Wandering Whites RV

Bruce Peninsula National Park takes up a large portion of the tip of the Bruce Peninsula.  It contains a couple of lakes, lots of camping sites, and some very nice trails.  One of the trails we hiked took us to a spot called the Grotto, a large cave cut by the waves with a portion of the roof ‘caved’ in.  Its located on the shore of Georgian Bay on the east side of the peninsula.  The water along the shoreline was Caribbean Sea turquoise and the exposed rock was expansive.  The rocky shoreline and surrounding area requires sure footing, but the trail getting to it is well maintained.  The cedar trees growing out of the rocks are reportedly ancient.  Some of the trees further north of the Peninsula are over 1000 years old.

We were here in early May and while other parks were virtually empty, this one had quite a few visitors.  Many may have been like us, day visitors.  The weather was perfect for a hike n the spring.  Cool, sunny, dry, and no bugs.  Parking was plentiful, however, staring May 20 and running through to October 9, parking in the closest lot is restricted to three,  4-hour time slots each day during the summer, and during the spring and fall on the weekends and holidays.  Time slots are first come first served.

Leaving the Cyprus Lake area of the National Park we drove to the Cabot Head Lighthouse located, where else, on Cabot Head; the north-eastern tip of the Bruce Peninsula.  There has been a lighthouse on this point since 1896.  The original was torn down and is replaced with an automated version however the light keepers house

and light station are still standing and being used as a museum.  We visited the site prior to its opening for the season, which was a good thing.  There was no one there but us.  Access to the grounds and trails year round but the road in is not maintained in the winter.  The property is manned by volunteers and we were told they are down to one volunteer.  The buildings may not be open very long.

The trails lead to various lookout points around the tip.  At each lookout is a mounted placard interpreting the setting, including information on how nature created and altered the landscape.  The Bruce Peninsula is actually a reef left over from 465 million year old ocean that once covered the area.  The rocky outcrops show how layer upon layer was built up and fractured.

I think the best part of day was getting to the site.  The drive along the 7.5 km gravel road follows the shoreline.  This isn’t the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island but the changing  views of beach, trees, cliffs, and lake are amazing.

During peak summer season access is provided by a shuttle bus as the site’s parking lot is tiny.  The bus picks up and drops off near the village of Dyer’s Bay, 11 km from the site.  As for Dyer’s Bay, it’s a small village right on the water, beautiful cottages/homes and one interesting house design that has its very own observatory atop a tower.