First and foremost, don’t head to Sandbanks hoping to get in without first purchasing a day pass. We made that mistake and turned around because the park was full as the number of parking spaces is limited. Once the park has reached its full capacity, it closes until more spaces become available. In addition, it is top-rated in the summer, especially on weekends and during the long holidays of Midsummer’s Day or Canada Day.
To purchase a Day Pass, you can buy it online by visiting the Ontarioparks.com website or phone at 1-888-668-7275.
Once the famous Pass is in hand, all you have to do is choose your beach:
– Lakeshore Beach
– Sandbanks Dunes Beach
– Outlet Beach
We set our sights on two of the three beaches, first Sandbanks Dunes Beach and then Lakeshore Beach. In both cases, Mother Nature amazed us.
It is possible to swim in West Lake on the dune side, which is warmer (because it is a closed lake) and home to more algae. This beach is also protected from the wind.
Lakeshore Beachside, you can swim in crystal clear water, but much colder (especially in June when we went). The beach is almost 7 km long, making it the perfect place for walkers.
Note: there are several hiking trails to walk between Lakeshore Beach and Sandbanks Dunes Beach. All of these trails are considered easy. You can find them at Ontarioparks.com.