Craigleith Provincial Park
Park Georgian Bay park known for fossil-rich cliffs
On Georgian Bay near Collingwood, Craigleith Provincial Park has a long limestone shoreline and pebble beach; visitors swim, hike trails, examine fossil-bearing rocks and camp with bay views.
Craigleith Provincial Park is a small provincial park on the southern shore of Georgian Bay near the village of Craigleith in Ontario. It protects a stretch of shoreline and adjacent upland typical of the southern Georgian Bay coastline and offers day-use and campground facilities.
The park includes beaches, picnic areas and short trails that provide access to the water and views across Georgian Bay; it is used for swimming, paddling and shoreline walks. Facilities support camping in season and interpretive signage explains local geology and shoreline features.
The park sits along the Niagara Escarpment shoreline of southern Georgian Bay, a short drive north of Collingwood and the Blue Mountain area in southern Ontario.
- Shoreline recreation: The park's shoreline on southern Georgian Bay is characterized by pebble beaches and shallow waters popular for swimming and canoeing.
How to Get to Craigleith Provincial Park #
From Thornbury, drive west along County Road 13/Highway 26 toward Highway 21 and follow signs for Craigleith Provincial Park; the park is approximately a 10-15 minute drive from Thornbury and about 20 minutes from Collingwood.
Tips for Visiting Craigleith Provincial Park #
- Walk the stretch of shoreline to see the fossil-bearing Ordovician limestone; low tide reveals the most fossils.
- Park at the main lot near Highway 26/County Road 21 and take the short trail along the bay to avoid the busy beach entrance on summer weekends.
- Bring a hand lens or camera macro lens - the fossils are small but rewarding for anyone who bothers to look.
Best Time to Visit Craigleith Provincial Park #
Summer has the best swimming and park services; late spring and early fall are quieter and better for exploring the shoreline fossils.
Weather & Climate near Craigleith Provincial Park #
Craigleith Provincial Park's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -11°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (974 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -3°C and lows of -11°C. The wettest month with 98 mm of rain.
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February
February is freezing with highs of -2°C and lows of -11°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm).
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March
March is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -6°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
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June
June is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm).
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October
October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. The wettest month with 98 mm of rain.
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December
December is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -7°C. Regular rainfall (97 mm).
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