Bruce Peninsula National Park

Day 1: Arrive Lion's head
Day 2: Lion's Head Loop, 10.4 mi. (16.8 km)
Day 3: Cape Chin South - Lion's Head, 10.3 mi. (16.5 km) 
Day 4: Bruce Peninsula National Park, 10.3 mi. (16.5 km) 
Day 5: Tour ends with a transfer back to Lion's Head

Day 1: Arrive Lion's head
If you have a vehicle or have sourced transportation to Lion's Head, this is where your adventure begins. Alternatively, you can arrange to be picked up at Owen Sound. The small town of Lion's Head is a popular base for those coming to explore the Bruce Peninsula with a few restaurant options, shops, a campground, and some basic services. The main attractions are the natural surroundings, the beach and its shallows, water sports, and the Lion's Head Lighthouse. Tonight, make yourself comfortable at your charming B&B which will be your home for the first 3 nights.

Preferred accommodation:  Taylor Made B & B

Day 2: Lion's Head Loop, 10.4 mi. (16.8 km)
After a delightful breakfast from your B & B hosts, head out for the hike that some claim to be the highlight of the peninsula - the Lion's Head Loop. This is one of the more challenging sections of the trail with plenty of ups and downs, exposed tree roots, and rocky pathways. What a great way to start! The dramatic views from the exposed cliff-tops at Gun Point and postcard-perfect Lion's Head Lookout make it clear as to why this is a 'must-do on any hiker's list. It is recommended to walk the loop in a counter-clockwise direction. (B, L)

Elevation: +/- 328 ft (100 m)
Average time on trail: 7 hours

Preferred accommodation:  Taylor Made B & B

Day 3: Cape Chin South - Lion's Head, 10.3 mi. (16.5 km) 
After breakfast, you will be picked up by your trusty transfer service and taken to the trailhead at Cape Chin South where you will begin your walk back to Lion's Head. Before getting right onto the trail, perhaps take a little walk up the beach to check out the whimsical benches, walkways, and fire pits constructed out of the surrounding beach stone. It's as though every resident along the shore agreed to follow a landscaping guideline of creativity. Back on the trail, you will follow the turquoise shoreline until you go inland through a forest of hardwood trees before coming out to the impressive Smokey Head lookout with sweeping views over the coast. Continuing south, you follow rugged trails atop the escarpment and the mixed forests of a provincial nature reserve until you reach the apex of your hike at White Bluff. White Bluff offers a spectacular vista across Isthmus Bay to the cliffs of Lion's Head, where you were precariously perched the day before. The rest of the hike is mostly on a paved road leading into Lion's Head but ends with a pleasant walk past some impressive caves in the adjacent cliff face and a stroll past the harbor into town. (B, L)

Preferred accommodation: Taylor Made B & B

Day 4: Bruce Peninsula National Park, 10.3 mi. (16.5 km) 
Today we enjoy a spectacular section of trail through Bruce Peninsula National Park. You will be dropped off at the trail access within the park and continue northwest along the main trail. This transfer should take less than an hour but it will help to be packed and ready to go early in the morning. Within the park, the main highlights are Indian Head Cove, the Natural Arch, and the 'must-see' Grotto - An impressive cave on the shore with sunlight from the outside revealing a brilliant blue underwater tunnel on the inside. In addition to today's park highlights, a real gem is located further north at Little Cove where the trail descends to a shore of weathered dolostone blocks. You will be picked up at the Little Cove Provincial Nature Reserve parking area and transferred to Tobermory. Apart from being home to the northern terminus of the Bruce Trail, Tobermory is known as the freshwater SCUBA diving capital of the world and has plenty of tourist facilities, shops, and restaurants to explore. Overnight you will stay in a hotel near Big Tub Harbour. (B, L)

Average time on trail: 7 hours

Preferred accommodation: The Princess Hotel

Day 5: Tour ends with a transfer back to Lion's Head
A simple, continental breakfast is included at your hotel today but other options are also available at the hotel or in town. At the prearranged time, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred back to Lion's Head or Owen Sound. If you have scheduled extra time in Tobermory, we recommend taking the glass-bottom boat tour to Fathom Five National Marine Park to view shipwrecks and to visit the park's Flower Pot Island.

Please note that this itinerary is not available for 2022.

Day 1: Transfer from Owen Sound to Wiarton. Optional afternoon hike
Day 2: Hope Bay - Rush Cove, 8.7 mi. (14 km) 
Day 3: Lion's Head Loop, 10.4 mi. (16.8 km) 
Day 4: White Bluff - Cape Chin South, 10.9 mi. (17.5 km) or 11.5 mi. (18.5 km)
Day 5: Dyer's Bay - Cape Chin North, 6.8 mi. (11 km) to 11 mi. (18 km)
Day 6: Bruce Peninsula National Park, 10.3 mi. (16.5 km)
Day 7: Optional excursions from Tobermory
Day 9: Day trip to Flower Pot Island
Day 9: Tour ends with a transfer to Owen Sound

Day 1: Transfer from Owen Sound to Wiarton. Optional afternoon hike
You will be picked up in Owen Sound, either from your hotel or from the bus station. A short drive brings you to the small town of Wiarton - the home of the famous weather-predicting groundhog and the center of the 'Wiarton Willie Festival' held annually around Groundhog Day. Wiarton is the southern start point for the Peninsular section of the Bruce Trail, which makes it the perfect start point for your hike. Check into your cozy B&B and, time permitting, go for one of the suggested loop hikes this afternoon such as the 'Wiarton Loop'. This loop is an easy 5.6 km (3.5 mi.) hike taking you to the legendary Spirit Roc where you can walk amongst the ruins of a late 1800's mansion and the McNeill Estate. You will enjoy your first view across Colpoy Bay atop the Niagara Escarpment before returning to the town where a number of dining options allow you to fuel up before your first big day of hiking the Bruce Trail.

Preferred accommodation: The Wright Hotel

Day 2:  Hope Bay - Rush Cove, 8.7 mi. (14 km) 
After breakfast and check-out, you will return to where you left off the day before with a drop-off at Hope Bay. Today's walk takes you along the main trail and around Cape Dundas to scenic Rush Cove. Explore Magazine has listed the Cape Dundas Loop as one of Canada's 8 essential routes and you will soon find out why! Today's highlights include glacial potholes, rare open alvar, walking along the base of the rocky escarpment, and large, moss-covered boulders that create an other-worldly and magical forest environment. Rush Cove is a lovely spot to end the day and enjoy the rocky shore before your pick-up and transfer to the town of Lion's Head where you can settle into your B&B and enjoy dinner in town. (B, L)

Elevation: =/-394 ft (+/-120 m)
Average time on the trail: 5 hours

Day 3: Lion's Head Loop, 10.4 mi. (16.8 km) 
After another delightful breakfast from your hosts, head out for the hike that some claim to be the highlight of the peninsula - the Lion's Head Loop. This is one of the more challenging sections of the trail with plenty of ups and downs, exposed tree roots, and rocky pathways. The dramatic views from the exposed cliff-tops at Gun Point and postcard-perfect Lion's Head Lookout make it clear as to why this is a 'must-do' on any hiker's list. We recommend walking the loop in a counter-clockwise direction. (B, L)

Elevation: +/-328 ft (+/-100 m)
Average time on trail: 7 hours

Preferred accommodation: The Wright Hotel

Day 4: White Bluff - Cape Chin South, 10.9 mi. (17.5 km) or 11.5 mi. (18.5 km)
You will be picked up by transfer service and taken to the trailhead off Forty Hills Rd. From here you will begin your walk through the White Bluff Provincial Nature Reserve towards Cape Chin. Northeast of the trailhead atop the escarpment at White Bluff, you will encounter a spectacular vista overlooking Isthmus Bay to the cliffs of Lion’s Head. Continuing north you will follow the mixed forests of the nature reserve and rugged trails atop the escarpment. Your next major point of interest, the impressive Smokey Head lookout, will offer you sweeping views over the coast. You will pass inland through a forest of hardwood trees that emerges again to the familiar turquoise shoreline of Georgian Bay. From here you will hike until you reach Cape Chin South. A short detour offers a magnificent beach with whimsical benches, walkways, and fire pits constructed out of the surrounding beach stone. It’s as though every resident along the shore decided to follow a landscaping guideline of creativity. Back on the trail, you will head north until you reach the optional Pat Daunt Side Trail, which will shorten the day's trek slightly. The trail continues through a wetland area that is good for birding. You will emerge onto Cape Chin North Road approximately one-half kilometer away from tonight's accommodations; a friendly B&B where a lovely home-cooked meal awaits your enjoyment. (B, L, D)

Preferred accommodation: TBD

Day 5: Walk Dyer's Bay - Cape Chin North, 6.8 mi. (11 km) to 11 mi. (18 km)
There are a few options for your hike today, as there are multiple drop-off points along the trail between Cape Chin and Dyer's Bay, and a few optional side trails that can either shorten or extend your walk. For the longest hike on the main trail (about 18 km/11.2 miles), you will be dropped off just north of Dyer's Bay near Juniper Flats. Alternatively, you may be dropped off at the trailhead in Dyer's Bay for an 11 km walk on the main trail. Either way, your walk will take you past several fantastic lookouts atop the escarpment. For those interested in birding, the Otter Lake Side Trail is your highlight today as you will walk through a nesting habitat (peak months are May and June) for a large variety of wetland bird species. Another highlight today, regardless of your chosen route, will be the Devil's Monument - a large sea stack or 'flowerpot' which has separated from the adjacent cliff face. You will stay at the same lovely B&B tonight in Cape Chin. (B, L, D)

Average time on trail: 4 - 6 hours

Preferred accommodation: TBD

Day 6: Bruce Peninsula National Park, 10.3 mi. (16.5 km)
A spectacular section of the trail through Bruce Peninsula National Park is featured today. You will be dropped off within the park and continue northwest along the main trail. Within the park, the main highlights are Indian Head Cove, the Natural Arch, and the 'must see' Grotto, an impressive cave on the shore with sunlight from the outside revealing a brilliant blue underwater tunnel on the inside. Other than the park highlights today, a real gem is further north at Little Cove where the trail descends to a shore of weathered dolostone blocks. You will be picked up at the Little Cove Provincial Nature Reserve parking area and transferred to Tobermory, where you will spend the next 3 nights. Apart from being home to the northern terminus of the Bruce Trail, Tobermory is known as the freshwater SCUBA diving capital of the world. It has plenty of tourist facilities, shops and restaurants to explore. (B, L)

Average time on trail: 6 hours

Preferred accommodation: The Princess Hotel

Day 7: Optional excursions from Tobermory
A simple, continental breakfast is included at your hotel but other options are also available at the hotel or in town. Today is yours to do as you like. This morning, you have the option of taking a 3.5 hour guided kayaking excursion along the shores of Georgian Bay, which is a classic way to experience the shoreline. Of course, to finish your Bruce Trail traverse in true form, you should head to the mainland section of Fathom Five National Marine Park. Here the main trail joins a scenic loop through the park overlooking the park's offshore islands. Coming back out of the park, you will follow trail markers to the cairn, marking the northern terminus of the Bruce Trail. The total distance for the walk to your hotel is about  5 km/3 miles. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from for lunch and dinner. Please note: guided excursions that include an additional cost should be arranged in advance. (B)

Preferred accommodation: The Princess Hotel

Day 8: Day trip to Flower Pot Island
Your exploration of the Bruce Trail is complete, but the exploration doesn't end today! You can't visit Tobermory without taking a trip to the famous Flowerpot Island. Included in your tour price is a ticket aboard a glass-bottom boat that will take you over shipwrecks and past lighthouses to the islands. You have a full day on Flowerpot Island to explore its many trails and its namesake 'the flowerpots'; outlying stacks of escarpment or cliffs that stand a short distance from the island, most with diverse vegetation still growing on them. Return to Tobermory and enjoy your final night on the peninsula. (B)

Preferred accommodation: The Princess Hotel

Day 9: Tour ends with a transfer to Owen Sound
You may be picked up from your hotel this morning and transferred back to Owen Sound (bus station or hotel). Budget two hours for this transfer when scheduling your departure from Owen Sound. (B)