The Breathtaking Prince Edward Island National Park: Everything You Need To Know

Prince Edward Island National Park is a Canadian National Park run by Parks Canada. It’s a must-see when visiting Prince Edward Island. This national park features red cliffs, wind-shaped sand dunes, and the ocean meeting the horizon. It’s unbelievably beautiful! 

I’ll admit, when I was researching Prince Edward Island National Parks I was kind of confused. As it turns out, there’s only one National Park on the entire Island, but it has three different sections. 

It spans three locations across the northern shore of the Island: Cavendish, Brackley-Dalvay Beach, and Greenwich. Each section offers a vastly different landscape to admire and unique activities to explore. 

With so much to do, it can be quite overwhelming. So I’m going to go over everything you need to know about visiting the Prince Edward Island National Park.  

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Prince Edward Island National Park Basic Information

How Much Does It Cost For The Prince Edward Island National Park?

There is an admission fee to enter the PEI National Park. Parks Canada charges a different rate based on time of year and age group (p.s. admission is free for people 17 and under!). 

You can also buy an annual pass that works for any Canadian National Park (not for Quebec though – that’s under Quebec National Parks…).  View the most up to date National Park prices.

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Is The Park Open All Year Round?

The park is technically open all year round because access is always open. But the gates and kiosks are only staffed from June to September. This is where you can buy tickets to the parks. Pas these dates, the interpretive centres and facilities are closed.

When we visited in October we didn’t know where to buy tickets so we drove right through.

You’ll still be able to visit during the winter months, as thehe roads are plowed and cleared enough to drive through.

What You’ll Need To Spend A Day At The Parks?

There are a few must-haves when visiting the Prince Edward Island National Park.

A good idea is to pack a lunch. There are a few exceptions, but most destinations are pretty far from any decent place to get food. 

Photo Gear For The Parks

You will not want to leave your camera at home when visiting the PEI National Park. (My camera of choice is the Nikon D6500 Series)

If you’re into photography, like myself, I made sure to even bring a few extra accessories.

I had my trusty zoom lens with me all day to swap out if I needed. Some of the scenery can be pretty far away so you’ll be thankful to have that zoom lens with you!

I also made sure to bring my Manfrotto tripod and lens filters. I brought both a polarizing filter and a ND Neutral Density filter. (P.S. Make sure to get one that fits your camera lens!) 

This way I was able to set up my camera on the beach and get some beautiful long exposure photographs. Plus, the tripod came in handy to set up some self-timer photo-ops!

Spending A Day At The Beach Must-Haves!

If you’re planning on setting up at the beach in the summer, obviously you’ll need a spanking new bathing suit.

But don’t forget a water bottle, sunscreen, beach blanket and even an umbrella!

Hitting The Trails – You Won’t Want To Forget These…

If you’re planning on hitting the trails at the PEI National Park you do not want to leave the bug spray at home!

I was SHOCKED by how buggy the Island still was in October. I can’t even imagine what it would be like during the summer.

I have never seen so many mosquitos, and they were quite vicious too! I came home with an insane amount of mosquito bites on my head.

In terms of footwear, these are more walks than hikes. You don’t really need hiking shoes to walk the PEI National Park. I was fine wearing my Blundstones.

Understanding The PEI National Park Map

Prince Edward Island National Park stretches along north shore of the Island. There are actually three different sections but they all belong to the same park. There’s Brackley-Dalvay, Cavendish, and Greenwich.  

There are points of interest at each that you’ll want to check out.

Cavendish PEI National Park

There are actually a few different sections within the Cavendish part of the Prince Edward Island National Park. 

Cavendish Beach

The Cavendish Beach is probably the best known section. If you’re a fan of Anne of Green Gables, this is where Lucy Maud Montgomery enjoyed spending her time.

If you’ve read her novels, you might recognize the Lake of Shining Waters. But this is NOT the inspiration for her books. This is just a lake that happens to have the same name. You’ll find the inspiration for the Anne of Green Gables Lake of Shining Waters at Silver Bush house – which you can tour.

The terrain in the Cavendish party is all about admiring the sand dunes. There’s also a small floating dock whih is a part of a longer trail you can walk.  

Another favourite walking trail of mine near the Cavendish Beach is the Homestead Trail. It’s about an hour walk through the forest.  This is also one of the two areas in the PEI National Park where you can camp in.

North Rustico Section

This section of the park is near North Rustico. It should really be a different section of the park, since the terrain varies wildly from that of the Cavendish beach area. It also might be one of my favourite parts of Prince Edward Island National Park. It’s all about the incredible red rocks of PEI! 

The main points of interest are lookout points to admire the red coast of PEI. At each lookout point, there’s a small parking lots for you to stop at. You’ll want to see Mackenzie’s Brook sea arch, a peek-a-boo rock structure, and Cape Turner, a jaw dropping lookout of the ocean and the red rocks.  

I just need to add a small footnote on Mackenzie’s Brook; there are stairs leading you to the beach but then it’s another 10 minute walk to the rocks. And make sure to keep an eye on the tide ad when it’s going to be high, by checking the tide schedule.

Is Green Gables A Part Of The PEI National Park?

Technically, Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place is actually a part of the Cavendish section of the Prince Edward Island national park.  

Parks Canada bought the house and surrounding land from the MacNeill family (Montgomery’s cousins). It was only once the family decided to move out that Parks Canada reworked it to look like Green Gables. 

Even though it isn’t actually Green Gables, this is the farm that inspired it. It also isn’t just the house, there are two walking trails through PEI forests: Lover’s Lane and the Ghost trail (based on the novel).

Brackley – Dalvay Beach Section

This is probably the largest section of the PEI National Park. It’s balled the Brackley-Dalvay section, but it encapsulates so much more than just those beaches.

Covehead Lighthouse & Harbour

The main point of interest in the Brackley-Dalvay section is the Covehead lighthouse. It’s surrounded by sand dunes and overlooks the beach. 

Across from the lighthouse you’ll find the Covehead Harbour. This is where you can sign up to go deep-sea fishing or stop for lunch!

Another good spot for lunch is right outside the National Park at the Dunes Café and Gallery.

The Beaches At Brackley-Dalvay

The Brackley-Dalvay section has the most number of beaches. So if you’re looking for a beach, there’s no shortages to choose from.

First off, there’s obviously Brackley and Dalvay beach. But there’s also Shaws beach, Stanhope Cape beach, and Ross Lane beach.

Like Cavendish beach, these beaches are shaped by the sand dunes in the background.

Some of the beaches are supervised during high season between July and August. 

If you’re interested in a quieter beach on red rocks, there may be a secret beach on Robinson’s Island (but more on that in a bit…).

Robinson’s Island PEI National Park

Robinson’s Island is at the tip of the Brackley-Dalvay section of the National Park. It’s not really an island because it’s still attached to land.

There are walking and mountain biking trails to enjoy here. The entire trail takes about an hour to walk and stop at all the viewpoints around the island.

The second half of the trail is a lot nicer to walk through. I recommend skipping the first half by walking straight down the middle and turning left. (The trail typically starts directly to the right of the parking lot). This is where the nicest walking trails are and the most gorgeous look out points.

There’s also a secret beach you can enjoy if you continue walking straight through! It’s the perfect spot for a private picnic lunch!

Dalvay-By-The-Sea

Dalvay-By-The-Sea is another point of interest at the Brackley-Dalvay section of the park. This former estate is now a Prince Edward Island historical site. There’s quite a bit going on here.

All year round you can visit the grounds and admire the Queen Anne Revival architecture. During high season, it’s also a luxury resort and a restaurant. This is where you can rent bikes if you want to cycle through the national park. 

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PEI National Park Greenwich Dunes

Greenwich is the smallest of the three sections. There’s hiking (walking) trails and a beach. The main attraction is the floating dock at the end of the Greenwich Dunes Trail.  

The Greenwich Dunes trail is about an hour walk round trip. It takes you through different PEI terrains, from forest to marsh, to sand dunes and finally the beach.  The floating docks really are something spectacular to experience and worth the walk there.

What’s The Best Way To See Prince Edward Island National Park?

It’s kind of surprising, but the best way to see the Prince Edward Island National Park is to drive through it. You can drive through theCavendish and Brackley-Dalvay sections of the park. This is the Cavendish-Brackley-Dalvey scenic drive.  

Along the road there is a walking/ biking path. But the park is so long that there’s no way you’d be able to make it through (especially walking). Plus, the lookout points are quite far from each other.  

At each main lookout, or point of interest, there’s also a small parking lot where you can safely stop. This way, you know when you should stop to see something. Plus you don’t waste time getting there.

You’ll have to leave the park between Cavendish and Brackley – Dalvay. Along the way I recommend driving through North Rustico for a more scenic drive. You can also stop by The Prince Edward Island Preserve Company for souvenirs or a beautiful afternoon tea. 

The Dunes Caé and Gallery is also en route and makes a good place to stop for a pick me up between the sections of the park. The only part that isn’t included in this drive is the Greenwich section. From the end of the Brackley-Dalvay section, it’s another 40 minute drive to Greenwich.

Can You Swim At The PEI National Park?

You can swim at the PEI National Park, although keep in mind, it isn’t always safe to do so (tides, rip currents, jellyfish).  Select beaches will have a lifeguard on duty between July and August (see the schedule).

They also update the water conditions during this time of year, letting you know if it’s safe to swim. Apparently, the water is quite a bit warmer than swimming on any other coasts. That’s because you aren’t actually swimming in the ocean but the Gulf of St Lawerence. Don’t hold me to this though, I didn’t try it for myself.

Can You Camp At The Prince Edward Island National Park?

There are two campsites at the National Park: Cavendish and Stanhope campsites. The campgrounds are open from the beginning of June until September. You can choose from a range of campsite options.

You can rent a regular tent or RV campsite. But they also have two unique camping options: oTENTiks, and bunkies! OTENTiks are perfect if you don’t want the hassle of putting up a tent. It blends the fun of a tent with the accessibility of a cabin. They can sleep up to 5 or 6 people.

If you want the escape to nature but still want a proper roof over your head then rent a Bunkie! A Bunkie can sleep between 2 to 4 people. 

This way you don’t have to lug all your camping gear to PEI but you can still enjoy nature of the Island.

Looking For A Place To Stay In Prince Edward Island? Hotel Recommendations

We stayed at the Great George in Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island. It’s centrally located boutique hotel that offers a unique luxury experience. I mean the bathroom has heated floors – it doesn’t get better than that! Plus, a delicious healthy breakfast was included every morning with your stay. See room rates & availability on Booking.com.

If you aren’t staying in Charlottetown, here are some other hotel recommendations in Prince Edward Island…

We also stayed in Summerside at the Summerside Inn Bed & Breakfast. It’s in a beautiful victorian home and walking distance to the city centre. Plus the host is very nice and helpful, making a delicious breakfast for you! See room rates & availability on Booking.com.

Or, if you’re visiting Prince Edward Island with the family and staying in Cavendish, book the Cavendish Lodge & Cottages. Rent your own private little cottage in a small cottage village. See room rates & availability on Booking.com.

See more accommodations in Prince Edward Island on Booking.com.

Or you might also be interested in reading…

Hotels On Prince Edward Island: The Best Places To Stay In PEI

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Read More Prince Edward Island Guides!

• The Top 10 Lighthouses You Don’t Want To Miss in Prince Edward Island
• 10 Best Souvenirs In Prince Edward Island You Have To Buy
• Where To Stay In PEI? A Guide To Hotels in Cavendish, Summerside & Charlottetown
• Why Book The Great George Hotel In Charlottetown PEI
• How To Get To Teacup Rock PEI & Mackenzie’s Brook Safely
• Top Anne of Green Gables Destinations To Visit On Prince Edward Island

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Last update on 2024-05-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API