Sandbanks Trees in Winter

Sandbanks Provincial Park, in Southeast Ontario, is best known for its three magnificent sandy beaches. In summer, parking lots are full and the beaches are jammed with both tourists and local residents, all wanting to claim a spot at either the flat wide Outlet Beach or near the huge sand dunes of Lakeshore or Dunes Beach. In all, there are about 12 kilometres of sandy beach, which make it the world’s largest bay-mouth dune barrier formation. In the 1920’s, reforestation in the park area began (after having being used as farmland for many decades) and today, as well as the beaches themselves, there are many hectares of forested parkland. Pine seems to be the most widely planted tree, but poplars, spruce, cedar and fir can also be seen.

In the winter, it’s possible to while away a few hours meandering through the woods, on half a dozen well marked trails. I don’t think I’d call it ‘forest bathing’ when it’s below zero, there’s snow underfoot and the trail ends at a beach with waves pushing up sharp ice shards. But breathing deep the fresh air is definitely exhilarating, allowing body and mind to slowly slip, zen-like, into the best kind of meditative state.