It costs $6.00 to make your reservation. Stormhaven has all the same facilities as the above, including composting washrooms, tent platforms and a bear hang station. That sounds like itd be a great trip! That means you need to end where you start, so keep that in mind when choosing your route. Id been told the park was beautiful (and it was!) Found the trail to be well marked except at the start where we walked along the beach at first. The impact rattles me, but Cassandra is up and moving the moment we land. Grand Marina! Join our community of outdoor adventurers - you'll find trip inspiration, gear discussions, route recommendations, new friends and more! If youre a reader with a question, please contact me here. Continue around the trail to the west for about 275 m, taking in the stunning views across the water until you arrive at the Grotto, a weathered hole in the escarpment that will allow you to peer down into the water below. Have fun!! My pot didnt have handles so it was super annoying getting water. I went in the middle of October and didnt see any snakes on my trip. Challenging hike though, not for beginners. I did the second option and parked at Halfway Log Dump. There are two backcountry campgrounds in Bruce Peninsula National Park, called Stormhaven and High Dump, both of which require at least 3 km of hiking to access. Will be testing your stamina but so so so worth it! Further below I have included sample routes for 1, 2 and 3-night trips. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Reservations must be booked for those visiting Halfway Log Dump between June 18 and Sept. 7, while they are required for those visiting the Grotto and Cyprus Lake area between May 1 and Oct. 31. However, Ive always been more nervous of backcountry camping and other adventures, despite rafting, canyoning and hiking both here and in France. If youre not sure, ask them which one they recommend (I did this). Very rocky trail, and in some places the trail completely disappears. I encountered a few makeshift campfires on the beach so I know people break the rules. What can I see in 4 hours? If you want to know specifics about backpacking in Bruce Peninsula National Park, check out this page on the Parks Canada website. A shoreline sea cave with the beautiful blue waters, the Grotto is a unique natural wonder and memorable place to experience. This is a great alternative if you arrive for a day trip and the Cyprus Campground Parking Lot is full. Excited to see the Grotto August 21, 2021. I barely saw the group next to me and couldnt even hear their dog. Be sure to book your parking reservation in advance. *NOTE: This trail is closed until Ontarios stay-at-home order is lifted. It is fairly flat and even. If I had known the path was so easy I would have brought a chair to sit on once I got to beach. Its worth a good picturesque. This jaw-dropping Bruce Trail section provides incredible lookouts along the Niagara Escarpment, and spiritual healing in the chilled, turquoise waters of Georgian Bay. I head to the Bruce every year. Each campground also has a pole and wires for doing bear hangs. There is a jump of about 40' at the grotto. I'll just let photos describe it further, it's beyond my skills with words. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. >>These are the ones I own. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. You can also walk along the Bruce Trail in either direction, but youll need to return the same way you came. The trail is fairly wide and gradual, and is suitable for beginners. No questions have been asked about this experience, Halfway Log Dump, Tobermory: Address, Phone Number, Halfway Log Dump Reviews: 4/5, There are washrooms and drinking fountains at the. Cyprus Lake Campground and Day Use Parking: This is where you go if you have a reservation for camping (either car camping or backcountry). Get a weekly dose of discounts and inspiration for adventure lovers. Thanks so much glad you liked it! The most challenging but awesome! And Ill include information on reservations, permits, parking, facilities and more. Mikaela is a Wilderness First Responder and Whitewater Rescue Technician. but many people warned me about how crowded it would be. My husband and I have been canoe camping for years and are thinking of trying some backpacking for the first time this summer. They have both electric and non-electric campsites, washrooms and free showers. Halfway Log Dump to the Grotto Length: 7.7 km point-to-point Time: 2 - 3 hours Elevation Gain: 191 m Difficulty: Difficult Are you sick of us saying the views are incredible? I booked for July 2021 at Stormhaven. This popular destination is great for taking photos of a stunning rocky shoreline that would not feel out of place somewhere in the Mediterranean. Mountain Trout Camp This campground is southeast of both Tobermory and the national park. All of the campsites at High Dump are about equal distance to the water. >>This is the lightweight, inexpensive stove I brought. The Grotto was awesome when I visited. Here is what Parks Canada has to say about camping in Bruce Peninsula National Park. Mikaela has been canoeing, hiking and camping for over ten years. In all cases, proper footwear is a must. When I went through the campground I saw that some sights are down by the water and some are high up near the trail. Ive never used a rope for descent. You can also walk along the Bruce Trail in either direction, but you'll need to return the same way you came. Need hiking boots? It was nice. This was a great video! super mario bros. encyclopedia the official guide super mario bros. encyclopedia the official guide to the first 30 years 1985-2015 dark horse books ~~ ys super mario = super introduction by general manager of nintendo co., ltd. Note: You could also park at Cyprus Lake Campground for a similar distance of hiking, Sleeping Pad (inflatable, with an R-value of 3.4), Sleeping Pad (foam, with an R-value of 2.0), Stove + Fuel + Matches / Lighter (I used this stove). Hey! The park ranger will also ask you where you want to park your car, which will depend on the route you choose. This is the trail youll be on if youre hiking to either of the backcountry campsites. It's just a hair longer than 6km to The Grotto and should take less than an hour and a half if you're moving at a good pace. Check out this 4.6-mile point-to-point trail near Northern Bruce Peninsula, Ontario. Great time of the year to go. After 20 minutes we decided we had enough and made our way back again. BUT, my friends have showed me pictures from when they visited on a sunny summer Saturday and it looks like pure madness. Composting toilets cant digest paper towels, tampons / pads and other garbage. Please note that first-come, first-served parking lots at the Visitor Centre, Little Cove and Singing Sands fill up early every morning and do not provide access to the Grotto. Hiked Halfway Log Dump towards the Grotto years ago and that direction is much more challenging, but Halfway Log Dump allows 6 hours of parking. All trail indique 7.7, par contre cest pour se rendre lautre parking. My husband and I went here yesterday, and it was lovely. Obviously you couldnt film your descent but I am trying to get an idea of how technical it is? We recommend this trail! There isnt a lot of elevation gain, however it is incredibly rocky and becomes slippery in the rain. Completed this hike yesterday, its a beautiful well marked trail . No bugs. It was disappointing to see. Be aware that the area is entirely covered in snow, so youll want to bring winter boots and maybe ice cleats or snowshoes for the hike, depending on the conditions. There were a lot of parts where it was easier to use my hands to grab rocks, hold onto trees, etc. Complete Guide to Hiking the Highland Backpacking Trail in Algonquin, https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/bruce/activ/camping/backcountry, Paddling & Hiking Near Kingston: Discover the Frontenac Arch Biosphere, My Top Must, Should and Could Things To Do in Kauai, My Favourite Things to do in Vancouver The Ultimate Locals Guide, 22 Must-Read Outdoor Adventure Books (Updated 2022), 11 Ontario Canoe Trips With Little-to-No Portaging, Day 1: Halfway Log Dump parking lot to High Dump, Day 2: High Dump to Stormhaven (and then a quick detour to the Grotto). Voyageur Tripper is a blog dedicated to outdoor adventure for those of us who arent professional explorers. Part of the trail is wide, smooth and flat. Halfway Log Dump This is a gorgeous trail- youre walking on top of the escarpment so lots of rocks/walking on top of boulders etc. The hike to the Grotto Tobermory is not difficult. If youre doing the Bruce Trail, you should wear hiking boots / hiking shoes / trail running shoes. The Bruce Trail enters Bruce Peninsula National Park on the east end of the park, at Crane Lake parking lot. I thought about doing this previously, but instead got distracted by the pristine Georgian Bay waters and went for a dip to cool off. The campground has both electric and non-electric campsites, washrooms and paid showers. Day 3: Stormhaven to Halfway Log Dump parking lot. Ive also created a video of the entire trip, where I talk about the route, the campsites, the challenges and more. Hope this helps! The trail to access it is a path of 900 meters, very easy. I only really started camping for the first time 10 years ago, when I moved to Canada from England, and have had many great trips since then. By patlv23 " Beautiful sidekick " Jul 2022 As of May 2022, you cannot explore inside the caves at The Grotto. While the Halfway Log Dump to the Grotto Trail is not an overly busy route in itself, the start and end points of the hike are often busy with tourists that want to take in the breathtaking scenery along the shoreline of Georgian Bay, and who can blame them! (If you click on the map, you should be able to make it larger and download it. The portions walking by the shoreline on the limestone slabs is difficult because they wobble and it is very hot with lots of black flies. There is also a parking lot at Halfway Log Dump, which lies in between High Dump and Stormhaven. You wont have a guaranteed parking space in the national park, however many campgrounds around Tobermory offer more facilities than Cyprus Lake. Unlike other campgrounds in the area, Lands End Park has its own water access to lake Huron. Features an eortless dump bed lock for quick unloading (UMAX One: 10.4 cubic feet capacity and a max load of 300 lbs, UMAX Two: 12.9 cubic feet capacity and a max load of 800 lbs) As a result, this short day-hike can be quite tiring for some folks, so expect to take plenty of breaks during your four-hour stay if parking within Bruce Peninsula National Park sites. Absolutely stunning! Bruce Trail: Halfway Log Dump to the Grotto. It is 6.2 km from Halfway Log Dump to High Dump. The storied Grotto was beautiful, but I didnt stay long or explore the caves because there were large crowds that didnt seem too concerned about social distancing. Bruce Trail: Halfway Log Dump to the Grotto Hard 4.6 (356) Cabot Head Provincial Nature Reserve Photos (2,116) Directions Print/PDF map Length 4.8 miElevation gain 626 ftRoute type Point to point Explore this 4.8-mile point-to-point trail near Northern Bruce Peninsula, Ontario. You can learn more about specific fees on the parks Fees Page. Our legs were covered with the deer/ horse flies and they bite hard. check out this page on the Parks Canada website. Some of the rocks are quite slippery, so have to use caution while treading! Glad you liked it . However, if youd rather stay at a campsite outside the park, there are a ton of options. Voyageur Tripper is a blog dedicated to outdoor adventure for those of us who arent professional explorers. Hope the weather is good. There are lots of uneven or steep sections. Scribd is the world's largest social reading and publishing site. There are big pebbles everywhere on beach. Still, it is a striking journey with gorgeous views, just be prepared for the distance and difficulty with proper equipment, water, food, etc. (Though I suggest bringing your own just in case.). I camped on flower pot island last week (Oct 5) and the views were breathtaking and weather was lovely, although there were quite a few snakes even in October- luckily all non-venemous on the island. It is located on Bruce Peninsula, which is a a long peninsula pointing northwest into Lake Huron. In the video youll see the striking scenery of Bruce Peninsula, the campsites and surrounding facilities, and the trail itself. >>Id recommend taking something like this. The best times to visit this trail are April through November. This map contains the trails and locations of campsites. Visitors who arrived without a confirmed booking for the areas during the time periods identified will not be able to gain access to the areas. Make sure to wear full sleeves shirt and full trousers as there are many flies which will bite you a lot. Watch the latest videos about #halfwaylogdump on TikTok. Your email address will not be published. It is becoming increasingly difficult to experience the beautiful of Bruce Peninsula and The Grotto without feeling like youre at a zoo. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. This is a 5 km loop that takes about 2.5 hours. Complete Guide to Camping in Bruce Peninsula National Park. If camping in cooler temperatures, ensure you have a sleeping pad warm enough. Expect traffic, long wait times and full parking lots. If you prefer car camping, youll want to stay at Cyprus Lake Campground. The moment we land stunning rocky shoreline that would not feel out of place somewhere the... 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