Point Pelee National Park

Thursday’s forecast was no rain, temperatures in the 60’s and some sun through the clouds, so we thought it was a good day to explore nearby Point Pelee National Park. This is a very sharp point of land that sticks down into Lake Erie and it is the southernmost point in Canada. I was surprised as we entered the park to be driving several miles through a tunnel of trees.

We attempted to drive to the tip, but found the last mile is only accessible by walking, biking, or taking their tram.

Happily, the tram is included with the park admission and is dog friendly.

We were dropped off here,

where signs explained that we were at the 42nd parallel, as far south as Rome or Barcelona.

A short walk took us to the actual tip. Notice the breakers extending out and to the left. There were signs everywhere warning to not even wade in these waters due to currents and undertows.

We were content to just walk out and disturb the gulls.

So here we are, at the southernmost point of land in continental Canada.

Turning around to the north you can see just how narrow this point of land is.

This is my favorite shot from the tip. I was trying to catch the little wading birds, but I love the way the iPhone freezes the curl of the wave.

We walked back from the tip and Bud and Matey waited at a bench overlooking the western basin of Lake Erie…

while I climbed the observation tower.

As impressive as the view of the tip is…

I also enjoyed the view back up this pointy peninsula.

There are Bud and Matey, waiting below.

After we came back on the shuttle we got a snack and ate it in the truck where we were visited by a yellow warbler.

He would rest just a fraction of a second and then flit away…

only to stop back for another second.

Our next stop was the DeLaurier Homestead. Since both the barn and the house were locked…

I found the skinks…

the most interesting things there. From what I can find these are probably both five lined skinks, but since the bigger one had lost his tail it was difficult to be sure.

There were many more places to explore, but Bud and Matey were done walking for the day so I took a short walk by myself to the Point Pelee Cemetery and the Cactus Field Footpath.

The cemetery was a pretty spot with a cluster of marked graves of European settlers…

and a handful of unmarked graves of First Nation people now marked with carved stones.

These old trees have barely survived some severe winds.

When I started down the Cactus Field Footpath I was hoping to see cactus without leaving the well worn track…

because whether or not there was cactus, there was plenty of poison ivy.

Happily I did spot the prickly pear cactus right along the path. You might be surprised, but this eastern prickly pear is found all over the eastern part of North America including places much further north than this.

On our way out of the park we stopped at an overlook where I could get some pictures of the huge marshes that are part of this park.

The water lilies were starting to flower.

I think this swan was nesting, though she was a long ways away.

I filled out a survey that asked if I would recommend Point Pelee National Park to others. I marked it 10, I definitely would, because I knew I’d be writing this blog and I would encourage anyone traveling in southern Ontario to take the time to visit here.