Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is the busiest provincial park in the province, receiving over 1.5 million visitors every year!
Home to the world’s longest freshwater beach, Wasaga boasts 14 km of pristine sand, making it a “hot spot” for summer activity.
We want everyone to be able to enjoy a visit to the beach. Here’s a list of our accessible features and where to find them in our park!
Planning a trip to Wasaga Beach? Check out our top tips for a fun and frustration-free visit (and follow the park on Twitter for updates!):
- What is a Mobi-Mat® and where do I find them?
- What is a Mobi-Chair®?
- How do I borrow a Mobi-Chair®?
- Which Beach Areas have accessible features?
- Is Nancy Island Historic Site accessible?
1. What is a Mobi-Mat® and where do I find them?
Mobi-Mats® are rollout pathways that provide a smooth surface for wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers to get from parking areas down to the sand.
They are installed in the park each spring and removed in the fall.
Mobi-Mats® do not reach all the way to the water’s edge due to fluctuating water levels caused by wind, waves, and weather.
Beach Areas 1 through 5 offer Mobi-Mats® in specific locations. Read more below to learn about where you can find these mats within the park.
2. What is a Mobi-Chair®?
In partnership with the Town of Wasaga Beach, this park has two different style wheelchairs available to borrow.
Both are available (with security and damage deposit) at the park office and the Welcome Centre located at Nancy Island Historic Site.
The Mobi-Chair® floating wheelchair is designed to bring visitors from the parking area, across the sand, and into the water. Mobi-Chair® users are required to wear a PFD when using the chair in the water.
The Wheeleez™ Sandcruiser™ all-terrain wheelchair is designed to traverse sand beaches. The large inflated wheels allow visitors to move from parking areas onto the beachfront.
The Wheeleez™ Sandcruiser™ is not designed to be used in the water, but can be taken to the water’s edge.
3. How do I borrow a Mobi-Chair®?
Both the Mobi-Chair® floating wheelchair and Wheeleez™ Sandcruiser™ all-terrain wheelchair are available to borrow at both the park office (located at 11 – 22nd Street) and the Welcome Centre at Nancy Island Historic Site (located at 119 Mosley Street).
Wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first come, first served basis, and must be returned by end of day (park office: 5:30 pm; Welcome Centre: 4:30 pm).
Visitors are required to provide a $500 security and damage deposit (cash or credit only), which is refunded once wheelchairs have been returned undamaged.
For more information on how to borrow a wheelchair, call the park office at 705-429-2516.
4. Which Beach Areas have accessible features?
Beach Areas 1 through 5 offer the most accessible features in the park.
Beach Areas 6, Allenwood, and New Wasaga Beach Areas do not provide accessibility due to their location and terrain.
Read below for details on which features can be found in each Beach Area.
Beach Area 1
Beach Area 1 offers a Mobi-Mat®, boardwalk, fishing platform, and accessible stalls inside its three comfort stations.
Visitors should note that while the comfort stations provide accessible stalls, the doorways are not automatic.
The Mobi-Mat® can be accessed from the Spruce Street municipal parking lot, located in front of the accessible parking spots.
The Beach Area 1 boardwalk can be accessed from the first parking lot within Beach Area 1 or the Spruce Street municipal parking lot.
The fishing platform can be found halfway through Beach Area 1 on the south side by the Nottawasaga River.
Beach Area 2
Beach Area 2 offers a Mobi-Mat®, boardwalk, paved/crushed limestone walking trail, and accessible stalls inside its two comfort stations.
Visitors should note that while the comfort stations provide accessible stalls, the doorways are not automatic.
The Mobi-Mat® can be accessed from the Third Street municipal parking lot, located to the west of the accessible parking spots.
The Beach Area 2 boardwalk can be accessed from the accessible parking near the 2B comfort station in the first parking loop within Beach Area 2.
The boardwalk can also be accessed from the Third Street municipal parking lot.
Beach Area 2’s accessible features are located near a playground.
Beach Area 3
Beach Area 3 offers a Mobi-Mat® and accessible stalls inside its comfort station.
Visitors should note that while the comfort station provides accessible stalls, the doorways are not automatic.
The Mobi-Mat® is located behind the comfort station and can be accessed from the accessible parking spots located in front of the comfort station using a paved pathway.
Beach Area 4
Beach Area 4 offers a Mobi-Mat®, paved/crushed limestone walking trail, and accessible stalls inside its comfort station.
Visitors should note that while the comfort station provides accessible stalls, the doorways are not automatic.
The Mobi-Mat® can be accessed from the accessible parking located near the playground in the second parking area.
Visitors can use the paved pathway to reach both the Mobi-Mat® and comfort station.
Beach Area 5
Beach Area 5 offers a Mobi-Mat®, paved/crushed limestone walking trail, and accessible stalls inside its comfort stations.
Visitors should note that while the comfort stations provide accessible stalls, the doorways are not automatic.
The Mobi-Mat® is located behind the 5A comfort station and can be accessed from the accessible parking spots located in front of the comfort station using a paved pathway.
Beach Area 5’s accessible features are located near a playground.
Beach Area 6
Beach Area 6 offers accessible stalls inside its comfort stations. Visitors should note that while the comfort stations provide accessible stalls, the doorways are not automatic.
The parking lot and area surrounding the comfort station are sand and uneven terrain. This location is not accessible.
Allenwood and New Wasaga Beach Areas
The parking lots and areas around the comfort stations at Allenwood and New Wasaga Beach Areas are sandy, uneven terrain.
These locations are not accessible.
5. Is Nancy Island Historic Site accessible?
The Welcome Centre, located at the entrance to Nancy Island Historic Site, is a fully accessible building.
It features automatic doorways, a universal washroom equipped with a full-sized change table, and the Mobi-Chair® floating wheelchair and Wheeleez™ Sandcruiser™ all-terrain wheelchair to borrow from this location (with security and damage deposit).
The Theatre and Museum on Nancy Island both have ramps at the entrance into the buildings.
Visitors should note that these ramps are not considered to be fully accessible, however most visitors find them manageable with a wheelchair or walker.
The museum is one level once inside. The theatre is three levels with two sets of stairs to reach the top two levels.
Visitors who are unable to reach the top level of the theatre to view the film have the option of watching the film on a portable iPad and are encouraged to reach out to a staff member for assistance with this.
We hope that these features help make your next visit to Wasaga Beach more accessible for you and your loved ones! Planning a trip to the beach? Here’s everything you need to know before you head to Wasaga!