The Bruce Trail: Ontario’s Longest Footpath

On the Bruce Peninsula, the unparalleled variety of terrain and scenery provides the most spectacular hiking in southern Ontario – perfect for beginner to advanced outdoor enthusiasts. Pick up a copy of the Peninsula Day Hike Map Set and start exploring!

The Bruce Trail, officially opened at Tobermory in 1967, is Ontario’s longest and most popular hiking trail. The 780 kilometre footpath extends the length of the Niagara Escarpment from Queenston Heights on the Niagara River north to the cairn overlooking Little Tub Harbour in Tobermory.

On the Bruce Peninsula, the unparalleled variety of terrain and scenery provides the most spectacular walking and hiking in southern Ontario. Both beginning and vet-eran hikers are attracted to the dramatic scenery and variety of trails. Ranging from gentle inland walks to rugged shoreline scrambles, these footpaths offer magnificent views and unique botanical and geological treasures.

The Bruce Trail Association publishes a Trail Reference outlining the entire trail in text and maps. For those of you exploring the Peninsula, at most tourism offices and many sales outlets in the area, you can purchase the Peninsula Day Hike Map Set which clearly marks the route of the trail, access points and parking areas.

From Wiarton, the trail follows the north shore of Colpoy’s Bay to Cape Croker where a variety of side trails provides a wealth of opportunities for day hikes. Further north in the Lion’s Head area, both the both the Gun Point and White Bluff trails introduce you to fascinating geological treasures. Just south of Dyer’s Bay is Devil’s Monument, a land-based flowerpot created by erosion during the higher lake levels of Georgian Bay just after the retreat of the glaciers.

Finally along the shoreline of the Bruce Peninsula National Park, hikers look down from the top of the Escarpment on the incredibly blue waters of the bay and scramble over the boulder beaches of the shoreline. The kilometre of trail from Halfway Rock Point to Overhanging Point is referred to in the Bruce Trail guidebook as “the most spectacular part of the entire Bruce Trail."

The trail is not difficult to follow. It is marked with white blazes, 5 cm wide by 15 cm high, painted on trees and fence posts. A single blaze indicates the route continues forward, a double blaze (one above the other) marks that a turn is imminent. Blazes in blue signify side trails that may lead to lookouts, campsites or form circular hikes. Diamond-shaped Bruce Trail symbols and access signs also mark the route.

The driving force behind the creation of the Bruce Trail on the Peninsula was J.P. Johnstone. As Reeve of St. Edmunds Township, he foresaw the value of ecotourism to the economy of the Bruce. With his family, he was responsible for obtaining permission from private landowners and building much of the trail between Dyer’s Bay and Tobermory.

Another key individual was Ron Gatis of Colpoy’s Bay who today is still an avid hiker and a private landowner on whose property the Bruce Trail crosses. In the Lions’ Head area, founders included Alan Fowler and Ilse Hanel, both of whom have side trails named in their honour.

Enjoy the trail and its many beauties but do not disturb the silence or treasures. The practices of the Trail Users’ Code are good etiquette for any hiker. We all have a responsibility to care for the land. Frequently the trail crosses areas of private ownership, and here it exists only with the permission of the landowner. Any abuse of the trail privilege could lead to its closure. The “rules” are very simple: do not stray off the marked route; respect the privacy of anyone living along the trail; carry out all litter; do not start any fires; and respect the natural beauties of the land. One simple statement summarizes it all: “Leave only your thanks and take nothing but photographs.”

Today the Bruce Trail is divided into nine clubs, each of which is responsible for a specific section of trail. The Peninsula Bruce Trail Club looks after the 150 kilometres from Wiarton to Tobermory.

From its inception, the Bruce Trail has received support from thousands of volunteers who initially built and now maintain the footpath. Once you fall in love with the Bruce, you too may wish to become a member of the Bruce Trail Association and to make your own contribution.

For more information about the Bruce Trail on the Peninsula, contact the Peninsula Bruce Trail Club, P.O. Box 2, Tobermory, Ontario N0H 2R0. For membership details and an online general store, visit the Bruce Trail Association at www.brucetrail.org.