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Awenda
Provincial Park
Georgian Bay's Hidden Gem
©
Outdoor Adventure Canada 
Awenda Provincial
Park is a beautiful campground located on Ontario's Georgian Bay
near the town of Penetanguishine. Hardwood forests dominate this
area and there is much geological and human history. Native cultures
date back over 11, 000 years. Swimming and hiking are just some
of the activities you will find at Awenda. The park staff also
organizes activities, such as the Spirit Walk and the Owl Prowl,
that make for fun family outings.
Awenda has
333 campsites that are divided into 6 camping areas. Each area
is a series of loops that look a little like a clover leaf. The
campsites are nicely staggered which makes camping a more private.
Approximately one third of the sites have hydro. One thing I noticed
was that there were two picnic tables on every site. This made
keeping camp organized much easier. You may only park one vehicle
on a campsite and additional vehicles must be parked in a lot
within the campground. Bathrooms are clean and modern.
 There
are five beaches including a dog beach. Four of the beaches are
sand and others are cobbled. One beach is well sheltered from
the waves of Georgian Bay by a large ridge of stones and some
giant boulders probably left by the glaciers. Speaking of glaciers,
you will see their mark all over Awenda, from the Kettles Lake
to the Nipissing Bluff. Interestingly enough most of Awenda was
at one time part of the glacial Lake Nipissing. Giant's Tomb Island
can be seen off in the distance. It is said that Giant's Tomb
is the resting place of Kitchikewana.
These are
just a few of the hiking trails in the area...
The Nippising Trail takes you to the top of the Bluff which is
32 meters up by way of a staircase. The top of the Bluff is actually
the ancient shoreline of the glacial lake and offers some great
views of Georgian Bay.
The Wendat
Trail takes you around the Kettles Lake. There are great opportunities
for bird watching on this trail and you may see Great Blue Herons
in the swampier areas. The Wendat Trail visits the remains of
an old farm from the 1930's.
You will also
have great wildlife viewing opportunities on the Beaver Pond Trail.
The Beaver Pond Trail has remnants of logging days and a beaver
pond of course.
The Robataille
Homestead Trail takes you through the delicate dunes area. The
dunes are extremely fragile so you must keep to the trail. From
the trail you will see stone that remains from the foundations.
Poison Ivy
is abundant in Awenda Provincial Park to the point that there
is a live plant in the office so that you can learn identification.
There are also some interesting reptiles, birds and animals in
the park. This area has the second highest count of reptiles and
amphibians in Canada with 33 species. Awenda has a plethora of
plants species numbering around the 645 mark. The hardwood forests
make the park a great place to visit in autumn.
One thing
that struck me was how well the rules are enforced in Awenda.
Park staff is strict about conservation policies that, giving
the fragility of some of this park's features is very necessary.
Awenda Provincial
Park is open year round and although camping is not permitted
in the winter, there are beautiful cross-country ski trails. This
park is a great choice for family camping with activities for
everyone no matter what the season.
More information is
available through the Friends of Awenda Park website at http://www.awendapark.ca
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