Though the land in southwestern Ontario has long been dominated by agriculture -- and St. Thomas is no exception -- several parks remain dense with oak and maple forests and native wetlands. These conservation areas, between the north shore of Lake Erie and the south boundary of London, feature campgrounds with shady sites set among the trees and nature trails leading over lookouts and past marshes that attract rare bird species.
Just past the outskirts of the St. Thomas city limits, Dalewood Conservation Area covers 700 acres of woods and wetlands unique to Ontario. The park hosts 200 sites, including slips serviced with 45-amp electric hook-ups. Other sites are nonserviced primitive spots suitable for tent camping. Go for a dip in the on-site swimming pool before you head to the nearby 18-hole disc golf course to toss the Frisbee around. Observe blue herons, song birds and beavers in their natural habitats as you hike along a 7-mile trail loop around Dalewood Reservoir, accessible from the park.
More than 250 campsites are tucked between the trees of Springwater Conservation Area, less than 10 miles east of St. Thomas. The park, open from Canada's Victoria Day to Thanksgiving weekend, has two campgrounds. The west campground, nestled along Bradley Creek, features mostly 30-amp electric serviced sites, while the east campground is for tent camping. The east campground is also the day-use area, where visitors and campers play on a small stretch of sandy beach on the banks of Springwater Pond. Canoe and pedal boats are available for rent.
Nearly 20 miles northeast of St. Thomas, the 26-acre Lake Whittaker acts as a major recreation option for campers at Lake Whittaker Conservation Area. Spend lazy summer days drifting on the lake with your fishing rod dangling idly over the side of your boat -- rainbow trout and smallbouth bass are common catches in the lake. Alternatively, soak up the sun on one of the lake's two sandy beaches. The park, which includes 400 acres of forest and wetlands, also has a disc golf course and swimming pool. Each of the 214 campsites come equipped with a picnic table and fire pit, while some sites supply electric hook-ups and accommodate pull-through trailers.
On the north shore of Lake Erie, Port Burwell's 1 1/2 mile stretch of sandy beach is the park's main attraction, bolstered by the lake's warm and shallow waters. A half-mile hike that passes a 65-foot bluff with lookouts leads from the unsupervised beach to Port Burwell's three campgrounds, with a total of 232 campsites. One hundred and twenty-three of the campsites are serviced with electric hook-ups, and two group camp areas have views of Lake Erie.
