236 Big Tub Road, Tobermory, Ontario, Canada
(519) 596-2219
The Bruce Trail stretches from the Niagara Region all the way up to Tobermory, but the trail from Wiarton to Tobermory is some of the best hiking you will find anywhere! 264km’s of extraordinary hiking trails featuring amazing lookouts onto Georgian Bay and a variety of easy trails for beginners and strenuous trails for those looking for a challenge!
When hiking:
BE PREPARED, ALWAYS LET SOMEONE KNOW WHERE YOU PLAN TO HIKE AND WHEN YOU EXPECT TO BE BACK. TAKE A MAP AND PLENTY OF WATER. WEAR SUITABLE CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR.
The park welcomed its first visitors in 1987 and its 156 square kilometres form a large part of UNESCO’s Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve.
The National Park Visitor Centre located at120 Chi Sin Tib Dek Rd, in the village of Tobermory, is the hub for Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park. The Centre has a great interpretive centre, theatre showing a film that offers an overview of the park called “Life on the Edge” and other fun trails and children activities
Climb 112 steps at the National Park Visitor Centre to the top of the 20m tall Tower that is situated near the Visitor Centre to enjoy a exhilarating view of the Bruce Peninsula – Village of Tobermory, Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park. After climbing the tower at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre, head out along the trail to a platform view of Little Dunks on Georgian Bay, and easy glimpse of the crystal clear blue waters of the area.
The Grotto is a scenic cave containing a pool of blue water, located on the Georgian Bay shoreline. Millions of years of erosion has caused intricate caves of limestone, like the Grotto to be formed on the shores of Georgian Bay. The blue green waters of the Bay against the backdrop of carved rocks and rock formations creates a breathtaking view that is well worth the hike. You need to climb down the rocky cliffs to reach the grotto – 12m climb down the face of a rocky open cliff. The Grotto is a popular attraction and very busy during the summer and on long weekends. Parking space is limited and quickly fills up. A new reservation system for the 4 hour Grotto parking time slots allows you to plan your trip in advance. Plan ahead to avoid disappointment!
See naturally sculpted limestone cliffs, forming miniature versions of Flowerpots at this scenic location. Halfway Rock Point offers an excellent vista: on the northern horizon lie Flowerpot and Bear’s Rump islands in Fathom Five National Marine Park. The cobble stone beach at Indian Head Cove is a popular location for swimming. Indian Head Cove is east of the Grotto.
Driftwood Cove is home to a globally rare ancient cliff-edge ecosystem with the oldest trees in eastern North America, 10 federally listed species at risk, as well as important ecologically, geologically and culturally significant cave systems. You can see orchids like eastern prairie white-fringed orchid and ram’s-head lady’s-slipper, globally rare species, like lakeside daisy and eastern massasauga rattlesnake in this property located on Saugeen Bruce Peninsula. A total of 8 kilometres of the famous Bruce Trail—Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath—runs through this property.
Access through Emmet Lake Road from Highway 6.
National Park parking fee applies.
The hike from the parking lot to Half way Log Dump is 1 km. This short trail from the parking lot will bring visitors to a rugged cobble beach along the Bruce Trail. Hikers are treated to the sunning view of sheer cliffs and white cobble stone beaches.
Take this short stroll to admire the small but astonishing plants that grow in the Singing Sands Fen habitat. This extremely delicate wetland is home to a variety of orchids and insect eating plants. The Singing Sands trail goes through woods and partly along the shores of Dorcas Bay. Many wild flowers can be seen in the spring. The easy Boardwalk trail is about 200m long. The forest loop trail is of moderate difficulty, is 3 km long and takes about 1.5 hours to hike.
Some mileage information:
Tobermory to Little Cove – easy to moderate – 6 km.
Little Cove to the National Park (Cyprus Lake area) – moderate to strenuous – 14 km.
National Park (Cyprus Lake area) to Halfway Log Dump (Emmett Lake) – strenuous to difficult – 6 km
Halfway Log Dump (Emmett Lake) to Crane River Gate – strenuous to moderate – 15 km.
Peninsula Bruce Trail Club Website: http://pbtc.ca/
Bruce Trail Association Website: http://www.brucetrail.org
Bruce Peninsula National Park: http://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/bruce
Bruce Peninsula National Park Trail Map
Flowerpot Island Trail Map
Tobermory Visitor Centre Trail Map
For more information, visit the Bruce Trail and Explore The Bruce
