Hiking in Bruce Peninsula National Park
Hiking in Bruce Peninsula National Park is a visual treat. Rugged trails deliver exceptional cliff-top scenery, passing caves, crystal clear Caribbean-coloured blue water, ancient 1000-year old cedar trees, and even rare orchids.
I spent a few days one May hiking in Bruce Peninsula National Park and while I hiked sections of the Bruce Trail I also did several loops on trails leading to the Bruce Trail (see map below).
I think the Bruce Trail, Canada’s longest marked hiking trail, that jogs for 21 km (13.1 mi) through the park, offers the best hiking experience in the park.
Bruce Peninsula National Park is part of a World Biosphere Reserve. People come from the world over to marvel at the rugged cliffs and the clear turquoise-blue water that is part of the Georgian Bay.
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You might enjoy: 40 Days and 40 Hikes: Loving the Bruce Trail One Loop at a Time
Where is Bruce Peninsula National Park?
Bruce Peninsula National Park is located at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, between Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay. It’s 289 km northwest of Toronto, and approximately a four hour drive.
To get there, take Highway 10 north out of Brampton and continue as it becomes Highway 6 for 283 km to reach Cyprus Lake Road. Turn right and follow it for 4.4 km.
It’s 10.6 km south of Tobermory to reach the turnoff onto Cyprus Lake Road.
Check the summer schedule for the Parkbus that runs to Bruce Peninsula National Park from Toronto.
Cyprus Lake Trailhead
The main trailhead in Bruce Peninsula National Park is at Cyprus Lake. Choose from a variety of hiking trails starting here.
Most are an easy hike down to the Georgian Bay, but then the level of difficulty is all over the map, from easy to very difficult. Most people head for the gorgeous area around the Grotto.
When I visited it had just finished raining hard and by the time I reached the Grotto on the Georgian Bay I could hardly see a thing because of dense fog.
Fortunately, towards the end of my first day hiking in Bruce Peninsula, the fog started to lift. I don’t know how common fog is though I had it again on the second day of hiking too.
Indian Head Cove and the Grotto
Leave plenty of time to explore both Indian Head Cove and the Grotto, a big cave on the shore carved by waves over thousands of years.
Both are about a 90 minute hike west of the Stormhaven backcountry campsite. These two spots, real highlights when you’re hiking the Bruce Peninsula, are only 10 minutes apart.
Overhanging Point
The other must-do hike in Bruce Peninsula National Park is the one to Overhanging Point. But it’s a surprisingly tough hike.
Follow a trail filled with uneven, sharply pointed rocks and big tree roots. From Overhanging Point you can easily return to the Cyprus Lake Trailhead via the easy Marr Lake Trail though you will have to retrace your steps a bit. Or continue hiking another 17.5 km to Tobermory.
The Bruce Trail
Any trail that is marked with a white blaze is part of the Bruce Trail. The Bruce Trail is both the oldest and longest marked hiking trail in Canada – running 893.9 km.
It starts in Queenston Heights Park near Niagara Falls and finishes at Tobermory at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. You can go hiking in Bruce Peninsula National Park on approximately 21 km of the actual Bruce Trail.
The Bruce Trail on the way to Halfway Log Dump and High Dump
You can access Halfway Log Dump in Bruce Peninsula National Park via turning east on Dyers Bay Road and then making a left on Crane Lake Road. Follow it a short distance to reach the parking lot. You must have a parking reservation here as well.
From the parking lot hike 8.0 km to High Dump and 15.5 km to Halfway Log Dump.
Hiking in Bruce Peninsula to Halfway Log Dump starts off easily enough on a gravel track with little elevation gain. After you pass Moore Lake to the east, the terrain becomes significantly more rugged.
The High Dump Campsite is off to the right (east), the Halfway Log Dump Campsite many kilometres along to the west. If you continued, you would arrive at the Stormhaven backcountry campsite. Even though I had fog for much of the hike, it was still very beautiful and the views down to the water quite gorgeous. Beware of the cliffs though. They can be slippery when wet.
You can do an out and back hike, but if you could arrange a shuttle even better, though now you’d have to time your parking reservation or hike it during a quiet, low visitor period. Then you could enjoy a beautiful one way hike on the Bruce Trail. To do that leave one car at Cyprus Lake and one at Halfway Log Dump.
Fees to go hiking in Bruce Peninsula National Park
When I first went hiking in Bruce Peninsula, all you needed was a valid national park pass. Now you need that in addition to a parking fee and a reservation fee.
Online reservations cost $11.50. Daily parking per vehicle is $15.00. Entrance fees for adults are $8.50, seniors are $7.50, and youth are free.
Camping in Bruce Peninsula National Park
Front-country camping in Bruce Peninsula National Park
There is front-country camping in Bruce Peninsula National Park. If you want to stay in the Cyprus Lake Campground (and you can hike to The Grotto from here) you will need to book a parking space which comes with a four hour time slot.
Don’t plan to show up at the park without a parking spot booked because it is that busy! Campsites are for $29.95/night and firewood is an additional $12.98.
Backcountry camping in Bruce Peninsula National Park
There are two backcountry camping areas in the park, each with nine campsites – Stormhaven (UTM coordinates E460815 N5009640) and High Dump (UTM coordinates E468097 N5009034). Campsites are on wooden platforms – so you need a free-standing tent – like the one I use by MSR.
Bring a cook stove as fires are not allowed. There are poles that can be use to hang your food and toiletries.
Backcountry reservations open on February 3, 2025 at 8 AM ET. The camping fee per person per night is $12.75. An online reservation is $11.50
Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-877-737-3783.
Bruce Trail hiking map through Bruce Peninsula National Park
For more information about Bruce Peninsula National Park visit their website.
Further reading on hiking in Ontario
- The Top of the Giant Hike in Northwest Ontario
- A Challenging Hike on the Lake Superior Coastal Trail
- Hiking in Awenda Provincial Park, Ontario
- Things to Do in Point Pelee National Park
- Hiking the Nokomis Trail, Lake Superior Provincial Park
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I am truly captivated by your realistic photos and the way you used words for this trail. Wonderful post indeed. 🙂
That is a big toad! I like the juxtaposition of the fog and the clear, blue water. Your posts are really making me want to hike Canada!
@Michele The toad jumped out in front of me and scared me – but then stuck around long enough for a photo. I’m glad I’ve got you thinking about hiking in Canada.
Wow, the color of water is amazing! Wish the weather is warm when water is so clear like that. Beautiful photos, Leigh!
@Salika On a hot summer day the water might be swimmable; at least it’s pretty.
So, so beautiful – maybe even more beautiful because you did such a good job of capturing the fog. Obviously there are a lot of wonderful places in Canada that I know nothing about! Guess I need to head north more often.
@Cindy Yes you do – and I’m glad you’re coming to TBEX. There is a lot of great country I’m hoping to discover in Canada over the next 18 months. I’ve just got started in Ontario.
I haven’t heard of Bruce Peninsula National Park but now I want to visit. Those pictures and scenery from the Overhanging Point are just inviting and beautiful. I really love the unexpected Caribbean hue of the water. Awesome shot of the frog – I can almost feel its bumpy skin texture.
@Mary It’s another great park that your kids would enjoy. It turned out to be far more beautiful than I expected.
Beautiful photos, Leigh! I knew about the Bruce Trail but I have never hiked it and I did not know that it was in a National Park. I really need to familiarize myself with a list of our National Parks! The colour of the water is amazing – I didn’t know about that either!
@Lisa I lived in Toronto for years and never visited the park either. It’s exciting to explore areas you’ve heard about for years – especially when they more than meet your expectations.
Enticing photos. Is it lime stones that colour the water?
@Mette I have no idea and have been researching but still don’t have an answer.
A shame about the budget cuts in the parks. I was really surprised about the color of the water — I wouldn’t expect that Caribbean hue in Canadian waters. Lovely pics you got on the trail. Glad the frog cooperated and kept still while you got his pic.
@Cathy I knew about the water but it’s something else to see it for real. A very beautiful area.
Ooooo gorgeous photos! The sea looks magnificent, esp with the mist hanging. And the green of the trees is just beautiful. Thanks for taking me there for a visit.
How gorgeous, Leigh! I can’t get over the color of the water. I love the surreal feel that the fog gives those two shots.
@Nancie The fog added plenty of atmosphere and the colour along the whole section of coast I hiked looked exactly how it does in my photos.
Amazing scenery, Leigh. The mist is a problem but I’ve got to say, it gives it a lovely, ethereal feel. Hope the sun stays out so you can finish your time in Bruce Peninsula in good weather.
@Marcia I left in rain but really I feel lucky because once back in my rental car it came down in buckets. I hadn’t seen rain that bad in a very long time.
I always keep on hiking because of the wildlife and the scenery. I love the photo of the water being so inviting but so cold as well. Enjoy your hike :)! Lovely landscape.
@Agness You can see it was a gorgeous hike. No animals on that trail except for the toad and some birds. Happy not to see bears.
I read about it in Lonely Planet Canada, and had it marked as a possibility on our 2010 trip, but we never found the time. It looks like it lives up to it’s reputation. Canada is so huge and has so many worthwhile sights and walks!
@Jan You really have to pick specific area when you come to Canada and concentrate on them or you spend all your time in transit. The park is lovely and relatively easy to access from Toronto but remote too. There’s a ParkBus that now leaves Toronto and takes you there on weekends.
It is good to know that there is now a Park Bus – makes it easier for those without their own transport.
@Jan I think the Park Bus is a brilliant idea and hope it really takes off.
Thanks for posting this. I will be making a beeline for this park on Monday after TBEX for a little hiking before I head back to Chicago.
@Ted Great idea. You would definitely enjoy it and the campsite at Stormhaven if you backpack in is beautiful.
Wow! I never imagined that such color can be found on the water north of Mexico. It’s incredible!
@Jill The area is renowned for it’s crystal clear waters and not far away – just off the coast around Tobermory – is a National Marine Park that offers great diving.
@Jill And this area is doable from Toronto if you have time on your trip.
Hi Leigh, I have not heard of Bruce Trail. It sounds amazingly long and it looks spectacular. I love wooded trails that run along the water. The color of the water is stil stunning eventhough it’s not sunny. It must be incredible when the sun shines. But I enjoy the foggy atmosphere; it looks mysterious. Thanks for taking me for another gorgeous hike!
@Marisol The whole of the Bruce Trail hike is quite an undertaking. I met 5 ladies who were doing sections over the course of 8 years and planned to finish in June. That’s one of the best things about being out there is running into people like this and hearing their stories.
There’s something to be said for hikes in the fog – it adds a bit of mystery to it. Also, you got some fabulous misty photos.
@Sophie Initially I wasn’t happy about the fog as I always find it a tad disorienting but in the end I agree – it lent a lot of atmosphere but glad it burned off at least for a short while.
I’ve never been, but from your pictures it’s something that definitely resonate with me. We have some awesome hikes in Western Australia too, but quite different to those in Canada.
@Johanna From everything I’ve read in western Australia I would definitely like to visit and hike. You’d find the Bruce Peninsula area very rugged, almost desolate feeling in places but very beautiful.
Beautiful photos Leigh! Places like this are why I hike. Scenery is amazing and I am at peace just looking at the photos 🙂
I really want to spend some time exploring the outdoors of Canada.
@Jeremy Thanks for your lovely comment. I hope I can continue to entice you up to Canada. We’re not as exotic as other parts of the world but I bet you’d love the beauty of the place.
Your photos – as usual are beautiful. They have an almost haunting quality about them. . .quiet, solitude, being alone on the trail, a moving post, this one!
@Jackie Thanks for your great comment Jackie. Maybe I picked up the mood of ding the hike alone.