Visitors to Ontario should definitely check out this eastern-central Canadian province for its famous lake-country region, encompassing the Great Lakes, with their stunning blue waters and sandy beaches. During your visit, stay in lovely cottages along Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, or Lake Erie to engage in plentiful water activities and explore the stunning great Canadian outdoors full of majesty and wonder. Enjoy sunbathing along white-sand beaches stretching for miles, hiking to waterfalls, and watching sailboats pass by the row of cotton-candy-pink umbrellas at Toronto’s urban beach. During the summer months, take in live concerts to celebrate Canada Day on July 1, in addition to checking out the following list of the most beautiful beaches in Ontario, Canada.
1. Grand Bend Beach
Spread out your bamboo beach mat on Grand Bend’s main sandy stretch along stunningly clear Lake Huron. The boardwalk offers wheelchair users, beachgoers with strollers, and cyclists a safe, clear path to the waterfront. Dig your feet in the sand and prepare for an exhilarating match of beach volleyball on the court from mid-June to mid-September. For those all-day sunbathers, set up your umbrella and head on over to the Beach House for some refreshments to make your day in the sun perfect.
Grand Bend Beach
Address: Lambton Shores, ON N0M 1T0
Website: Grand Bend Beach
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
2. Agawa Bay
Pitch your tent or park your RV to spend time exploring beautiful Lake Superior’s Agawa Bay. Portage across one of eight canoe routes situated on Sand River to explore stunning river valleys and search out amazing waterfalls. Take time to hike the trails during the fall months to experience the spectacular rainbow of foliage turned into coppers, crimsons, and golds. Make the most of the summer sun and warmer waters by sunbathing on the sand, boating, paddleboarding, and tubing alongside your family.
Agawa Bay
Address: Hwy 17 N, Wawa, ON P0S 1K0
Website: Agawa Bay
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: 6 - 275 USD
3. Sugar Beach
Enjoy sunbathing under the cotton-candy-pink umbrellas on the sugar-soft sand of Toronto’s urban beach. Lie back and watch the boats sail by on Lake Ontario as the sun shines, glistening off its dark blue waters. Beachgoers can enjoy attending live concerts during the summer months, when the water provides the perfect acoustics for concert goers. Indulge in some downtime while the kids play and make sandcastles, or run through the fountains that transform into a rainbow of colours after sunset.
Sugar Beach
Address: Lower Jarvis St & Queens Quay, East Toronto, Ontario M4M 1Y5
Website: Sugar Beach
Opening hours: 24 hours
Price: Free
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4. Wasaga Beach
Pick up some casual cuisine at one of the old-fashioned RVs lining the boardwalk before settling down to enjoy some canoeing or peaceful sitting in your beach chair. Located on Nottawasaga Bay, this spot is the world’s largest freshwater beach, where you can fish or canoe across Nottawasaga River during your visit to Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. Enjoy the many activities, including winemaking, shopping, mini-golf at pirate-themed Skull Island, and skydiving for the truly adventurous. Take time to stroll along the numerous trails, taking in the natural beauty of the area, and maybe encounter some of the shorebirds in their native habitat.
Wasaga Beach
Address: 11 - 22nd St N, Wasaga Beach, Ontario L9Z 2V9
Website: Wasaga Beach
Opening hours: 9am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
5. Cobourg Beach
Stroll along the boardwalk, enjoying an ice cream cone as you pass by incredible sand sculptures created during the summer Sandcastle Festival. Splash about in the waves for fun with the kids and your furry family member before taking a walk to check out the old lighthouse. After spending time paddleboarding along the waterfront, enjoy a beachside picnic while watching the sailboats coast past. Kick back on one of the colourful Adirondack chairs to soak up the summer sun while beholding other beachgoers participate in watersports on Lake Ontario.
Cobourg Beach
Address: 138 Division St, Cobourg, ON K9A 3P3
Website: Cobourg Beach
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
6. Lion's Head Beach
Spend time at this family-friendly beach, sitting back and reading a book while the kids play in the sand and create sandcastles with their colourful pails and shovels. Attend one of the concerts held every Friday evening to enjoy local groups play original music along the waterfront. Paddle along the clear turquoise waters, then hike Bruce Trail to explore nearby sea caves. Take time to dive in the warm, shallow waters to check out shipwrecks hiding below the clear surface at the Freshwater Scuba Diving Capital of the World.
Lion’s Head Beach
Address: 1 Forbes St, Lion’s Head, ON N0H 1W0
Website: Lion’s Head Beach
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
7. Sandbanks Dunes Beach
Pull out a beach chair and place it under a large beach umbrella to shade yourself from the sun while you watch the amazing feats of kite surfers on the windblown waves of Lake Ontario. Stroll along the walking trails to enjoy the wetland habitats teeming with shorebirds in the long grasses and reeds. Enjoy cycling along the pathways to explore nearby wineries and sample some of the best wines produced in the Lake Ontario region. Explore the world’s largest bay-mouth barrier dune formation before walking over to take a dip in the shallow waters.
Sandbanks Dunes Beach
Address: 3004 County Rd 12 RR#1, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
Website: Sandbanks Dunes Beach
Opening hours: 9am - 8pm (daily)
Price: Free
8. Port Stanley Beach
Although the amusement rides, waterslide, and outdoor theatre that earned Port Stanley the nickname of Coney Island of the Great Lakes are long gone, there remains the long stretch of sandy beach lined with beach homes. What could be more Canadian than to share the waters of Lake Eerie with flocks of Canadian geese at a safe distance? Enjoy walking along the wooden planks along the pier to check out the seagulls standing on guard for the historical lighthouse. After spending a day sunbathing and taking a refreshing dip in the lake, stroll over to nearby restaurants for fish and chips and a cold bottle of Molson Canadian sans attack beaver.
Port Stanley Beach
Address: William St, Port Stanley, Ontario N5L 1E2
Website: Port Stanley Beach
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
9. Sauble Beach
After checking into your beach cottage, sit under your cabana to enjoy the view of canoes paddling along the pristine waters of Lake Huron at Sauble Beach. Enjoy the serenity and beauty of the long stretch of sandy beach while the kids enjoy climbing a rock wall or buying ice cream at a nearby stand. Take time to check out the surrounding Sauble Beach and River area to explore magnificent Sauble Falls located amongst the thick pine forest. Between watching paddleboarders cruise by and windsurfers fly overhead, take time to walk along Fen Boardwalk to admire the wildflowers, including lady slippers and gentians.
Sauble Beach
Address: Sauble Beach, Ontario N0H 2G0
Website: Sauble Beach
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
10. Long Point
After taking time traversing the sand dunes, hike down to the beach to soak up the sun on the soft white-sand expanse. Watch as kayaks and canoes paddle through the mass of lily pads scattered throughout Lake Erie’s stunning blue waters. Those visiting this beautiful beachfront should note that Lake Erie has an undertow and that there are no lifeguards on duty. Please either abstain from swimming or do so with caution while keeping your family and friends in the designated area to prevent any tragedies.
Long Point
Address: 350 Erie Blvd, Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0
Website: Long Point
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
Explore the Great White North's beautiful beaches
Whether visitors decide to make a beach day of it by staying in Toronto and exploring lovely Sugar Beach with its illuminated fountains during the evening or drive out of the city towards the lake country, there is no shortage of beautiful beaches to relax on. After experiencing the white-sand beaches and lakeside communities of Port Stanley and Cobourg, amongst others, visitors will definitely want to book some more downtime for a return to the peaceful Great Lakes region. Please don’t be alarmed by the friendliness of your Canadian hosts and remember to respect the wildlife and environment during your visit to these pristine surroundings.
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