Skip to Content
Background Living Here
Orillia Home
  • Living Here
  • Doing Business
  • Visit Orillia
  • Inside City Hall
  • Online Services
Search
Take Me To...

PRC Logo

City of Orillia print logo
Contact Us Main menu icon
  • Recreation Services
  • Facilities & Parks
  • Orillia Home
Follow Us: View our Twitter Page View our Facebook Page View our YouTube Page View the Community Services Instagram Page
  • Recreation and Youth Services Information
    • Facilities & Parks
      • Booking a Facility
        • Arenas
        • Curling
        • Multi-Purpose Meeting Rooms
        • Pavilions
        • Sports Fields and Diamonds
      • Community Gardens
      • Parks
        • Beaches
        • Community Parks
        • Leash-Free Dog Zones
        • Marinas
        • Neighbourhood Parks
        • Outdoor Ice Rinks
        • Parkettes
        • Playgrounds
        • Scout Valley
        • Skateboard Park
        • Splash Pads
      • Parks Projects
        • Downtown Parkland
        • Emerald Ash Borer
        • Geese Management
      • Recreation Facility Project
      • Trails and Trail Maps
      • Waterfront
    • Facility Search
    • Golf Courses
    • Provincial Parks
    • Recreation Services
      • Birthday Parties
      • Orillia Recreation Centre
        • Aquatic Programs
        • Fitness Centre
        • Lifeguard Recruitment
        • Lifesaving Sport
      • Recreation Programs
        • Camps
        • Inclusion Services
        • Program Proposals
      • Seniors at Play Program
      • Special Events
      • Sports Leagues
        • Orillia Adult Hockey League
        • Orillia Girls Softball League
View Entire Menu
  • Accessibility
  • Animal Control & Licensing
  • Building Division
    • Additional Resources
    • Building Compliance
    • Building Permits
    • Climate Change & Green Building
    • Development Charges
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Permit Reports
    • Property Standards
    • Septic Maintenance Program
    • Sign Permits
  • By-laws/Municipal Code - Regulations & Policies
    • By-law Enforcement
      • Animal Control & Licensing
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • By-law Listing
    • Frequently Requested By-laws
    • Recreational Cannabis
    • Smoke/Vape Free Orillia
  • City Services
    • Utilities & Services
    • Snow Removal
  • Culture & Heritage
    • 2021 Orillia Regional Arts & Heritage Awards
    • Art in Public Places
    • Arts & Culture Directory
    • Black History Month
    • Champlain Monument Working Group
    • Community Services Information
    • EDI Roundtable
    • Event Planning
    • Festivals and Events
    • Heritage Matters
    • Indigenous Initiatives
    • Leacock Museum
    • Movies in the Park
    • Music in the Park
    • Orillia Opera House
    • Orillia Pride
    • Support for the Arts
      • Cultural Roundtable
  • Education
  • Emergency Services
    • 9-1-1 Calls
    • Emergency Management & Preparedness
      • Managing the City's Emergencies
      • Pandemic Plan
    • Extreme Weather Events
    • Fire
      • Activities - What's Hot!
      • Administration
      • Care Facilities
      • Communications
      • Employment & Recruitment
      • Fire Fighters in the Community
      • Fire Prevention
      • Fire Safety in the Home
      • Fire Stations
      • Fire Suppression
      • Inspection Services
      • Multi Residential Properties
      • Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Alarms
      • Student Housing
    • Police and Paramedic Services
  • Garbage, Recycling & Green Bin Pick-up
    • Community Clean-Ups & Anti-Littering
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Garbage Collection & Tag Program
    • Green Bin / Yard Waste
    • Landfill
    • Recycling Collection
    • Recycling Tips
    • Waste Collection Routes & Schedule
  • Have Your Say
  • Health Care
  • Housing
    • Affordable Housing Action Plan
    • Affordable Housing Incentives Funding
    • Affordable Housing Organizations
    • Affordable Housing Programs and Funding
    • Living in Orillia as a Student
    • Senior Housing
  • Landfill
    • Fees & Items Accepted
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Hours
    • Household Hazardous Waste Depot
    • Reports
    • Reuse Programs
    • Township Information
    • Waste Electronics Recycling
    • Waste Management Advisory Committee
  • Life Events
  • Living in Orillia as a Student
  • Maps
  • New Resident Information
  • News
    • Subscribe
  • Orillia's Climate Future
  • Parking & Ticket Payments
  • Property Taxes & Assessments
    • Paying Your Property Taxes
    • Property Tax Appeals
    • Property Tax Certificates
    • Property Tax Rates
    • Tax Sale Properties
  • Public Transit
    • About Orillia Transit
      • Advertising
      • Holidays
      • Route Map & Schedules
      • Transit Fares
    • Accessible Transit
    • Orillia Wheelchair Limousine Service
  • Roads & Traffic
    • Active Transportation
    • Heavy Truck Restriction Map
    • Snow Removal
    • Traffic Signals
    • Traffic Volume Map
    • Transportation Master Plan
  • Seniors Information
  • Sewer & Wastewater
    • Environmental Spills
    • Phosphorus
    • Pumping Stations
    • Septage Receiving Facility
    • Service Locates
    • Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
    • Wastewater Treatment Facilities & Process
    • Water & Sewer Rates
  • Source Water Protection
    • Source Protection Mapping
    • Vulnerable Areas
  • Stormwater
    • Stormwater Destination
    • Stormwater Management: Quality Control
    • Stormwater Management: Quantity Control
    • Stormwater Master Plan
  • Water
    • Bulk Water Services
    • Cross-Connection and Backflow Prevention Program
    • Drinking Water Quality Management System
    • Lead Service Replacement Rebate Program
    • Service Locates
    • Tips & FAQ
    • Water & Sewer Rates
    • Water Conservation
    • Water Meters
    • Water Quality
    • Water Treatment Facilities and Process
    • Water Usage Customer Portal
  • Youth Information

Beaches

Show or hide navigation More
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email This page Email
Home...Facilities & ParksParksBeaches

More in this Section...

Girl in lake

Contact(s)

Receive Email Updates...

Orillia is nestled between two beautiful lakes and offers many places to swim and enjoy water sports. The Community Services Department operates two public beach areas.

Map of Orillia Beaches

Beach Statuses

Beach statuses can be found on their own pages below:

Couchiching Beach

Moose Beach

 

Beach Rules

  • Swim within the designated swim area and always swim with a buddy
  • Children must be within arms reach and directly supervised by a parent or guardian
  • All floatable objects (water wings, noodles, rafts, tubes etc.) must be kept in the designated shallow area
  • Know your swimming limits - stay within them
  • Leave the water at the first sound of thunder - remember, lightning kills
  • No domestic animals allowed on the beach except service animals
  • Plastic containers only please (no glass)
  • Keep the beach clean, dispose of your litter in proper containers
  • Disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated
  • Please do not feed the birds

Lifeguards

Lifeguards are on duty daily from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Couchiching Beach and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Moose Beach generally from the end of June until the beginning of September. They are not on duty during inclement weather or beach postings.

 

 Beach Swim Advisory Postings
 
Why Are Beaches Posted?

Beaches are posted with warning signs because the water may contain high levels of bacteria. These can increase a swimmers risk of developing irritations and infections. The most common problems are minor skin, eye, ear, nose, throat infections, and stomach disorders.

What's Polluting Our Beaches?
  • Faulty or over-worked septic systems, agricultural run-off and sewage treatment plant by-passes are the three main contributors
  • Elevated levels of E. coli often occur after heavy rainfall because of surface water run-off.
  • Fecal material from pets, wildlife and birds can also wash into storm sewers, rivers and lakes.
  • Stirring up bacteria that has already settled on the bottom of the lake. 

Warning signs are posted at all public swimming locations when the beaches have a swim advisory.  To find out if a beach has been posted with a swim advisory call the Community Services office at (705) 329-7250.

Testing

Orillia Beaches are tested for Water Quality weekly to ensure that public safety is upheld and that the water quality meets established provincial safety standards. 

Beach water quality monitoring begins in July and continues to the end of August. The Health Unit regularly samples designated public beaches for bacteria. However, due to the delay in receiving lab results, beach goers cannot rely on only lab results to know if it is safe to swim. Learn how to make an informed decision about beach water quality before swimming.

A swim advisory posting is a warning to swimmers but it is not a beach closure. During a swim advisory posting, a beach is posted with warning signs when the water contains levels of bacteria that indicate there may be an increased risk of developing minor skin, eye, ear, nose and throat infections and stomach disorders. If you choose to swim during a swim advisory posting it may be prudent to avoid ducking your head or swallowing the water.

A beach closure is issued when a catastrophic event occurs or an immediate risk to health is present. Sewage spills or toxic chemical releases are examples. Beach closures are rare.

 National Drowning Prevention Week

 The third week of July each is National Drowning Prevention Week. Watch for events posted here!

 Splash Pads
Splash pads are located at Clayt French Park, J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park, McKinnell Square Park and Victoria Park. While Splash Pads are fun, there are a few simple rules that must be followed:
  • All children must have adult supervision at all times
  • Bikes, scooters, skateboards or roller blades are not permitted
  • No glass
  • No food or beverages on the splash pad or immediate area
  • Sand and/or dirt is not permitted in the splash pad area
  • Climbing on splash pad features is prohibited
  • No pets allowed - except service animals
  • The splash pad must be vacated upon hearing thunder or seeing lightning
  • Children should be properly attired for their age and toileting ability (e.g. swim diapers)
  • Do not use the splash pad if you have open sores, a rash, or are experiencing nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • No person shall pollute the water, surface or immediate area surrounding the splash pad in any manner
  • No boisterous play in and around the splash pad
  • Recreational water is not intended for drinking.
 Dogs on the Beach
All dogs are welcome in our parks and trails as long as they are on a leash no longer than 10 feet (3 meters) in length and must be kept under control at all times. Dogs are not permitted on any public beach or swim area, or children's playgrounds. Please remember to stoop and scoop.
 Please Don't Feed The Birds
The City of Orillia is working to improve beach water quality and our waterfront parks. You can help! Please don't feed the birds (ducks, gulls, geese or swans).
  • Bird droppings can be a potential health hazard
  • Feeding can attract many birds, resulting in excessive bird droppings in the sand, grass and water
  • Excessive bird droppings reduces water quality
  • Birds fed by hand lose their fear of humans and can become aggressive
  • Birds that feed on scraps do not eat a natural diet and can become less healthy or dependent on people
  • Birds that receive scraps tend to stay in their winter habitat longer and not migrate south.

Please dispose of food scraps in waste containers provided.

Beach Maintenance

Parks staff drag the beaches in the morning with a tractor on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from late June to Labour Day.  Lifeguards hand rake when on duty (11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Moose Beach and 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Couchiching Beach) and Parks and Lifeguard staff work together to pick up litter daily.

Orillia logo

© City of Orillia, 50 Andrew Street South, Suite 300, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 7T5, Tel: (705) 325-1311, Fax: (705) 325-5178, Email: info@orillia.ca

Privacy2big4emailSitemapStaff DirectoryAccessibility & Communications
By GHD Digital

Take Me To...

Business Info

  • Business Resources
  • City Profile
  • Demographics and Population
  • Incentives & Funding
  • Why Orillia?

City Info

  • Transit
  • Recreation Facility
  • By-laws, Municipal Code
  • Parking & Ticket Payments
  • Applications, Licences & Permits
  • Mayor & Council
  • Weekly Bulletin Board
  • Major Projects

Recreation Info

  • Community Parks
  • Recreation Programs
  • Beaches
  • Trails
  • Recreation Facilities & Parks
  • Outdoor Ice Rinks
  • Changes and Cancellations

Visitor Info

  • Discover & Do
  • Events
  • Getting Around Orillia
  • Orillia Opera House
  • Port of Orillia
  • Shop & Dine
  • Stay & Plan
  • Stephen Leacock Museum

Waste & Landfill Info

  • Garbage/Recycling/Green Bin Pickup
  • Waste Collection Schedule
  • Landfill Site
  • Landfill Hours
  • Garbage Tags
  • Items/Fees
  • Green Bin/Compost
  • Recycling Tips
  • Recycling Collection
x

Browser Compatibility Notification

It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.