S03E03 Wheatley Provincial Park Review

This is our 2nd review in our tour of the Lake Erie Ontario Provincial Parks. Wheatley Provincial Parks is the southern most provincial park in all of Canada. We check out the park and the erosion of the beach area and head out of the park to Pelee Island Winery and Aleksander Winery as well as Wheatley harbour. We also try the fresh Lake Erie fish at the chip wagon for Taylor Fish Company.
All drone shots done by a licenced drone pilot with a lawfully registered drone. The drone was never flown in the provincial park. The pilot remained outside of the park during the flights and kept the drone in visual site. The drone never took off or landed in the provincial park.
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[@CampingwiththeColes]

Cell Phone Service: If you've been to this park please let us know your experience with cell service.

[@jodiekanary5728]

I can't believe how quickly the erosion happened. All those amenities were there two years ago. Thanks for the review.

[@OutdoorCanucks]

Thanks for the awesome tour and especially the tip about the hot water tank air pressure. Useful tip!

[@RachelThomson18]

Love the soundtrack! Thanks for all your awesome reviews.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks. Happy camping!

[@Naddrose]

Glad you guys are all OK. Thank you for sharing your experience. This could have happened to anyone .

[@dinamulic6]

Love your videos -you do a fantastic job editing. Everything is on point and so informative. No nonsense. I always check for your videos when Im looking up a place. We appreciate it! 🙏🏼❤️

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We're so glad you find our videos helpful. Thanks for the positive feedback. Happy camping!

[@martincurrie8195]

Excellent review one again!...We are camping there in a couple weeks. Good timing !!!!....Also, Pelee Island is a must do. a day trip while camping.

[@ConnorMaxwell]

Awesome video like usual guys! Just bought a camper aswell and can't wait to make some cinematic videos on the trips. Can't wait for another video

[@JC-tc7uh]

Thanks for the beach tip! We'll be there in a couple weeks.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Enjoy your time there! Happy camping!

[@kirawayne9652]

I loved that you guys came to wheatley. It's our go to campground as it's within a hour from us. In your video you pointed out that you couldn't go kayaking because there was no launch. We just got back on Monday from our annual Thanksgiving trip. And I noticed that they added a dock off of the middle creek overflow parking. It might be worth a checkout if you plan to visit again! Thanks for your videos, we enjoy watching!

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We'll definitely check it out again. We found out that they put the dock in a week after we left. That would have made a big difference for us. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@donmcconnery5080]

Another great review, thanks for doing these.

[@NickandRachel]

Awesome video guys! Thanks for sharing this with us

[@scottdubrick3407]

Great video, Can't wait to try Wheatley.

[@gpslost2068]

Good review, Thanks for sharing. They can't all be 10's. I stayed at Wheatley PP in 2019, before COVID19 and we liked it as a "base camp". Not a huge amount of stuff in the actual park but a great location if you want to explore the area such as Point Pelee, local wineries etc. Paddling was fun at Wheatley as well as at Point Pelee. Liked it enough that we rebooked for this past June but our reservations were cancelled by Ontario Parks due to COVID19. Will go next year. A great park in the late summer if you have any interest in the Monarch butterfly migration as thousand migrate through Point Pelee as it provides the shortest route across Lake Erie on their way back to Mexico.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

You're right, they can't all be 10s. I do worry about giving a park a lower rating because I know that for many people this is their favourite park and they might get a little insulted. But the ratings are for what WE look for in a park. It's purely our own opinions for things WE like. We try to be as honest and upfront as possible and like you said "They can't all be 10s". Happy camping!

[@gpslost2068]

@@CampingwiththeColes I thought your assessment was very fair and in my mind scored it about the same prior to seeing your score.

[@robertsitch1415]

I would say that it's a choice between Wheatley and nearby RV parks for a base camp in that part of the province but at least the nearby day use parks are nice.

[@corinaclippingdale-marshal8159]

Just arrived home after a week at Wheatley and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is unfortunate that the staff person you spoke to was unaware of the parking area along the main road near the entrance to Middle Creek. There is a short path down the the creek and a dock for putting in canoes and kayaks. We explored all three creeks and saw over a dozen herons, egrets, turtles and many other birds. We were able to meet our friends at the far end of the beach where Two Creeks meets Lake Erie. They walked from the parking area near the footbridge and it was manageable for someone with some mobility issues. Unfortunately we forgot your tip about going to Wheatley Harbour and missed out on a nice fish dinner. Next time. We really enjoy your reviews and look forward to more.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@corinaclippingdale-marshal8159 I learned from another viewer that they were building the dock and parking lot for water access while we were there and it opened a week after we left. Weird that the campground hosts and staff at the office knew nothing about it.

[@bazimars]

Thank you for your great videos. My wife and I have enjoyed the great Ontario content since so much of the RV videos on KZbin are so full of US focused info. We just finished watching your Wheatley review again after getting back from our trip there. We first watched it shortly before going and it was very great in helping us to plot our activities. One thing we did notice was your comment about the lack of a place to put your kayak in. We were lucky to spot a dock just down a path from the overflow parking just outside the entrance to the Middlecreek campground. We came back the next day with our kayak and enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours exploring the creeks. The dock didn't look brand new but its possible it was put in after your visit. It wouldn't be the first time that a KZbinr's review has prompted some positive action. Either way, thanks for helping us enjoy our RV lifestyle.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks for watching. We found out from another viewer that the water access and dock opened a week after we were there. Strangely the campground hosts new nothing if it and nobody at the main office mentioned it when I asked about water access. They just suggested asking someone with a waterfront site to allow us to put our kayaks in.

[@maciesqueak7414]

I love your channel and your reviews of the parks are very helpful. We have been to Wheatley PP many times. The one bad thing that you may have not experienced, when leaving is the dump. There is only one dump and it is also just behind where the portable fill up is as well. Line ups for the dump can be very long when leaving after 1. And once you get a long trailer line up you cannot get out of the park with the only exit being blocked with trailers waiting for the dump, and than new campers arriving cutting into the line to get to the portable water fill up. We have waited for hours to get through and when you want to get home after a long vacation it is annoying to have to wait so long.

[@camper69]

I've camped here twice in the past 2 years. Spent my time visiting Point Pelee, sampling wines at numerous wineries and geocaching.

[@paulinecallahan6888]

Wow! Thank you both so much for this great review! We are planning to visit Wheatley Park in a few weeks so this is great info for us. Thanks again 🙂👍

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Our pleasure! Happy camping!

[@tinagamble9550]

They put in a new dock in middle creek entrance where the extra parking is. I was there in early July as well and i watched people put their kayaks and paddle boards in from that location. There is signage when leaving campgrounds to the exit. Facing you when you were at the stop sign. You must of missed it. Highlands can be tricky though. The rest are straight forward. I camped there total of 6 weeks this year. The least amount of any year. The entrance down the road where you get off the footbridge has easy entrances to the beach with level walking to get on the beach. No hills or struggles to get on the beach at all. With wide open area. You can walk to the public beach from wheatley provincial park. There are trails on the beach side as well. Bathrooms, showers and sites are spotless. Staff is amazing. Yes it has been tragic that the road was lost to the beach. But lake erie is not a calm lake. There are many places along the lake that are losing big pieces of property. Glad you made it down to Wheatley.

[@karlmopete]

We camped at weekly last week. I agree with many of your comments. This is not a park we are likely to return to with so many others that are far superior. We were in middle camp ground and I failed to see any sites that were level. I had to use every levelling block I had to get close to level with our motorhome. We as well had hoped to canoe but as you say there is no place to put in. As for riding our bikes the campground roads are very narrow requiring we pull off if a vehicle approaches. I will say the park staff were super and the washrooms and sites are extremely well maintained.

[@brianclemens2707]

Thank you for your review of Wheatley . We head there June 24 2022.

[@Photo-Wildlife]

Thank you for the great info videos!!

[@ashleycosta5076]

Great review!! Looks like you guys had a great weekend!! Terrible news about their beach, especially for families with younger kids. What a hit to them as a park. Keep enjoying your summer 🇨🇦

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks for the support. Wheatley seems to have been hit hardest of all the Lake Erie Parks we've been to this summer. Port Burwell, Long Point, Rondeau and Turkey Point have all bounced back pretty good from the high waters of the last couple of years. Happy camping!

[@markcunningham1686]

They added two fill up stations right at the Front Gate Station which is incredibly convenient and they added another dump station as well with thread hoses for black water flushing...thank you Wheatley PP

[@j.v.7283]

Great video guys , I’ve wanted to try camping in that area so it’s very timely. Keep up the good work !

[@kimrodriguez635]

Just bought an RV, getting to know things about it. Your tips are helpfully. And I live 30 mins from Wheatley. Have had fish right there and now want to check out the park!

[@CampingwiththeColes]

That is awesome! Happy camping!

[@CampingAcrossOntario]

We are indeed lacking natural and protected areas here in Ontario's deep Southwest. Wheatley has experienced extreme change over the past few years. It may not be a 10 out of 10 park, but it's still a lovely place.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We agree completely.

[@susanlanglotz6461]

Thanks - we have a booking for this summer.🌞

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@habitantcdn]

I had the perch at Taylor's last week... I had the same reaction, absolutely delicious!

[@TheCdnBoy]

Wheatley is our "local" PP and we are heading there tomorrow!

[@johnnybgoodbeesandbarbecue5788]

Best Perch in the world down here. I live in Kingsville and we visit Wheatley all the time. The erosion on the beach is unfortunate, but makes for quiet private swimming. If you cross the creek bridge in the middle of the park and hike to the right and down to the end of the trail there is much more open areas to relax on the beach.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks for the tips. Happy camping!

[@braderson4774]

Great videos as always... The beach looks much much better than it did last year. Booked here for Labour day weekend! Cheers to the Coles. : -) PS Koodo is awesome

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks for the support. Cheers to you as well!

[@braderson4774]

@@CampingwiththeColes Just a heads up.... There is a small boat launch for non motorized craft and parking... just on the left on the main road, before turning right into camp ground or just before two creeks entry.

[@PAPIKen0728]

Thanks for the hot water tank tip

[@CampingwiththeColes]

No problem 👍

[@CampingwiththeColes]

A week after we left the park they put in a dock/boat launch for access to the creeks. It's unfortunate the park staff we spoke to and the campground hosts were unaware of this at the time. We would definitely raise our rating if this was in place when we were there.

[@jeremystringer7110]

I didn't see the rough video, but this one is fantastic! Your videos have gotten so good! Congratulations! I'm looking forward to the day when the US and Canada can be driven to again because I'd love to see these parks! Safe Travels!

[@adamhamill4637]

Just an update, in 2022 parks added a dock near middle campground for launching kayaks and canoues, water is only about a foot deep for most of middle creek but atleast they are trying.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks for the update.

[@TheCdnBoy]

They added two fresh water fill stations at the gate and a second dump station!🎉

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Awesome! Thanks for the update.

[@debo4706]

I can't believe I'm the first to comment. Love your videos ,. What was the tick situation like? Thank you.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We didn't see any ticks however we didn't have our tick magnet dog with us. I uploaded a rough version of the video a few hours ago and just realized it so I deleted it and uploaded this new version. Soooo you get to be the first person to comment on the correct version of the video. Yay! Happy camping!

[@PatlLawson]

Great info! We are doing much the same itinerary this summer so the content is very helpful and appreciated. So sad what’s happening to shores along Lake Erie. I’m lucky to have known these parks from the past but it makes it harder to revisit some. Hope you enjoy Rondeau. It’s still beautiful beaches, though diminished, make up for the ravages at Long Point and Wheately.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We're glad you liked it. We've met others doing a Lake Erie tour this summer too. We're mostly experiencing them for the first time so unfortunately we didn't get to see Wheatley in its heyday. Wheatley would get a much higher rating if the beach was like it was a few years ago.

[@ericoosterbosch9711]

Any particular reason yous fill at the park and not at home be4 ya leave. New camper asking

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Good question. Cheryl likes to be prepared for anything, so she packs a lot. I'm concerned about the weight. A full fresh water tank is 400lbs. We'd rather not tow the extra 400lbs when we don't need to. So, we fill up at the campground and only drive it a short distance to our site.

[@canadianhick7773]

I actually live in Wheatley and a lot has happened the plug blew up and the town is know closedown

[@markcunningham1686]

...oh and and they added a boat launch as well....re: comments at the 20:27 mark

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Yeah, it turns out they installed the boat launch the week after we left. LOL!

[@craigrobertson8302]

With the utmost respect and admiration I have to completely disagree with this review. I’m at this park right now and this is my 3rd night. I’m at site 174 and it’s private and full of birds. I’m having a lovely fire. I’ve canoed twice and been surrounded by herons, osprey, turtles and jumping silver bass. There’s a dock and flat launch area directly behind my site and it’s not waterfront at all. Completely public access. There’s actually a gravel parking area and a 7km trail that includes this and numerous canoe/kayak launches. We’ve biked and walked and enjoyed it fully. The bridge across the channel is serene to say the least and today alone three herons flew up and perched on it within 20m of where I was standing taking a wonderful sunset photo. Frankly your somewhat negative review of the park in tone stuns me. I admire your work but find this particular review to be a disservice to a wonderful park. Additionally the proximity to Point Pelee NP, Pelee Island, countless wineries on Ontario’s 3rd most significant wine route, all the 1812 and Upper Canada rebellion historic sites such as fort Walden….honestly I’m saddened to see this review punish the park because of what seems like a case of weather not being ideal. As well yes the beach is eroded but a walk further up reveals kms of sandy beach and interesting driftwood. Dear Coles, I’ve seen your viewership grow over the last year of following you and watching all your videos. I believe you and Anthony from RV Adventures Ontario to be 1 and 2 at what you do. But I ask that you please take ownership and responsibility of the fact that your opinion matters now to people due to your growing KZbin following. Your review could discourage people from experiencing a wonderful park and region and that makes me sad. 5? Really Ben? That’s beyond harsh and very undeserving for such a quaint park and region. I’m sorry you had poor weather and your friends left. But this is a fantastic park and people who can get site 174 or anything in the 40s would be very lucky. That’s the feeling I have right now as I wind my fire down for the night sitting here. As someone who left Pinery after McGregor to come and wind down our holiday at Wheatley I can say wholeheartedly it’s a 9/10 and is some of the south west’s best and quietest serene nature canoeing, birdwatching and photography. Over 10 Orioles today. An osprey. Numerous warblers and the most lovely cardinal serenades each morning. Yes weather can impact an experience. We all know that. It can make even Pog Lake at Algonquin less desirable. My wife and I hope you find lovely weather on your travels. I think you have Murphy’s Point coming up? Great experience there early this summer! But please. Wheatley deserves better than this review. Alas we all have opinions and yours deserves respect as does mine. Thank you for your hard work on sharing your videos. My wife and I are fans and appreciate all you do. Best regards and much respect. I hope you find time for another Wheatley visit in your future. If so I believe site 174 will change your mind. Best regards.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks for watching our videos. I understand what you're saying. Everyone has there own opinion on things. We understand that a park that might not be our cup of tea is the favorite place in the world to others, so we try to find the positives and not be too negative. That being said, we enjoyed our time at Wheatley and said many positive things about it and the area around it. I think you are combining a couple of our reviews in your mind because we had wonderful weather at Wheatley. The bad weather and our friends leaving was at Port Burwell, not Wheatley. We learned from viewers of the Wheatley video that the dock and lot for launching canoes and kayaks was being built when we were there and actually opened a week after we left. Odd how the campground hosts and the staff we spoke to at the main gate new nothing about it. Like I said before, everyone has their own opinions. What one person likes another may not. In general the Lake Erie parks are not typical of the kind of camping we prefer to do and we've said that in each Lake Erie video. When at Wheatley, the beach area was a shadow of what it used to be and had poor access to what was left of the beach. The poor creek access also brought the number down. In our minds those were two big things affecting our rating for the park. We are currently at Murphy's Point and back in our camping preferred camping style. You'll see a very positive review here. Thanks for watching our videos and we hope you continue to do so. Happy camping!

[@craigrobertson8302]

@@CampingwiththeColes Thank you for your generous time spent replying. I rewatched and you’re right I did mix up the review partially with Port Burwell. I think it was probably the comments about no boat access that I found confusing as the access was brilliant. My supposition about the staff and camp host not having information is likely that many park staff are high school teenagers with summer jobs who may not themselves get to enjoy the park as users. Yes they should quickly learn because their job is to advise. Perhaps your visit was early enough in the year that maybe you spoke with a newly hired staff. And of course park hosts are volunteers that often (as is the case at Wheatley) sell firewood and know where the nearest comfort station is located. I found the camp hosts warm in their greetings and very lovely. But likely not privy to park planning matters. Regardless I found Wheatley to be absolutely stunning and agree ones gem is another’s rock. Speaking of which please enjoy your time collecting Mica rocks at Murphy’s Point. Watch out for deer on those roads! And if you have a sweet tooth there’s an awesome retro candy shop in Perth worth a visit! Thank you again for your reply and best wishes.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@craigrobertson8302 thanks for the Murphy's Point tip. What a beautiful park it is and the mine tour was awesome. The video will be out in a couple of weeks. Happy camping.

[@anitalauinger3886]

Hi there, wanted to let you know Wheatley PP has a new dump station. I took pics but I don't know how to get the pics to you

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks for the update.

[@anitalauinger3886]

@@CampingwiththeColes I took pics if you are interested

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We'd love to see. Can you email them to [e-mail]

[@mancy002]

We r a group of 7 people, but there’s no group site that can accommodate less than 10 or 9 people. I know on the normal car camping sites not more than 6 ppl r allowed. But can we book a group campsite having the minimum of 10 people occupancy with our group of 7 people? Would it be an issue?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

You would have to check with the park for that. I would think that it would be expensive for such a small group to book a group campsite. You're best bet would be to get two campsites together. Happy camping!

[@monikamishra9107]

@@CampingwiththeColes I really appreciate, u took out time to reply to my comment. Well we went to Algonquin whitefish group campground on last long weekend, and I had confirmed with the park staff about my query too, so upon arrival we were 9 people in total and the staff was co-operative enough to help us with it. We had lots of fun. And also I would like to extend our heartfelt best wishes, you guys are doing a fabulous job. keep it up.

[@maryamsalah4723]

I was there today and it was so boring , I didn't like it at all