Sauble Beach is a summer hit with its extensive freshwater shoreline and iconic sandcastle festival.
On the Bruce Peninsula and the shores of Lake Huron sits the 11-km Sauble Beach—one of the longest freshwater beaches in Ontario. Camp here in August to experience the iconic Sandfest, an annual sandcastle contest with live music and a classic car show, or head to Sauble Falls Provincial Park for camping and marine activities. The nearby village of Tobermory offers world-renowned scuba diving, while hikers should hit the Bruce Trail winding up through the Niagara Escarpment. Area camping options include waterfront or forest tent campsites, RV sites, and cabins.
Sauble Falls Provincial Park is a must-see for nonstop waterfall fun—and a short 5-minute drive from Sauble Beach. Canoeing and fishing are main draws, and in spring or fall, Chinook salmon and rainbow trout migrate to their spawning grounds. Hipcampers can access kayak rentals, canoe rentals, and stand-up paddleboard rentals to explore the waterways. Although only open from late April through October, the park’s 154 campsites include tent campsites and RV sites.
Part of two national parks, Tobermory offers even more aquatic excitement. For a day of cliff jumping, cave exploring, and suntanning, head to The Grotto and Halfway Log Dump. Hipcampers will find yurt camping options here as well as rugged backcountry campsites. (The Fathom Five National Marine Park also contains over 20 historic shipwrecks.) Nearby Cyprus Lake is a popular choice for RV camping, but tent campsites with water taps, flush toilets, shower facilities, fire pits, and picnic tables are abundant, too. Camping reservations are required from May through October.
Bruce’s Caves make up a stretch of the Niagara Escarpment carved out by waves 7,000 years ago. Walk the 2.9-kilometre path to view the caves, or go farther on the Bruce Trail, an 840-kilometre route with stunning views of the escarpment and forest. Stop at the picnic shelter for lunch and a bathroom break before heading out into the wilderness—just keep dogs on leash. Snag a day parking pass ahead of time to jump into the fun.
The best time to visit Sauble Beach is from spring through fall (April to October) when fish migrate at Sauble Falls. For water activities, stay during the height of summer—July and August. Crowds will be big, so it’s best to plan ahead with a reservation. Hotspots are less populated after Labour Day in September and before the Victoria Day long weekend in May. Meanwhile, winters bring freezing temperatures and snow.