When the glaciers receded from what is now southern Ontario, more than 12,700 years ago, they left behind land and water formations much as they are found today. The southern and southwestern shores of what is now Prince Edward County were exposed to the waves driven by prevailing southwesterly winds, creating ideal conditions for the development of baymouth sandbars and dunes.

Two spectacular stretches of sand dunes -- including the West Lake formation, considered the largest freshwater baymouth sand dune system in the world -- make this park unique and memorable. Many of the dunes are between 12 m and 25 m high. The beaches are among the finest in the province, where golden sand and sparkling water make an ideal partnership.

The fauna and flora that thrive in this shifting, arid landscape are remarkably diverse. Some of the more unusual plants found in the park are bluets, hoary puccoon, sea rocket and sand spurge. The open dunes with their juniper heaths, the pine, maple, hemlock and cedar forests, the pannes (a distinctive coastal meadow marsh found in sandy shorelines) and wetlands all offer a wealth of different species.

Sandbanks attracts many birds, especially in the fall. Species recorded here include marsh wren, swamp sparrow, pileated woodpecker, white-throated sparrow and little gull. Small mammals common to the area include varying hares, raccoons, chipmunks, fox and deer. Several species of amphibian and reptile can also be spotted in the park.