The Bruce Trail

Distance:

Main Trail – 898 km

Side Trails – 400 km

Difficulty: Easy – Very Hard

View the Trail Maps Here

The Bruce Trail is the oldest and longest marked hiking trail in Canada. Every year more than 400,000 visits are made to the trail as people walk, snowshoe, watch wildlife, take photographs and admire the glorious scenery of the Niagara Escarpment.

Highlights

South Georgian Bay has some of the best sections of The Bruce Trail and is home to three different sections: The Blue Mountains section, The Beaver Valley section and Sydenham section of The Bruce Trail. The Bruce Trail also holds numerous scenic lookout points in South Georgian Bay as well as a number of stunning waterfalls.

The Blue Mountain Section: 59.1 km of trail

The terrain changes abruptly as the Bruce Trail enters the area known as the Blue Mountains. Set among high bluffs with deep, wide valleys, there are excellent views of the rolling countryside and Nottawasaga Bay. Suggested Hikes: Pretty River Provincial Park Nottawasaga Bluffs Loop Petun Loop

The Beaver Valley Section : 79 km of trail

In this area dolostone cliffs are plentiful. The valley, almost 10 km at its mouth, narrows quickly upstream of Eugenia Falls. The trail turns south from both directions and follows the Beaver River flowing through the Niagara escarpment as it circulates north to Georgian Bay. The ghost hamlet of Blantyre can be found here. Suggested Hikes: Eugenia Falls Conservation Trail Devils Glenn Loop Metcalfe Rock Loree Forest Loop Kolapore Forest Kolapore Uplands Trail Siegerman Side Trail Loop

Sydenham Section : 100 km of trail

The trail crosses the valley of the Bighead River before turning north to follow the Escarpment to the Bayview Escarpment Nature Reserve. From Spectacular views, provincially rare ferns and the crown jewel of the section the Bayview Escarpment Nature Reserve. Suggested Hikes: Bayview Escarpment Nature Reserve Walters Falls Loop

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