Harrison Park

About Harrison Park

Harrison Park is an urban dream, with more than 40 hectares of streams, trails, gardens, playgrounds, forest and green space, right in the heart of the city.  Often called our “jewel in the crown,” the park features dining and recreation facilities, a full-service campground, boat rentals, a bird sanctuary, mini-putt, basketball courts, pools, and an open-air rink. Its network of trails leads through forest, fields and streams to Inglis Falls, and connects directly with the Bruce Trail on the Niagara Escarpment.  Our resident swans and their offspring will delight all ages, along with the many other species of birds frolicking and sunning themselves in our ponds and river.

When Harrison Park was turned over to the city a century ago, it was deemed one of the most beautiful parks in Ontario. Today, it remains one of the area's greatest attractions, retaining the natural beauty and rustic charm that have drawn generations of people to its gates.

It’s a perfect place to escape the heat, enjoy a swim, pack a picnic, feed birds, or float along the Sydenham River in a paddle boat or canoe, camera at the ready.

Cool off with an ice cream cone at the Harrison Park Inn restaurant, which is open year-round and licensed. Catch the action in the spring and fall when the trout and salmon swim upstream to spawn.

Check out the Black History Cairn, an intriguing monument to the city’s first black settlers, escaped slaves who followed the Underground Railroad to its most northerly terminus, here in Owen Sound. An emancipation picnic and festival is held in the park every August.

Lace up your skates in the winter, when the Good Cheer open-air rink is in operation. (Just remember the "HOSE" rule -- hockey on odd-numbered days, pleasure skating on even ones).

Showshoeing, cross-country skiing, tobogganing and snowmobiling are other favourite park activities in winter. The area is most delightful during the annual Festival of Northern Lights, when colorful displays light up the park from dusk onward.

Campground Features:

• 108 sites with hydro & water hookups
• firewood
• ice
• Riverfront & shaded sites
• flush toilets & showers
• Dumping station
• laundromat

Harrison Park facilities and attractions:

• More than 100 full-service campsites at the Harrison Park Campground
• two tennis courts
• six basketball nets
• a horseshoe area (horseshoes can be borrowed from the park office)
• three playgrounds, including the brand new, fully accessible Kiwanis playground
• trails for hiking, biking and running, including the Bruce Trail
• picnic facilities
• a senior's centre
• community centre for group events
• licensed, four-season restaurant
• canoe and paddle boat rentals
• mini-putt golf course
• public washrooms
• interpretive trails
• Black History Cairn
• access to Weaver’s Creek Trail

Camping Reservations and Contact Information