Craigleith Provincial ParkAbout Craigleith Provincial Park
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.
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.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -11° - -3° | -13° | 98 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -11° - -2° | -13° | 67 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -6° - 2° | -7° | 61 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 0° - 10° | 1° | 65 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 6° - 17° | 12° | 82 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 11° - 22° | 17° | 80 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 15° - 25° | 20° | 72 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 14° - 24° | 19° | 78 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 11° - 20° | 15° | 92 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 5° - 13° | 7° | 84 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 0° - 7° | -1° | 98 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -7° - 0° | -9° | 97 mm | - | - | 5.3 m/s | - | - |
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.