Going to the beach is an enjoyable activity for a beautiful summer’s day, and it can be made even better with your dog! If you live in Ontario or are planning a vacation there, here’s a list of beaches that not only allow dogs but also have dog-dedicated areas. They are scattered across this large province, from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Many of these beaches are in provincial parks, so you can also enjoy a good hike through nature during your day at the beach with your best friend.
The Top 14 Dog-Friendly Beaches in Ontario, Canada Dog-Friendly Beaches by Lake Erie
- Long Point Provincial Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍350 Erie Blvd, Rowan, ON N0E 1M0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in designated dog beaches
There are two designated off-leash dog beaches
One of the biggest waterfowl and bird migration areas in North America
Over 1.5 km of beach
Great spot for hiking and bird watching
Plenty of picnic tables and parking
- Port Burwell
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🗺️ Address: 📍Port Burwell, ON N0J 1T0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in a designated area for dogs
Designated off-leash dog beach on the east side of the main beach
Additional on-leash pet exercise area
Has plenty of space and offers group camping and a play area for children
5 km of sandy beach
Great spot for birders, particularly during migration
- Rock Point Provincial Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍Haldimand, ON N0A 1K0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in a designated beach area
The western side of the beach is a designated dog area
The beach is 1 km long
Hiking trail is about 2 km
Limestone shelf along the beach has 350-million-year-old fossils in a coral reef
Monarch butterfly migration can be observed in the fall
- Selkirk Provincial Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍151 Wheeler’s Sideroad, Selkirk, ON N0A 1P0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in a designated area
There is a dog beach and pet exercise areas
Walking trail, including a boardwalk across a marsh wetland
Quiet campground with grassy campsites
Large picnic area
Shallow water by the shore makes for a safe swim for your dog
- Turkey Point Provincial Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍194 Turkey Point Rd, Turkey Point, ON N0E 1T0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Only in the water
Large sandy beach for dogs, but they need to be on a leash when out of the water
Three hiking trails
Treed campsites that include group camping
Beach has buoys and is shallow, so it’s great for kids
Plenty of activities, such as fishing and kiteboarding
Dog-Friendly Beaches by Lake Ontario 6. Cherry/Clarke Beach Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍1 Cherry St., Toronto, ON M5A 0B7
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in designated areas
Access to a large off-leash area all year
Plenty of available parking and accessible by TTC bus throughout the summer
Achieves Blue Flag Beach certification frequently (high standards in water quality)
Seven bike trails to try out
Popular with kite surfers
- Kew-Balmy Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍Toronto, ON M4L 1B8
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in designated areas
Off-leash area on the beach
Large off-leash area from Silver Birch Ave. to Nursewood Rd.
Frequently receives the Blue Flag Beach certification
Facilities include bike trails, fitness equipment, and bowling greens
Unleashed dogs allowed outside of designated area from Nov. 1 to Mar. 31
Dog-Friendly Beaches by Lake Huron 8. Inverhuron Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍Bruce County Rd 15, Kincardine, ON N0G 2T0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in designated areas
Features a dog beach and pet exercise area
Known for beautiful sunsets and sand dunes
Hardwood forest and wetland make for stunning hiking
Wide variety of rare plants and wildlife
Quieter beach than some others and kept clean
- Pinery Dog Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍26 Sideroad, Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0
🕐 Open Times: All year
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: No
10 km of sandy beach
Two dog beaches, but dogs must remain leashed
Sunsets here have been rated among the best in the world
14-km bike trail, 10 walking trails, and 38-km ski trails
Popular spot, which means it’s busy
- Point Farm Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍Goderich, ON N7A 3X9
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: No
One dog beach but dogs must remain leashed
Family friendly with playgrounds, playing fields, and 6 km of hiking trails
Park is on a bluff and features beautiful scenery and sunsets
Camping with tents, RVs, and trailers
Nearby town of Goderich is considered the prettiest town in Canada
Dog-Friendly Beaches by Georgian Bay 11. Craigleith Provincial Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍The Blue Mountains, ON L9Y 0T6
🕐 Open Times: April to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: No
Features two dog beaches
Flat shale forms the shoreline, which contains 450-million-year-old fossils
Camping with tents and RVs
Not a sandy beach
Small park, so tents might be fairly close together
- Killbear Provincial Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍35 Eddie Ramsay Parkway, Nobel ON P0G 1G0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in a designated area
Has two dog beaches and two pet exercise areas
Some areas are off leash, but most require your dog to be leashed
Iconic views of windswept pine trees
6-km trail for hiking and biking
Combination of rocky and sandy shores
- Penetanguishene Rotary Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍Penetanguishene, ON L9M 1N1
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in a designated dog park
Small park and sandy beach found downtown in the town of Penetanguishene
Dog park and swimming area are off-leash
Great spot for the family with a splash pad and skate park
Features a trail through an art and flower garden
Plenty of parking and picnic tables
- Wasaga Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍11 22nd St N, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 2V9
🕐 Open Times: April to October, December to March
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: No
One section of the beach is for leashed dogs
14-km beach is the world’s longest freshwater beach
Famous for incredible sunsets
The park has 6.8 hectares, with nesting shorebirds and wildlife
Popular and busy beach
Conclusion Before you leap into your car with your dog by your side, double-check what the rules at your destination are concerning dogs. Rules sometimes change, and what was an off-leash beach yesterday could be a leash-only beach today. It’s important to keep your dog in the dog areas and follow the rules. If you’re caught by a park warden breaking any rules, you’ll probably get hit with a big fine. It’s always best to be safe than sorry. But as long as you treat the parks and beaches with a healthy dose of respect, you can enjoy your outing with your best friend. It’s bound to be spectacular at any one of these beaches!
Featured Image Credit: ART SUBLIMINA PHOTOGRAPHY, Shutterstock
Going to the beach is an enjoyable activity for a beautiful summer’s day, and it can be made even better with your dog! If you live in Ontario or are planning a vacation there, here’s a list of beaches that not only allow dogs but also have dog-dedicated areas. They are scattered across this large province, from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Many of these beaches are in provincial parks, so you can also enjoy a good hike through nature during your day at the beach with your best friend.
The Top 14 Dog-Friendly Beaches in Ontario, Canada
Dog-Friendly Beaches by Lake Erie
1. Long Point Provincial Park
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Riley + Leanna (@riley.goldenpyr)
🗺️ Address: 📍350 Erie Blvd, Rowan, ON N0E 1M0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in designated dog beaches
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A post shared by Riley + Leanna (@riley.goldenpyr)
A post shared by Riley + Leanna (@riley.goldenpyr)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
- There are two designated off-leash dog beaches
- One of the biggest waterfowl and bird migration areas in North America
- Over 1.5 km of beach
- Great spot for hiking and bird watching
- Plenty of picnic tables and parking
2. Port Burwell
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🗺️ Address: 📍Port Burwell, ON N0J 1T0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in a designated area for dogs
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by A boy & his dog (@fetchingcolt)
A post shared by A boy & his dog (@fetchingcolt)
- Designated off-leash dog beach on the east side of the main beach
- Additional on-leash pet exercise area
- Has plenty of space and offers group camping and a play area for children
- 5 km of sandy beach
- Great spot for birders, particularly during migration
3. Rock Point Provincial Park
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A post shared by Izzy 🐶 (@lyfwithizzy)
🗺️ Address: 📍Haldimand, ON N0A 1K0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in a designated beach area
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Izzy 🐶 (@lyfwithizzy)
A post shared by Izzy 🐶 (@lyfwithizzy)
- The western side of the beach is a designated dog area
- The beach is 1 km long
- Hiking trail is about 2 km
- Limestone shelf along the beach has 350-million-year-old fossils in a coral reef
- Monarch butterfly migration can be observed in the fall
4. Selkirk Provincial Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍151 Wheeler’s Sideroad, Selkirk, ON N0A 1P0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in a designated area
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Cujo+Base (@cujo_base_thedoodles)
A post shared by Cujo+Base (@cujo_base_thedoodles)
- There is a dog beach and pet exercise areas
- Walking trail, including a boardwalk across a marsh wetland
- Quiet campground with grassy campsites
- Large picnic area
- Shallow water by the shore makes for a safe swim for your dog
5. Turkey Point Provincial Park
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A post shared by 𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐋 & 𝐒𝐀𝐉𝐄 (@_spicegirlzz)
🗺️ Address: 📍194 Turkey Point Rd, Turkey Point, ON N0E 1T0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Only in the water
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A post shared by 𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐋 & 𝐒𝐀𝐉𝐄 (@_spicegirlzz)
- Large sandy beach for dogs, but they need to be on a leash when out of the water
- Three hiking trails
- Treed campsites that include group camping
- Beach has buoys and is shallow, so it’s great for kids
- Plenty of activities, such as fishing and kiteboarding
Dog-Friendly Beaches by Lake Ontario
6. Cherry/Clarke Beach Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍1 Cherry St., Toronto, ON M5A 0B7
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in designated areas
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A post shared by Aulie (@aulietheaussie)
A post shared by Aulie (@aulietheaussie)
- Access to a large off-leash area all year
- Plenty of available parking and accessible by TTC bus throughout the summer
- Achieves Blue Flag Beach certification frequently (high standards in water quality)
- Seven bike trails to try out
- Popular with kite surfers
7. Kew-Balmy Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍Toronto, ON M4L 1B8
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in designated areas
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A post shared by M U R P H Y (@murphaloops)
A post shared by M U R P H Y (@murphaloops)
- Off-leash area on the beach
- Large off-leash area from Silver Birch Ave. to Nursewood Rd.
- Frequently receives the Blue Flag Beach certification
- Facilities include bike trails, fitness equipment, and bowling greens
- Unleashed dogs allowed outside of designated area from Nov. 1 to Mar. 31
Dog-Friendly Beaches by Lake Huron
8. Inverhuron Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍Bruce County Rd 15, Kincardine, ON N0G 2T0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in designated areas
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A post shared by Bodhi (@my.bodhi.bear)
A post shared by Bodhi (@my.bodhi.bear)
- Features a dog beach and pet exercise area
- Known for beautiful sunsets and sand dunes
- Hardwood forest and wetland make for stunning hiking
- Wide variety of rare plants and wildlife
- Quieter beach than some others and kept clean
9. Pinery Dog Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍26 Sideroad, Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0
🕐 Open Times: All year
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: No
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A post shared by Peanut Butter Box (@aussienamedpeanut)
A post shared by Peanut Butter Box (@aussienamedpeanut)
- 10 km of sandy beach
- Two dog beaches, but dogs must remain leashed
- Sunsets here have been rated among the best in the world
- 14-km bike trail, 10 walking trails, and 38-km ski trails
- Popular spot, which means it’s busy
10. Point Farm Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍Goderich, ON N7A 3X9
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: No
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A post shared by Kato & Theo Do Things (@kato.and.theo.do.things)
A post shared by Kato & Theo Do Things (@kato.and.theo.do.things)
- One dog beach but dogs must remain leashed
- Family friendly with playgrounds, playing fields, and 6 km of hiking trails
- Park is on a bluff and features beautiful scenery and sunsets
- Camping with tents, RVs, and trailers
- Nearby town of Goderich is considered the prettiest town in Canada
Dog-Friendly Beaches by Georgian Bay
11. Craigleith Provincial Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍The Blue Mountains, ON L9Y 0T6
🕐 Open Times: April to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: No
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A post shared by Griffin (@griffins_golden_life)
A post shared by Griffin (@griffins_golden_life)
- Features two dog beaches
- Flat shale forms the shoreline, which contains 450-million-year-old fossils
- Camping with tents and RVs
- Not a sandy beach
- Small park, so tents might be fairly close together
12. Killbear Provincial Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍35 Eddie Ramsay Parkway, Nobel ON P0G 1G0
🕐 Open Times: May to October
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in a designated area
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A post shared by Charlie Bean (@charlie.beans.adventures)
A post shared by Charlie Bean (@charlie.beans.adventures)
- Has two dog beaches and two pet exercise areas
- Some areas are off leash, but most require your dog to be leashed
- Iconic views of windswept pine trees
- 6-km trail for hiking and biking
- Combination of rocky and sandy shores
13. Penetanguishene Rotary Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍Penetanguishene, ON L9M 1N1
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: Yes, in a designated dog park
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A post shared by Bella Frenchbulldogpuppy (@bellafrenchbulldogpuppy)
A post shared by Bella Frenchbulldogpuppy (@bellafrenchbulldogpuppy)
- Small park and sandy beach found downtown in the town of Penetanguishene
- Dog park and swimming area are off-leash
- Great spot for the family with a splash pad and skate park
- Features a trail through an art and flower garden
- Plenty of parking and picnic tables
14. Wasaga Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍11 22nd St N, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 2V9
🕐 Open Times: April to October, December to March
💲 Cost: Day fees vary
🐕 Off-Leash allowed?: No
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A post shared by Lacey (@lacey.thegoldendood)
A post shared by Lacey (@lacey.thegoldendood)
- One section of the beach is for leashed dogs
- 14-km beach is the world’s longest freshwater beach
- Famous for incredible sunsets
- The park has 6.8 hectares, with nesting shorebirds and wildlife
- Popular and busy beach
Conclusion
Before you leap into your car with your dog by your side, double-check what the rules at your destination are concerning dogs. Rules sometimes change, and what was an off-leash beach yesterday could be a leash-only beach today.
It’s important to keep your dog in the dog areas and follow the rules. If you’re caught by a park warden breaking any rules, you’ll probably get hit with a big fine. It’s always best to be safe than sorry.
But as long as you treat the parks and beaches with a healthy dose of respect, you can enjoy your outing with your best friend. It’s bound to be spectacular at any one of these beaches!
Featured Image Credit: ART SUBLIMINA PHOTOGRAPHY, Shutterstock
