Neys Provincial Park
Marathon, ON, Canada
Neys Provincial Park, just west of Marathon, Ontario, has a 2 km sand beach on Ashburton Bay, one of the best stretches of sand on Superior's north shore. Offshore sits Pic Island, which Lawren Harris of the Group of Seven painted in 1924. The shallow bay slopes gently into cold, clear water, and the Coldwell Peninsula wraps around behind.
A long sand beach facing a famous Group of Seven view, though the water is always cold.
How we score beachesHike the Pic Island Lookout Trail for the same view of the island that Lawren Harris painted.
Parking at the day-use area and campground; an Ontario Parks permit is required.
Paths lead from the day-use area and campground to the sand.
Superior is cold even in August, but the gentle slope makes wading easy. Fall color comes in late September.
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