We stopped and had lunch on the beach at Stormhaven which had great views of a huge cave and cliffs. I almost wish they would do 2 and 6 hour variables on the parking for those who just want to see the grotto and take some Instagram shots and those that want to explore more of the Trail network. DLTK-Ninos.com Easy to miss trailhead, went to no bouldering sign and climbed up to find trail saw others making similar mistake. Crampons are a must, very icy. Overall, the area offers so much for any summer day. You must have a parking reservation here as well. The hike to the grotto also gives you scenic views of Georgian Bay and Indian Head Cove. Check out this 4.5-km out-and-back trail near Miller Lake, Ontario. Attendez-vous des bouchons de circulation, des files dattente et des stationnements pleins. I will love to hike here. Are there any other alternatives for me to visit this trail i.e. A few technical areas but nothing extreme. Parks Canada keeps up the maintenance throughout the year, and the tent pads looked #comfy. Leau est vraiment de toute beaut et le sentier est assez rocheux. A visit to the Bruce Peninsula and Tobermory is perfect for a weekend getaway. Pauseitivity.com If you are into rock climbing, walk along the beach . pc.information.pc@canada.ca, "Reservations are required for parking at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Once there to see the shore you need to walk on big white rocks for about 15 minutes to get to a lookout. This trail is not crowded until the grotto, then it's more like an amusement park loaded with tourists and cologne. Hope you get a chance to visit, its a gorgeous place to hike. Hardly anyone on the trail (Wednesday June 16, 2021). The trail is well marked and easy to follow. more. Alternatively, you may use, Best Western Plus Walkerton Hotel & Conference Centre, http://www.tripadvisor.com/help/how_to_edit_your_posts. 3.) Hi, I'm Brianna a Canadian from Toronto who is travel obsessed. Found the trail to be well marked except at the start where we walked along the beach at first. Wear proper hiking shoes and watch your footing as its easy to roll your ankles. Theres also a 65-foot tower here that gives scenic views over Georgian Bay. Regardless, if you're on the more adventurous side, if you have a great hiking buddy + set of ankle-supporting boots, and if you're ready to snag a bunch of great shots for Instagram (*wink*), then do check out the "Halfway Log Dump to Grotto" hike. I think a 4.5 year old would get tired, so a wagon might be helpful. Photo copyright by Edith Levy. Sooooo many bugs, very slippery and steep hills full of rocks. Even our shorter winter trip to the Grotto left us slipping on the incline because we hadn't been smart enough to wear proper shoes. Copyright 1998-2023 DLTK's Sites - All Rights Reserved, Hiking the Kicking Horse to Amiskwi Trail. The hike took us around 6-7 hours totalwith the quarter-hike swim lasting us about an hour. There is a history of access issues here, and bouldering was not permitted at all for many years due to . Le parc national de la Pninsule-Bruce est trs achaland de la mi-juin la mi-septembre, et les fins de semaine de mai octobre. Very rocky, a lot of up and downs. Visitors will be able to book parking in six-hour time slots. Be warned that there arent showers. Horrible experience I went on July 1st. We saw a couple of families with their kayaks propped up to dry, and their dry bags were strung high. It is also a very popular and busy location, especially during the peak season of July and August and on long weekends. Une fois que le stationnement de la Grotto est complet, il est impossible daccder la grotte. 1h 41m The McCurdy parking lot is a small parking lot, with 4 porte-potties and trash/recycle bins, but no other facilities. Only thing, I wish there were more views of the lake but other than that, it was beautiful. Very peaceful. It gets filled up pretty quickly. The Grotto, Tobermory: Address, Phone Number, The Grotto Reviews: 4.5/5. Reservations are required for parking to access the Grotto from April 30 to October 31, Halfway Log Dump from June 17 to September 4 and at Little Cove from May 15 to October 15 . We do not recommend travelling to the park without a confirmed reservation.". 4 hours goes by really quickly though. Hotels near Bruce Peninsula National Park: Restaurants near Bruce Peninsula National Park: Attractions near Bruce Peninsula National Park: Bruce Peninsula National Park, Tobermory: Address, Phone Number, Bruce Peninsula National Park Reviews: 4.5/5. Rocky beach paths are tricky for ankles that roll easily- take it slow there. Lets make every adventure count for our planet! The main pools were crowded but not too crowded that we didn't enjoy. Beautiful view. (Frais d'admission) + (Frais de stationnement) + (Frais de rservation). It took almost 3.5 hours to get to the grotto as we stopped along the way to enjoy the incredible scenery. Truly a natural gem in Ontario. Its a pleasant hike and you only need a couple of hours here. I highly recommend wearing at least sneakers/runners. Parking in Tobermory is more than downtown Toronto!!!! Happy to introduce you to a new part of Canada! We booked our parking at the end of July for a weekday visit at the end of August. STUNNING! The rocky shorelines and vibrant woodlands of the Bruce Peninsula invite explorers and hikers of all ages. Indian Head Cove beside the Grotto was fairly crowded but we hiked north just beyond the Grotto and found a rocky cove suitable for swimming that we were able to have to ourselves. Wear hiking boots so that you don't roll an ankle! After having experienced the fantastic blue waters in snowier weather, he and I have been itching to get back to the park these summer months. pc.information.pc@canada.ca, "Reservations are required for parking at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Located on Georgian Bay, its known for the cliffs that rise above the turquoise waters of Lake Huron. Wowzers, Bruce Peninsula looks so beautiful. 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. Thanks for helping me discover it, it seems so peaceful and serene. Reservations are required and it does get very busy. DLTK-Holidays.com Traverse the rocky shores, explore the shallow crystal clear waters or hike the Bruce Trail at Little Cove Beach. If you can, go during the week to avoid large crowds as the grotto at the Bruce Peninsula gets especially crowded. Follow it a short distance to reach the parking lot. All trail indique 7.7, par contre cest pour se rendre lautre parking. Own or manage this property? Minimal bugs. Our day was supposed to be a hot one according to my weather app, and I wanted to get right in the water! Gorgeous. To avoid disappointment, plan ahead, or as we like to say, if you want to look, you have to book! Contact Us (Flies alert!). definitely not an easy trail but if youre capable, have good stamina, and can do the hike back as well, its definitely worth it, Easily my favourite hike Ive ever done. The hike from the parking lot is longer but more developed than Halfway Log Dump. Absolutely amazing scenery! The Rocky landscape and caves showing the history and beauty of the region is memorable. The Grotto, in Bruce Peninsula National Park, is one of the top tourism attractions in Ontario. Lots of rough, rocky terrain. Difficult hike. If you are into rock climbing, walk along the beach here in the direction of the grotto and you will get to quite a few boulders and likely encounter other climbers. Now available for download, the Trails Brochure is the perfect companion piece when you're planning your hike. The main parking lot operates on six daily reservation schedules: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 12 to 4 p.m., 1 to 5 p.m., 4 to 8 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. You choose a block and get four hours to explore The Grotto and its surrounding attractions along the Bruce Trail. We are thinking of a trip to the Bruce Peninsula and I see you have to reserve parking at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Lots of opportunities to rest and take in the spectacular sights. Make sure to book the parking in advance. There are no first-come, first-served parking lots at these locations.". Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 23 min to complete. Lots of bugs and a ton of elevation. We were saying to each other after this more recent hike that there is no way someone would be able to complete this round trip if the weather was rainy or even unpredictable. This year, while we've been Ontario-bound, returning to Georgian Bay to get my swimming-redemption seemed like the perfect fit. It cost the 2 of us approximately $30, just to get into the park, and our pass was only good for one day! There are washrooms and a drinking fountain at the parking lot and washrooms near the grotto. I also forgot to turn off my timer when I got to Stormhaven. Hint for next time: the trailhead is further up the blue-marked wide-trail before you see Georgian Bay.. Did this in the rain and avoided the bugs. It is a 30 minute hike (depending on your pace). Take in some stunning views across the water and explore along the rocky escarpment. Luckily for me, Griffin took me to Bruce Peninsula for my birthday! Looks like a rough hike and you still pay $$$ to park, if you get up early enough to get in the parking lot. Explore different ways to experience this place. Definitely challenging, not for small children. If you manage to plan farther ahead, you could even spend a couple of days backcountry camping. I wanted to get to Grotto but I didnt want to hiked in the dark, so I cut my trip short. We went there on 3 separate days with the 8am - noon reservation and it was good to get an early start. Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Parry Sound & Toronto, Private shuttle service to local attractions. Great views. Update - tried to use the parks canada site, feds really don't know how to build systems all that well. Stunning. Don't let the distance fool you - this is an extreme trail with a lot of steeps, long drops, inclines and descends. Bruce Peninsula National Park also includes the popular Cyprus Lake Campground with 232 camp sites and 10 yurt accommodations. However when we got to the grotto it was full of groups, from the campground. We were not adventurous nor prepared enough for that level of hiking dedication, but we were pretty proud of our 14.5 km achievement! Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. A hike to see the grotto and scenic cave at Bruce Peninsula National Park is by far the number one thing to do here. Challenging terrain !!! Got lost a few times. Ive never been to Canada before. There is a parking fee of $11.70 per vehicle that can be paid at the self-registration station at the parking lot. If you have questions about parking at the Grotto, Halfway Log Dump or within Bruce Peninsula National Park, please contact the park directly at 1-888-773-8888 or by email at bruce-fathomfive@pc.gc.ca. Griffin and I managed to hike along the shore for about a km before we had to (literally) climb our way up to the trail. If everywhere is booked up on the Bruce Peninsula there are a couple of other, less convenient, options for where to stay. The parking at Halfway Log Dump goes back to first come first serve on September 7. Id only recommend it if youre in good physical shape as theres a lot of climbing up & down hills & rocks. I have a 4-8pm time slot for parking at the grotto but a day pass to the national park (comes with the reservation) am I able to visit cyprus lake in the morning to kayak or will I be turned away and made to enter the park only at 4pm? L'honorable Steven GuilbeaultMinistre de l'Environnement et du Changement climatique, Dautres endroits visiter en une journe, Message du prsident et chef de la direction, Les relations avec les peuples autochtones Parcs Canada, Rservations obligatoires pour la priode du 30 avril au 31 octobre 2023, Stationnement : plages horaires de 4 heures, Directions : accs par le chemin du Lac-Cyprus, Rservations obligatoires pour la priode du 17 juin au 4 septembre2023, Plages horaires de stationnement de six heures, Directions : accspar le chemin du Lac-Emmett. Camping in the park is popular, reservations are required. I have emailed them and will update this post with their reply in case someone else is also looking for this information. Beautiful trail, and the hike was a breeze once up on the bluff, took a stop i stormhaven, gorgeous, and dipped in the ice cold water at grotto, didnt mind the company! This post contains affiliate links, If you make a purchase through these links I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The trail is marked online as "difficult," and while I sometimes scratch my head at these categorizations, I agreed with this one. The Bruce Peninsula National Park offers views of Georgian Bay, with skiing undisturbed by noise, pavement or many other skiers! It has its own parking lot and its worth driving over to it as it is quite far from the grotto camping and parking. Thanks for following along! Vous devez planifier votre visite ces endroits. KidZone.ws There is a sand beach and shallower water so the water is warmer. I travelled to the Bruce Peninsula National Park just outside Tobermory for a hike and to climb the tower -- a remarkable view. Couldn't even enjoy the view in peace. From the parking lot hike 8.0 km to . I have been in awe of Bruce Peninsula since I had first moved to Ontario. # reservationrequired visit to the # Grotto or Halfway Log Dump starting on April 29. Definitely need to watch out for the white signs to avoid getting off trail! Read our. Bruce Peninsula has drive-in sites that typically have a fire pit and a picnic table. Randonne au bord de leau sur les rochers et dans le bois, chemin en pente avec points de vue en hauteur. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110935429', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');the Grotto and Halfway Log Dump. The terrain is very difficult and not for the delicate. There is a parks canada gate at Emmette lake road, book in advance if you want in because the bureaucracy has put in restrictions on the outdoors. This tour looks like a great option. Please visit the park website for more information and links to the Parks Canada reservations website. The other option is to go down the 12 m cliff face. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Ill bookmark this post for my next trip over. Plus everyone in the comments seems to say The Grotto isnt worth it so Im not too upset about missing it. There is no cell service along the trail so bring a map and plenty of water & snacks with you. The trailhead is quite hidden. Why not confirm by sending Parks Canada an email? If you do not camp at the park, you will still need to book a parking spot to visit the grotto as it seriously gets so busy there is no more space for day visitors. Enjoy the views! If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Don't forget the Visitor Centre also includes a natural history museum and just around the corner, a viewing tower and some great hiking trails. Then its rocky and if you go too far, the way back to the trail is up rocky and mossy terrain. The parking reservation system shows reservations required for the Grotto until October but it is unclear what the icon means for reservations for Halfway Log Dump are past September 7. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. May-June and September are also nice times to camp without crowds but it still can get chilly at night. debated if we could jump and climb. I did this trip on a summer weekend. We will likely be in Toronto for the weekend and then hope to do some camping/ exploring. The beginning of which is quite rocky. They need to reduce the amount of people allowed back there at a time. The fees charged for absolutely everything are outrageously expensive. Nice easy well-groomed trail. Located in Tobermory, the Bruce Peninsula Visitor Centre is a great quick stop to learn about the history and wildlife of the area. The Grotto, Marr Lake - Boulder Beach - The Grotto - Horse Lake, Georgian Bay Trail: The Grotto and Horse Lake, Bruce Trail: Little Cove, Driftwood Cove, and Loon Lake, Halfway Dump - Cave Point - Stormhaven - The Grotto - Cyprus Lake. When parking lots are full, there is no other access to the park. Bring towels, water, snacks, and a picnic blanket. Coffee Shops, Bakeries and Specialty Food Shops. It was disappointing to see. It will take longer if you hit Toronto workday traffic or cottagers also escaping to the North. Your photos are beautiful. We loved it so much that we'll be back every year! Il est interdit de se rendre au stationnement pour y dposer des visiteurs. The Lod Dumo trail is an easy trail to the shore. The island is known for its flowerpot pillars made of limestone. It took about an hour and 45 minutes with a decent amount of water breaks. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. Once youve explored the grotto, continue on the Bruce Trail past it. Just be careful not to go too close to the edge! FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. What attractions are near Bruce Peninsula National Park? we only ended up going to Stormhaven and back. We got to the park by opening time (8:00 am), paid our park fee (it cost us 26 bucks), and parked in the shade. Here you'll find information to help plan your visit including tips on where to go when the Cyprus Lake parking lots are full, activities for children, and recommendations on hiking trails. After we were done poking around we walked over boulder beach to overhanging bluff. Any recommendations would be great! If you want to hike around the island I would budget closer to 4 hours. It is possible to swim in the grotto but expect cold water. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada.