HIKING
Bruce Peninsula National Park has the following trails of varying lengths and difficulty:
Cyprus Lake Trail – 5 kilometres (3 miles) long it takes about 2.5 hours. The trail loops around Cypress Lakeand is low in difficulty. It is accessed from the Head of Trails.
Georgian Bay – Marr Lake Trail – 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) long it takes about 3.0 hours. It reaches out to the bay then loops back to the Head of Trails. The difficulty varies and it is accessed from the Head of Trails. Halfway Point Rock offers an excellent vista with Flowerpot Island off in the distance. The trail also passes by Indian Head Cove which is an excellent diving and swimming spot. Further along are two sea caves, a natural arch and the famous Grotto.
Horse Lake Trail – 1 kilometre (.6 miles) in length it takes about 0.5 hours. It traverses long the shore of Horse Lake and is of moderate difficulty. Also accessed from the Head of Trails.
Singing Sands – 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) in length it takes about 0.5 hours as it is of low difficulty. The trail is on the west side of the Peninsula in a separate isolated section of the park across the highway from George Lake. It is well know for its orchids.
Halfway Log Dump – Is accessible from Emmett Lake via the gated road. This 3 kilometre (1.8 mile) hike will take you to one of the most spectacular areas of the Escarpment that lies within the park. Of moderate difficulty it takes about 1.5 hours.
Bruce Peninsula National Park is connected to the 800-kilometer Bruce Trail which provides a journey on its own for avid long term hikers and backpackers. Be sure to check out my Bruce Trail page for more information.
CAMPING
If you plan on staying overnight Bruce Peninsula National Park provides some excellent camping facilities including Yurts. For those unfamiliar, these are the dwellings of Asian nomads and provide excellent shelter and comfortable camping facilities. Check out the parks official website at: www.pc.gc.ca for more information on renting a yurt or fees for other camping sites. If you just want to pitch a tent the following campsites are available:
Front Country Camping – Bruce Peninsula National Park has 242 campsites in the area of Cyprus Lake. Tamarack (best for tent camping) has 81 sites, Birches 98 sites and Poplars 63 sites. There are no serviced sites available in the park. There are basic amenities but no showers. Showers are available for a fee just outside the park and in Tobermory. The park gets extremely busy and reservations are strongly recommended during high season. The Bruce Trail in this area is spectacular, especially further along near the Lion’s Head area.
Group Camping – There are three group camping sites at Cypress Lake. The sites have basic facilities only. Groups must qualify top utilize, contact the park for more information.
Backcountry Camping – There are wilderness camping sites in the park along the Bruce Trail following the Niagara Escarpment at High Dump and Stormhaven. There are 18 sites in total and access to the sites is along a rather rugged trail. You must pre-register to obtain one but reservations will prevent you from being. There is also a camping area on Flowerpot Island in Fathom Five National Marine Park located just off Tobermory. See my Fathom Five National Park page for more details.
CANOEING
The park offers excellent opportunities to partake in this Canadian tradition. Canoeing is available in:
- Cyprus Lake
- Cameron Lake
- Emmett Lake
Canoeing is available along the park’s shores but open canoes are not recommended as these waters are cold and very unpredictable.
SEA KAYAKING
Bruce Peninsula National Park and its neighbor Fathom Five National Marine Reserve provide a sea kayaker’s paradise. Whether a first timer or a long time veteran the area provides some of the best inland sea kayaking in the world.
Beautiful scenery like sheer limestone cliffs abound, enchanting destinations like Flowerpot Island and the Grotto are lapped by waters varying in color from emerald green to deep blue. Paddle among shipwrecks lying just a few feet underwater. This is an activity that I highly recommend as you will have access to sites you simply can’t see from shore.
Insider Tip: This can be a dangerous activity for newbie’s and experienced kayakers alike. The weather can be highly unpredictable and can change suddenly. The water is extremely cold and hypothermia can easily set in. Make sure you check the weather report before heading out and NEVER go out alone.
SCUBA DIVING
See my Fathom Five National Marine Park page for information on the area’s world-class scuba diving activities.