Presqu’ile Provincial Park is located south of Brighton, Ontario on a peninsula jetting out into Lake Ontario. The park was our second last stop during our Provincial Park Adventure in 2019. During our stay, we hiked the Newcastle Trail for the first time with our rescue dog, Chloe the Foxhound. The trail was 4.3 kilometres long but it could be shortened or extended easily. From the trailhead we had the choice to do either the Newcastle or the Pioneer Trail, and we decided for the former.

The beginning of the trail was quite lovely as we walked down a dirt road that was lined with large, mature maple trees. From there we walked through a variety of habitats including Beech-maple forests, planted pine forests and some old fields. We found an abundance of ferns in a few areas and were on the lookout for white-tailed deer and other wildlife that may make the forest their home. Presqu’ile is a great place for bird watching, so we always keep our eyes and ears open for interesting birds.

The summer had been a particularly wet one which resulted in an abundance of mosquitoes during our hikes and this trail was no exception. Although we had used some basic DEET based insect repellent, they always seem to find spots that were missed. Several other visitors turned back instead of enduring the bites and the buzzing.

The trail was flat and easy to walk, part of it was even paved. It wasn’t difficult at all but it was 4.3 kilometers in length, so keep that in mind. You can park at the lot near group parking, at the Nature Centre of the Lighthouse Interpretive Center and start from any of those locations. The path was well marked and had a few interpretive signs along the way.

Presqu’ile has some fantastic trails that offer visitors a lot into a variety of habitats and ecosystems. Be sure to check out as many as you can and don’t forget the insect repellent!

Watch the video below!