Bruce Peninsula – A Perfect Camping Guide With 9 Tips!

It is a place rich in history, not just regarding its discovery and politics, but its natural image as well. The Bruce Peninsula forms a part of the Niagara Escarpment. It has a lot of natural value which we’ll look at in just a little while.

The Bruce Peninsula is found in the province of Ontario and is part of the Bruce County. It might not seem like a very accessible, tourist-friendly place like the rest of Canada does.

But it is actually a lot better than you might expect. There are tons to explore, along with a lot of wildlife to observe. It is a popular attraction for hikers and photographers.

Without further ado, let’s see why the Bruce Peninsula is one of the best in Ontario! Use this guide to plan your trip to perfection.

The Bruce Peninsula is named after James Bruce, the 8th Earl of Elgin. He was also the Governor-General of Canada. Until the middle of the 1800s, the area now known as the Bruce Peninsula did not exist. It was controlled by the people of the First Nations.

Historical evidence suggests that Ottawa people were living in Canada before the Europeans. Before that, the Saugeen Ojibway controlled everything in the area.

Long story short, the Ojibway people made a pact with the Canadian government. The pact basically included them in the Canadian map. It was done in exchange for education to lead a better lifestyle.

The Ojibway later came to a decision that they felt cheated. They have been trying to claim their land back since 1994. According to them, the crown had not held up its promise of protecting the Aboriginal Lands.

You might want to check out the West Coast Trail Campsites in British Columbia. You can test your hiking prowess.

It’s quite long and is one of the many hiking trails that can be found along the region. 

This region is great for Bruce Peninsula camping and for exploring wildlife, apart from hiking. With the hike to the grotto ahead, you will anyway have this experience eventually! 

The hike to the grotto is full of beautiful orchids and ferns. The trail is a really popular attraction.

Hares, chipmunks, white-tailed deers, and porcupines are frequently seen. Raccoons, red foxes, squirrels, coyotes, and snowshoe hares are also spotted.

You might also see Mississauga rattlesnakes and frogs. Occasionally, you’ll also find black bears roaming around in the area, so do keep bear spray handy.

Bruce Peninsula National Park is the first national marine conservation area in Canada. Its purpose is to conserve and protect freshwater ecosystems. Apart from that, the Fathom Five National Park displays shipwrecks and lighthouses.

Flowerpot Island is one of the most famous islands which are part of the Fathom Five. It was established in 1987. It has now been declared a National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA).

The flowerpots in the area are basically the cliff edges that branch out from the main island. Vegetation is still growing in these branches.

Have a look at all the major shipwrecks present along the blue waters of the Georgian Bay shoreline. If you’re passionate about the vessels of the sea, then this is a great place for you. Also, visit the West Coast Trail mentioned above.

Grotto parking reservations are hard to get at the eleventh hour. It might seem weird that one section is totally dedicated to grotto parking reservations.

But the grotto is a popular attraction in the Bruce Peninsula Provincial Park. Grotto parking reservations do become a headache if you don’t think about it earlier. Don’t forget to get your grotto parking reservations!

Tourists must make reservations before arriving at the grotto parking. Contact the visitor center, or the site (at this link) to make reservations beforehand.

It might be a pocket-pinching experience, but it’s worth it if you’re not willing to walk all the way to Tobermory. The entrance to the Head of the Trails parking lot is found at the end of Cyprus Lake Road, about 5 kilometres long.

If you’d like to have a look at Cyprus Lake, the entrance lies 10 kilometres south of Tobermory, just off Highway 6. You can also visit the Cyprus Lake Campground near the lake shoreline.

You can find picnic tables and a firepit with a grill. Washrooms and cold water taps are also available. Cyprus Lake Campgrounds are a fun experience if you reserve in advance.

Arguably the crown jewel of the Bruce Peninsula, the Bruce Trail is also named after James Bruce. It is the oldest and the longest marked hiking trail in all of Canada.

The Bruce Trail spans a vast 890 kilometres (550 miles). It starts from the Niagara River and ends in the village of Tobermory in the Bruce Peninsula.

The trail traces the route of the Niagara Escarpment as it leads to the south. The Bruce Trail crosses a lot of great tourist spots. You can try taking a hike on the longest hiking trail in the great white north to cover all of them.

Waterfalls can be found in plenty, on the Bruce Trail. None of these are more popular attractions than Niagara Falls.

A detailed course of the Bruce Trail can be found at this link. There are a lot of other prominent smaller trails in the Bruce Peninsula, check them out on the map here.

One of them is the High Dump Trail. High Dump Trail lies near Northern Bruce Peninsula. If you are okay with a moderate level of difficulty, you can go for it. High Dump Trail is about 7.4 kilometres long. 

It is a great location for backcountry camping. Backcountry camping means camping in isolated areas without facilities like plumbing and parking. 

Backcountry camping is much tougher and risker. Stormhaven is another great location for backcountry camping.