶 – In 2023, West Lake turned into a pet-friendly campground.

🐺 – Not much wildlife beyond a few coyotes howling at night.

🌅 – Easy access to Dunes Beach.

🛝 – A simple playground at Dunes Beach.

🚵 – The Lake View and Woodlands trail connecting West Lake to Lakeshore Beach and the Woodlands Campground.