2010 Adventure Series – Bruce Trail

Overhanging Point on Bruce Trail

Every once in awhile you find a corner of Canada which takes your breathe away. A destination that catches you by surprise, somewhere that receives very little fan fare, somewhere you have not heard of before and maybe, just maybe, somewhere that gets overshadowed by a neighboring tourism destination. In this case Muskoka gets all the glory and is referred to as Cottage Country, while others get overshadowed.

Nothing against Muskoka, it is beautiful destination and we will highlight it later. But, just down the road there is a sweet little getaway destination – a must not miss destination when in the region of Eastern Ontario called Bruce Peninsula on the Georgian Bay.

Located on a long peninsula stretching out onto the Georgian Bay of Lake Heron is a region of Ontario called “The Bruce”. Here the villages are small and personal. People are frindly. Nature is alive and about. The cliffs are tall and jagged. The secondary roads zig and zag. The highway runs down the centre of the peninsula. Everywhere there are beaches, lighthouses, marinas, parks and trails.

The area is active.. so much to explore. There are people cycling on the roads, paddling the coves and inlets, jogging the trails and backpacking into the wilderness.

You can walk out to lighthouses, strutting on cliffs. You can visit art galleries and museums visit with artists and talk history. There are tours and guides providing adventures on the water visiting historic sites, wilderness campsites and heritage buildings.

Grotto on Bruce Trail

But for anyone who loves beachcombing, hiking, sightseeing, backpacking and photography then one must find time to explore sections of the 800 kilometre Bruce Trail. A massive recreation trail connecting the village of Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula to Niagra Falls.

Along the route are many access points to many “points of interest” located on the Bruce Trail. In simple terms there are access trails connecting to the main trail at many points in Ontario but the best scenery is on the Bruce Peninsula. There are access trails near the Park’s Visitor Centre near Tobermory, the main campground, Little Cove and the Log Dump in the Bruce Peninsula Park.

The Bruce Trail is well marked, has many highlight points and provided us so many photo moments. The Grotto and the Overhanging Point are two points on the trail accessed from the campground which are must sees.

The Grotto is an underwater tunnel and wading pool  hidden in the coastal cliffs.   The Overhanging Point are cliffs stretching out over the water with views of the Georgian Bay. Hiking the trails, high stepping exposed tree roots and climbing up and over boulders was a total hoot.

Singing Sands

Separated from the main section of the Bruce Peninsula Park is an area not to forget called the Singing Sands. A scenic treat consisting of wet sandy beaches stretching out forever during low tides revealing tidal pools, wetlands and a beach creek running down the centre. It is a birdwatching destination, beachcombing and hiking trail adventure waiting to happen.

I made it happen on my visit to the Bruce Peninsula. Every once in awhile it is wise to spend some time in the wilderness and clear your thoughts, breathe in the air and replenish yourself.