Ontario Parks - Provincial Park Classes

Provincial Park Classes

Ontario Parks system uses a classification system to divide the provincial parks into the following categories:

• Recreational parks "typically have good beaches, many campgrounds and lots of outdoor recreation opportunities. Most recreation parks provide services that may include toilets and showers, laundromats, interpretive programmes, playgrounds, boat launch facilities, hiking trails and picnic tables."
• Historical Class Parks "emphasize the protection of historical and cultural resources, in an outdoor setting."
• Natural environment parks "protect the landscapes and special features of the natural region in which they are located, while providing ample opportunities for activities such as swimming and camping."
• Nature reserve parks "are established to represent and protect the distinctive natural habitats and landforms of the province. These areas are protected for educational and research purposes. Due to the fragility of many of these natural features, only a few nature reserves are accessible to the public."
• Waterway parks "are river corridors that provide canoeists with high-quality recreation and historical river travel."
• Wilderness parks "are large areas left to nature where visitors may travel on foot or by canoe. Offering little if any facilities for visitors, these areas provide the solitude of an undisturbed, natural setting."