This Conservation Area offers a long sandy beach on the Lake Erie shoreline, plus many other amenities. It is ideal for a day at the beach, a beautiful picnic, or a seasonal vacation. Holiday Beach Conservation Area has serviced seasonal campsites, new showers and washrooms, large shady picnic areas, a playground, nature trails, a boardwalk, and a three storey observation tower. It is also one of the sites at which Conservation Education Field Studies are conducted.
Holiday Beach and Big Creek Conservation Areas received international recognition in 2000 as a globally significant Important Bird Area (IBA). The designation is as a result of the significance of the area for raptor migration and as a known breeding area for Prothonotary Warblers (a nationally endangered species). Visit the world renowned Festival of Hawks each September to witness the migration celebration as thousands of hawks, vultures, eagles, falcons and other birds of prey concentrate in the area before heading across the Detroit River towards warmer, more southerly destinations for the winter.
Please note, as of April 1, 2014, smoking at Holiday Beach Conservation Area is restricted to designated areas, which will be marked with signs.
The Festival of Hawks runs the second and third weekends of September.
We would also direct you to read our DISCLAIMER and our TRAIL USERS CODE.
Region(s): Essex County
Nearby towns and cities: Amherstburg | Windsor
Trail feature tags: Boardwalk | Education Centre | Marsh | swimming | Viewing Platform
HOLIDAY BEACH characteristics
Length: 2 kmDifficulty: Moderate (Trail classifications)
Trail surface: Natural
Trail use: Hiking, Cross-country skiing, and Cycling
Accessibility Notes: Accessibility not known.
Fees: Entrance fees applicable
Flora & Fauna:
This 2-km cut grass trail is home to wildlife such as white-tailed deer, screech owls, and eastern cottontails.
Prothonatary warblers are often seen at the marsh observation platform.
Amenities: Campground, washrooms, picnic tables
Attractions: Viewing Tower, swimming, board walk, marsh, education centre
Contact:
admin@erca.org
Essex Region Conservation Authority 360 Fairview Avenue West, Suite 311 Essex, ON N8M 1Y6 Phone: 519-776-5209
Find it: Take the 401 to its western end and exit at Howard Ave, turn left (South) on Howard (County Rd 9), go to its end, approximately 21 km. Turn right (West) on County Rd 20, go 2.6 km. Turn left (South) on County Rd 50, go 2 km.
GPS Coordinates (main trailhead):
Latitude: 42.0422470
Longitude: -83.0349990