TIAPEI News & Awards

August 27, 2024

Parks Canada is pleased to provide visitors with a new visitor offer at Oceanview in PEI National Park.
Completed in June 2024, this new lookout platform features interpretive panels and seating. While it is beautiful and getting rave reviews, possibly the best-kept secret about this viewing platform is the outstanding view of iconic Cavendish coastline that it offers.

This new viewing platform was built to replace the previous platform which was destroyed during Hurricane Fiona. Despite the new infrastructure, Parks Canada staff have frequently observed visitors climbing over or going around fences to access fenced-off areas at Oceanview, sometimes even in the presence of tour operators. These fences are there to protect visitors, ecological or cultural resources, or both. Of concern, it has been noted this season that many visitors are ignoring fences and signage and other deterrents and are venturing out towards the cliff-edges at Oceanview, which are hazardous due to the nature of sandstone cliffs. The rocks in this area are also off-limits. Many visitors may not be aware of the following hazards:

• sandstone is ‘crumbly’ and unstable as compared to other types of stone
• cliff edges can be slippery when wet or under some types of footwear
• cliffs may be ‘undercut,’ meaning that an area that appears safe from above, may in fact give way unexpectedly underfoot
• additionally, this area may contain poison ivy, as indicated by signage

Please ensure that your visitors/clients do not enter fenced-off or restricted areas anywhere in PEI National Park, and specifically that they do not ignore fences or signage and walk towards the cliffs at Oceanview (most commonly at the western end of the Oceanview parking lot). Encourage them to utilize the newly created look-off structure (photos below), which is strategically located to provide photo opportunities of iconic scenic vistas, featuring red sandstone cliffs in one direction and dunes in the other direction.

To ensure everyone’s safety, we ask that you share these messages with visitors/guests/clients and stress the importance of respecting all park regulations and signage during their visits. PEI National Park Wardens and Compliance Officers have been notified of these ongoing issues and will be regularly monitoring the areas.

Fences, barricades, trees and other barriers placed across unused trails are to be seen as a barrier, intentionally put in place to prevent visitor traffic; these are put in place for the visitors’ safety and should not be stepped over or removed.

Parks Canada would like to thank all visitors and tour operators for their ongoing support and collaboration! We share the same goal – a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to pnipe-peinp@pc.gc.ca .