Spectacular sand dunes, sun drenched meadows, and a rare oak savanna make Pinery, on the southern shores of Lake Huron, a memorable experience for visitors.

The oak savanna is considered a remnant of a community that once existed along the edge of the grasslands that extended over much of the Great American Plains. In the last two centuries, the millions of acres of savanna that once existed have dwindled to just a few thousand, with one of the largest remaining examples of this community being found in Pinery. Now rarer than the rain forest, the oak savanna ecosystem enriches the dune landscape of this park. Massive oaks preside over a mosaic of prairie grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and sun-drenched meadows.

A nature lover's paradise, with over 700 plant and 300 bird species being recorded for this oak savanna and dune environment, makes Pinery the ideal escape from urban life. Sea rocket and marram grass grow along the dunes and beach helping to hold the sand in place. The blue heart, found in the park's wet meadows, grows nowhere else in Canada. Another rare prairie plant is the dense blazing star. Ontario's only lizard, the five-lined skink lives here, along with other reptiles such as the grey tree frog, red-backed salamander, blue-spotted salamander, and the rare hog-nose snake. The park is also home to some 30 species of mammals and 60 species of butterflies.

A virtual sea of sand, Pinery's dunes are the dominant natural feature. More than 30 metres high near the park entrance, they descend in a wave like fashion to the shore of Lake Huron creating a series of parallel dunes. Pinery's combination of sand dunes and meadowlands is a fragile, fire dependent ecosystem, highly sensitive to use and needing continual careful management and protection.