Table of Contents Show
Planning your next gateway in Bruce County but not sure what to do to make it a success? We’ve got you covered! Here is a list of the 15 places to make your trip an unforgettable adventure.
Bruce County is a beautiful community in southern Ontario, Canada. It is divided into three segments: the peninsula region, the interior region, and the coastal area.
It’s the home to many infamous communities like Port Elgin in the Saugeen Ojibway, which now lives in Saugeen First Nation. They held sway over the Bruce Peninsula until the middle of the 19th century.
All these regions have lots of things to explore. You can find hiking trails, soft sandy beaches, several national parks, naturally formed caves and rocks, and fascinating history.
Bruce County: 15 Amazing Places to Visit
Bruce County is known for its fantastic cuisine, rich history, and welcoming inhabitants. So let’s explore Bruce County and its distinctive places!
1. Bruce Peninsula National Park
One of the most famous destinations in Bruce County is the National Park, located in Ontario.
Bruce Peninsula National Park is just a 3-hour drive away from Bruce County. Numerous movies have highlighted Bruce Peninsula National Park’s magnificence. This national park encompasses a massive 156 square kilometre area.
This is the largest protected area in Ontario, forming the center of UNESCO’s Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve.
This national park, which opened in 1987, features fantastic biodiversity. You can see rattlesnakes, a variety of birds, and even bears.
You can also witness some of the rocky escarpments in the park that are over 400 million years old. It is a perfect place in Bruce County for camping, hiking, and exploration.
Take some time out of your busy schedule and enjoy nature’s wonders.
2. Inverhuron Provincial Park
This Provincial Park is a great weekend getaway, with over 350 camping sites, beautiful beaches, and naturally formed trails.
This park has been around since its doors opened in 1956. It is situated on the coast of Lake Huron and is about an hour’s drive from Bruce County.
It is believed that indigenous people formerly lived in Inverhuron Provincial Park.
Hiking and canoeing are a few things that visitors like to do in the provincial park. You can also explore the wilderness in the deep woods, but beware of the wild animals. Always try to observe the wildlife from a safe distance.
Put this place on your must-visit list in Bruce County today.
3, Sauble Falls Provincial Park
Sauble Falls Provincial Park is another beautiful park located in Bruce County. This park was established in 1957 and is spread over 20 acres.
The park is divided into two segments: western and eastern. The major attractions of the park are Sauble Falls and Sauble Beach.
Sauble Provincial Park is the second-longest freshwater beach in Canada. The grey Sauble Conservation Authority Council protects it.
The west area of Sauble Falls Provincial Park is considered a quiet zone, and on the eastern side, you can enjoy camping.
You can try out many summer activities along its shoreline. Its lakeshore includes activities like boating and scuba diving,
Its beach and rivers have formed an ideal place for canoeing and boating. There is also a play area for children’s amusement.
4. MacGregor Point Provincial Park
One of the widely spread Provincial parks in Bruce County is MacGregor Point, Provincial Park.
This beautiful provincial park is located near Lake Huron and is only an hour away from the city center of Bruce County.
The park was established in 1975 and is spread over an area of over 12 square kilometers. You can see coastal wetlands, dense forests, dunes, and a stretched coastal area of seven kilometers.
The beach area of MacGregor Point Provincial Park facilitates lots of fun activities hiking, camping, swimming, and wildlife exploration. The park becomes an excellent place for skiing and ice skating in winter.
The campground provides guests amenities like a camper’s library and a fee-based Internet connection. The biking-designated pathways are open for exploration. You can also stay in the park for a few days at your camper vans.
MacGregor Point Provincial hosts some of the most awaited Festivals like the Fringe Birding Festival and Wild for the Arts fall arts festival. The park is also decorated during the time of Halloween and Thanksgiving.
5. Tobermory
Tobermory is a small town which is located in Bruce County. Tobermory is located in the north area zone of Bruce County.
Tobermory is known for its earned title, ‘Scuba Diving Capital of the World.’ This is the reason why thousands of visitors visit the town every year. This popular destination has many shipwrecks underneath, which excites scuba divers.
If you are a nature child, you should explore Big Tub Harbour, one of Canada’s largest freshwater harbors.
You can also witness over 43 species of orchids around the town of Tobermory. The people of Tobermory also celebrate the Annual Orchid Festival in June.
Some of the major attractions of Bruce County are located here, including the Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park. So exploring this town is a critical part of your journey to Bruce County.
6. Lion’s Head
Yes! The first picture that pops up by the name of Bruce County is the Lion’s Head.
Lion’s head is a rock formation that happened naturally on the Niagara Escarpment. When looked at from a distance, the formation resembles the shape of a lion’s head.
The Lion’s Head is formed by rocks that are over 400 million years old.
A widespread nature reserve has been formed to protect the Lion’s Head rock formation. This formed the natural reserve in 1985, covering an area of over 500 hectares.
7. Bruce Botanical Food Gardens
In Bruce County, you can explore Bruce Botanical Gardens. It was founded in 2012 to display and educate visitors about different types of vegetables and plants.
The Food Garden of Bruce County has several organic, rare, and endangered plants. It’s a tourist destination for gardening enthusiasts who visit the center to attend educational sessions.
Bruce Botanical Food Gardens has become popular as its initiatives, and tourists worldwide have appreciated educational sessions. Many renowned publishers and magazines have appreciated Bruce Botanical Food Gardens in their articles.
8. Chantry Island and Imperial Lighthouse
Chantry Island lighthouse is one of the most famous and beautiful tourist destinations, an hour away from Bruce County.
The lighthouse was built between 1855 and 1859 and was made of limestone and granite.
The lighthouse is around 86 feet tall, and the light on the top was lit with sperm whale oil. With the evolution of technology, today, the light is solar-powered.
You may discover all about the history of the Chantry Islands and Imperial Lighthouse on tour. One of the most enjoyable things to do while you’re there is to take a boat tour of this lovely island in Bruce County.
9. Fathom Five National Marine Park
Fathom Five National Marine Park has been formed to preserve the freshwater system and other vital landmarks of Bruce County.
Fathom Five National Marine Park was established in 1987. It is located in the Georgian Bay and spreads to the Lake of Huron.
It is one of the top-rated national parks in the Tobermory area of Bruce County. The park’s boundaries are spread over an area of 112 square kilometres.
The most exciting thing you can do at Marine National Park is take a glass-bottom boat tour. The concept of glass-bottom tours is unique as it allows visitors to explore shipwrecks without getting inside the water.
Another major highlight of the Marine Park is Flower Pot Island, a rock formation that appears like a flower vase. Hiking and camping are a few activities that visitors enjoy at Flower Pot Island.
10. Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area
Bruce County has several camping sites, including Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area. The area has over 200 campsites present in its vast area. The best thing about Saugeen Bluffs is that they allow camper van parking.
When the number of campers increases during the peak seasons, you can witness people watching movies on big screens in the open area and playing different games.
Saugeen Bluffs Conservation area has many facilities that make it a decent place to go for weekend camping.
Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area has showers, play areas for children, payphones, pools, and canoe rentals. The location is quite convenient as by travelling a short distance, you can reach the shore of Lake Huron.
Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area is just half an hour’s drive from Bruce County. To date, one of the sweetest weekend gateways for the residents of Bruce County.
11. Wiarton
Wiarton is a small community in Bruce County. This place has a rich culture and history, and many tourist attractions are abundant. But it is most known for the Wiarton Willie Festival, which also gave it its name.
Wiarton has something for everyone, whether an adventure seeker or someone looking to spend quality time with families.
You can go camping at several locations in this beautiful town of Wiarton. The city has a balance between natural wonders and human-made facilities.
Visits to Wiarton, Bluewater Park, Spirit Rock Conservation Area, and Bruce Trail may be excellent.
12. The Grotto
The Grotto is another prominent tourist destination present in Bruce County. The Grotto is a rocky cave formation that is located around 140 km away from Bruce County.
The cave is located on the lakeshore of Georgian Bay. The grotto scene is mesmerizing as a pool of water between the beautiful rocky structures. The views of this infamous tourist destination are so popular that the Grotto remains overcrowded in summer.
These naturally formed sea caves attract millions of tourists every year. The caves are big, so there is no need to worry about claustrophobia.
The Grotto has several caves, and the whole experience is full of adventure amidst nature, making it one of the best places to visit in Bruce County.
It is a perfect weekend getaway for young and energetic travellers. But during peak season, the parking gets full and limited people are allowed to enter and explore the Grotto.
You can deal with the issue by making early reservations.
13. Hope Bay Forest
Hope Bay forest is a treasure for geologists. It is located just near MacGregor Point in Bruce County. Hope Bay is located just 65 kilometres away from Bruce County and was established in the year 1985.
According to experts, the Hope Bay forest’s bedrock is 500 million years old. That is why geologists are drawn to it so strongly.
The area is not just about the rock formations; it also features fantastic flora, including ferns and wildflowers on the side notches.
The Great Bruce Trail passes through the forest, which is excellent for visitors because they won’t miss anything on the trip to Bruce County.
14. Greigs Caves
Greigs Caves is another must-visit destination in Bruce County. There are over ten limestone caves present in Greigs Cave, Canada’s largest naturally formed cave.
The Greigs Cave was purchased in 1926 by Charles Greigs, so the place got its name. And from the beginning, it has remained open to the public. His grandchildren have inherited the property.
The Greigs caves have such dramatic views that some scenes from movies like Quest for Fire and Against the Wild were shot within a concise duration.
From the caves, you can witness the incredible views of Georgian Bay. Be prepared to climb to the caves because the pathways have not been developed here.
It would help if you climbed steep rocky terrain and slippery walls, but people with disabilities are not allowed here. You should also bring a few things before coming to Greigs Cave, such as durable hiking shoes and binoculars.
15. Bruce Trail
Bruce Trail is one of the most recognized trails in Canada. Bruce trail is known for its length, which is 890 kilometres.
It is the oldest and longest trail in the Canadian province. The name of the trail comes from Bruce County and the Bruce Peninsula.
The idea behind the formation of Bruce trails was some naturalists wanted to create a pathway that could cover the whole Niagara Escarpment.
The most beautiful place on the trail is Niagara Falls, of course. You can see several waterfalls here, and rivers follow along the pathway.
The popularity of the Bruce Trail attracts over 4 million tourists every year! It is filled with nature’s wonders and some stunning rock-made formations.
Conclusion
Southeast Ontario, Canada’s Bruce County, also known as Saugeen Peninsula, is an extension of the Niagara Escarpment.
Bruce County has many spectacular places and activities for you to explore and do while you are there.
FAQs
What governing body oversees the legalities of hiking in Bruce Country?
There isn’t a single set of rules that all hikers must follow along the whole Bruce Trail.
The trails wind through various land tenures, including private property, municipal road rights-of-way, Conservation Authority assets, provincial parks, crown lands, Bruce Trail Conservancy properties, and a national park at the northwest end.
Each of these people or organizations establishes limitations on what can take place on their land.
Do camping arrangements work on the Bruce Trail?
Although a handful has drive-in campgrounds you could use if you were hiking, most of the provincial parks and conservation areas the BT runs through do not permit camping anywhere.
The trail resembles a well-maintained backpacking route at its northwest endpoint in Bruce Peninsula National Park.
The park’s front-country campsite, Cyprus Lake, is also within walking distance of the trail. Two backcountry camping clusters are accessible in the park and along the trail.
Experts do not consider the Bruce Country a backpacking trail well-suited to camping while you go, except for a few sections.
Last Updated on by Sanjana
