Pancake Bay beach

Celebrate 50 years at Pancake Bay Provincial Park

Today’s post comes us from Julie Dixon and Chris Rutledge at Pancake Bay Provincial Park. 

Picture this: you’re sitting on a beautiful sandy beach, soaking in an awe-inspiring sunset over Caribbean blue waters. Where do you imagine you are?

Perhaps Costa Rica? Mexico?

In fact, you don’t have to travel too far to access views like that — just head north to a little hidden gem called Pancake Bay Provincial Park!

This is an especially exciting year to visit Pancake Bay. We are planning a ton of events to celebrate both our 50th and Ontario Parks 125th anniversary — yup, that’s right, two special occasions all in one fun-packed summer.

Anniversary events

Pancake Bay staff in front of park sign

To mark the occasion(s), Pancake Bay has scheduled a number of fun events, including:

Sandy shoreline on a sunny day with a few people on the sand enjoying the beach.

As well, the park will have new limited edition Ontario Parks merchandise for both anniversaries.

Curious about what Pancake Bay looked like in 1968? Stop by the park office this year and visit our “now and then” wall.

History not really your thing?

Pancake Bay still has a ton to offer, including:

  • a beautiful 3.5 km beach with white sand and Caribbean blue waters
  • 325 great campsites (155 electrical, and some are even able to accommodate larger trailers and RVs)
  • five yurts (each sleep six) with electricity, a mini fridge, and a barbecue
  • a variety of great hiking trails, including the 7 km loop Lookout Trail with a view of where the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, and a 3.5 km nature trail that takes you through views of geomorphologic marvels created over thousands of years by the formation of the Great Lake Superior
  • into fishing? Use us as a base for day trips along Lake Superior
wheelchair with front wheel and buoyancy arms
Did you know Pancake Bay has two new all-terrain wheelchairs to help park visitors access the beach?

Beautiful autumn views

Can’t make it this summer? Pancake Bay also has spectacular views in the fall.

Pancake Bay_Fitz Lookout_fall sunset_Panorama1

And hey: you might as well just take a dip while you’re here in the autumn because chances are the water is around the same temperature as it is in the summer time — refreshing to say the least!

We hope to see you either this summer to join in our anniversary celebrations, or in the fall to bask in the beauty of our autumnal splendour!