Prince Edward Island National Park

Prince Edward Island National Park is a long, narrow park along the north shore of Prince Edward Island, protecting a coastline of sandy beaches, dunes, wetlands and red sandstone cliffs. It was established in 1937 and stretches in several sections from Cavendish eastward through Brackley, Stanhope and Greenwich. The Cavendish-North Rustico area is the best known and most visited part, and the park has long been the main reason that many people visit the island. It is also tied closely to Lucy Maud Montgomery, who grew up in Cavendish and set her novel Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908, in the landscape around it.

The beaches are the main attraction. Cavendish Beach is a broad strip of pale sand backed by dunes, with warm shallow water by Atlantic standards, and it fills with swimmers and sunbathers in July and August. Brackley and Stanhope beaches are somewhat quieter, and Greenwich, at the eastern end, has a very different landscape of rare parabolic dunes, a wetland and a boardwalk trail through a fragile habitat. The sea breeze, the sound of surf and the red cliffs make walking along the shore a pleasure, and sunsets over the Gulf of St. Lawrence are a favourite sight. The sand and cliffs are slowly eroding, so signs ask visitors to keep off dunes and stay back from edges.

Inland, the park protects forest, meadow and wetland. Cavendish Grove is a day-use area set in a rare stand of mature sugar maple trees, with picnic sites and eco-friendly washrooms, and it gives a shaded alternative to the open beach. Walking and cycling trails run through the park, and birdwatchers look for piping plovers, a threatened shorebird that nests on the beaches and is protected by seasonal restrictions on some areas. Herons, ospreys and many other species use the wetlands and ponds.

Cultural tourism is the second great draw, and the literary connection is at its centre. Green Gables Heritage Place, a farmhouse managed by Parks Canada that inspired the setting for the novel, stands within the park, with a restored house, gardens and walking trails named after places in the book. Lovers Lane and the Haunted Wood, trails through the woods, add to the experience, and guides explain Montgomery’s life and her connection with the area. The park also contains a golf course, Green Gables Golf Club, an 18-hole course with views of the coast.

Visitors should check Parks Canada’s information on entry fees, seasonal services and beach conditions, since facilities are mainly open in summer. Whether you come for swimming, walking or the Anne story, the park suits families, couples and anyone who enjoys coastal scenery. Allow a half day at least, and bring sun protection, water and a light jacket for evenings.