Prince Edward Island National Park, Canada

Prince Edward Island National Park.

Prince Edward Island National Park covers an area of 27 km² (10 sq mi) along the island's north shore, fronting the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The park measures approximately 60 km (37 mi) in length and ranges from several hundred metres to several kilometres in width.

Established in 1937, the park's mandate includes the protection of many broad sand beaches, sand dunes, freshwater wetlands, and saltmarshes. The park's protected beaches provide nesting habitat for the endangered piping plover; the park has been designated a Canadian Important Bird Area.

An extension was added to the park in 1998 when an extensive sand dune system in Greenwich was transferred from the provincial government to Parks Canada. The Prince Edward Island National Park includes Green Gables, which was the childhood inspiration for the Anne of Green Gables novels by author Lucy Maud Montgomery, as well as Dalvay-by-the-Sea, a Victorian era mansion currently operated as an inn.

Environmental and conservation groups have identified Prince Edward Island National Park as being the most endangered in the national park system, based on human impact. The park also experiences severe coastal erosion as a result of winter storms and its vulnerable shoreline.

Flora and fauna

A portion of the park is a designated Canadian Important Bird Area as a beachfront nesting habitat for the endangered piping plover; these bird nesting areas are not accessible to the public. Numerous birds roam in this park including species of various herons, ducks, owls, cranes, plovers, grouses, jays, falcons, geese, hawks, sandpipers and eagles.

Animals that inhabit this national park are coyotes, red foxes, raccoons, beavers, minks, and weasels.

Climate

In summer, an average daytime high is 23⁰C (73⁰F) with the water as a moderating influence on temperature; this drops to −7°C (19.4°F) in January, once the Gulf of St. Lawrence freezes over.

Get in

Provincial Highway 15 runs north from Charlottetown to Highway 6, the main east-west road which runs near the southern edge of the park.

Fees and permits

Daily fees - summer/shoulder season (2018):

— Adult$ 7.80/$ 3.90
— Senior$ 6.80/$ 3.15
— Children and youth under 18 free
— Family/group$ 15.70/$ 7.85

Seasonal pass (if purchased April 1 to June 15) (2018):

— Adult$ 39.20 ($ 19.60)
— Senior$ 34.30 ($ 17.10)
— Children and youth under 18 free
— Family/group$ 78.50 ($ 49.00)

Scenic Drive (Cavendish-Brackley-Dalvay) (2018):

— Adult$ 3.90
— Senior$ 3.40
— Children and youth under 18 free
— Family/group$ 7.85

Parks Canada Passes

The Discovery Pass provides unlimited admission for a full year at over 80 Parks Canada places that typically charge a daily entrance fee It provides faster entry and is valid for 12 months from date of purchase. Prices for 2018 (taxes included):

— Family/group (up to 7 people in a vehicle): $136.40
— Children and youth (0-17): free
— Adult (18-64): $67.70
— Senior (65+): $57.90

The Cultural Access Pass: people who have received their Canadian citizenship in the past year can qualify for free entry to some sites.

Get around

There is a drivable scenic road, the Gulf Shore Parkway West, on the Cavendish waterfront in the western half of the park. Route 15 meets the eastern Gulf Shore Parkway and follows the waterfront eastward through the eastern half of the park.

As much of the park is a narrow strip of waterfront, it is split in two by bays near Rustico. Route 6, as the main east-west road, joins the severed pieces of parkland.

There are an assortment of cycling and hiking trails, some of which provide a fine view of the ocean.

What to See in Prince Edward Island National Park

• Green Gables Heritage Centre, Cavendish, +1 902-672-6350 (park). A 19th-century farm house which was owned by the MacNeill family, cousins of author Lucy Maud Montgomery; the outer walls are white, except for the distinctive green gables. Montgomery visited the farm as a young girl, drawing inspiration from the house and surrounding area, including the "Haunted Woods", "Lovers Lane", and "Balsam Hollow." $7.80/person (senior $6.80, youth $3.90).

• Site of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Cavendish home, Route 6, 1/4 mile E of Green Gables, +1 902-963-2231. 9AM-5PM (mid-May to mid-Oct), 9AM-6PM (summer). Homestead fields, lanes, gardens and old trees on the grounds where Montgomery's grandparents home once stood; no buildings remain. Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Kilmeny of the Orchard and The Story Girl were written here, as well as hundreds of short stories and poems. $3/person, $1 (age 16 and under).

What to Do in Prince Edward Island National Park

• Cavendish Beach, Graham's Lane. Five miles (8 km) of natural sand beach extends from New London Bay in the west to Cavendish East. Wooden board walk, changing rooms, washrooms and a canteen.

• Green Gables Golf Club, 8727 Cavendish Road, Cavendish, +1 902-963-4653, toll-free: +1-888-870-5454, fax: +1 902-886-3319. 18-hole, par 72 course within the park, with views of Anne of Green Gables House, Cavendish Beach Dunes and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. $60-100.

• Various interpretive programs, from guided hikes to sandcastle demos and campfire sing-alongs.

Buy

There's little or nothing in the park. A handful of tourist-oriented businesses operate seasonally outside the park limits along Route 6, the main road through Cavendish and Rustico Harbour, but selection is limited.

Eat

There are six picnic areas in the park; some are equipped with washrooms and kitchen shelters.

Stanhope Beach, Stanhope Cape, Cape Turner and Cavendish East picnic areas are open mid-June to mid-September. Cavendish Grove picnic area is open mid-May to end-September. Dalvay Trail House is open from mid-May to Thanksgiving. Information is available from the park office at +1 902-672-6350.

Drink

There is a liquor store in North Rustico; Sandbox Pub & Eatery (8812 Cavendish Rd, +1 902-963-3759) is just west of the park on Route 6.

Park management may restrict campers from bringing alcoholic beverages into park camp sites at certain times, such as during the music festival.

Sleep

Lodging

• Dalvay-by-the-Sea, 16 Cottage Crescent, Dalvay, +1 902-672-2048, toll-free: +1-888-366-2955. Elaborate summer house in the Queen Anne Revival style. A historic Victorian era mansion operated as an inn with restaurant and event space, twenty-five bedrooms with four-piece ensuite bath, wi-fi but no TV or radio. Eight one or two-bedroom cottages are nearby.

Camping

There are two campgrounds in the park:

• Cavendish Campground, 357 Graham's Lane, Cavendish, toll-free: +1-877-RESERVE (7373783). 200 camp sites, exclusive supervised white sand beach, showers, flush toilets, laundry, kitchen shelters. Campfires permitted on selected sites. On 8-km (five-mile) Homestead Trail for hiking and cycling. $27.40-35.30/night plus park admission ($22-28 in shoulder season).

• Stanhope Campground, 983 Gulf Shore Parkway, Stanhope, toll-free: +1-877-RESERVE (7373783). Camp with over 100 sites on Gulf Shore Way, a 10km multi-use trail for cycling, inline skating or walking. Hot showers, flush toilets, laundry and kitchen shelters; within walking distance of Stanhope Beach. =$27.40-35.30/night plus park admission ($22-28 in shoulder season).

• oTENTiks (tents on platforms with beds, water and electricity), are available at Cavendish and Stanhope (sleeps up to 6) $ 120.00/night

Stay safe

Jumping from Covehead Bridge is prohibited and dangerous. The gulf is prone to rip currents or rip tides which can pull a swimmer away from shore. Swimmers are encouraged to use supervised swimming areas.

Pets are prohibited on national park beaches from April 1 - October 15 but are still allowed on leash in camping areas, picnic areas and along park trails.