You Can Escape Toronto's Crowds At This Peaceful Oasis With Boardwalks & Sandy Beaches
Even the most breathtaking beaches can be hard to enjoy when they’re cramped with hoards of people. So if you’re looking for a quiet beach in Ontario to escape the crowds, then Laurel Creek Conservation Area is perfect. With boardwalk trails, sandy shores, picnic spots, and more, adventure is calling from this little oasis.
Located in Waterloo, Ontario, this hidden gem is roughly one-and-a-half hours from the 6ix, so you can easily make a day trip out of it.
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If you need a calm spot to clear your head, or simply want to venture out into the wild to reconnect with your besties, the peaceful boardwalk and hiking trails here are the best place to do so.
There are 4.5 kilometres of trails within the park for you to explore and they’ll lead you through wetlands, forests, canopies of trees, and more.
A number of paved paths in the park make for excellent cycling opportunities, too, if you’d rather explore via bike.
A highlight of this area is the serene sandy beach where you can lounge on your towel or dip a toe in the water without being bothered.
When a park attendant is on-site, visitors will be required to pay a $7.50 admission fee.
But we think that’s a small price to pay for such a peaceful getaway.
Currently, the conservation area is operating at limited capacity.
This means they could close for the day if too many people are there at once.
So you can rest assured the beaches won’t be out of control. If you’re worried about the area being closed, opt to go on a weekday when things are quieter instead.
Normally there are picnic pavilions where you can enjoy a meal in the shade.
However, at the time of writing, those pavilions and the public washrooms are closed.
That doesn’t mean you can’t pack a blanket and a basket though. Just find a grassy knoll or shady tree to sit under and indulge.
Laurel Creek Conservation Area
Price: $7.50
Address: 625 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can escape the crowds and enjoy a peaceful beach day at this gorgeous Ontario conservation area.