The Bruce Trail

The Bruce Trail is Canada’s oldest marked trail. It follows the edge of the rocky, scenic Niagara Escarpment and is full of waterfalls, running rivers, epic lookouts, and quiet, serene side trails.

The entire Bruce Trail stretches 890 km (553 miles) long from southern to northern Ontario. So, it’s not something that can be hiked in just one day, but rather do small sections of the hike.

We plan our Bruce Trail hikes depending on which part of Ontario we’re in. Many of the areas of the Brue Trail are very accessible and can be visited as day trips from Toronto.

The small sections of the Bruce Trail to choose from are like small trails that happen to be a part of the larger Bruce Trail.

Key Things to Know About the Bruce Trail

• You can buy a map, or trail guide on the Bruce Trail Conservancy website here, the costs is between $35-$45. Or, check out my ideas below.
• There’s a Bruce Trail App, but it’s only free for your first 7 days! Afterwards, it costs $2.99 per month or $29.99/year to use this app that gives you details on sections of the trail and maps

Any funds that you spend on trail maps, the Bruce Trail app, parking and/or park pass costs all go towards preserving the Bruce Trail, which is an important and fragile part of Ontario’s ecosystem and biodiversity

Best Places to Hike the Bruce Trail

The Bruce Trail are divided into ‘chapters’ with specific names, such as Dufferin Hi-Lands and Caledon Hills. I’ve marked down names of towns, cities and provincial parks below where sections of the Bruce Trail can be explored – in no particular order!

1. The Niagara Region

The southernmost part of the Brue Trail is in the Niagara Region, which is also known for being Canada’s Wine country.

Hiking the Bruce Trail can be paired with a visit to Niagara Falls or Niagara on the Lake.

Here are some of the hikes and sections to visit the Bruce Trail in this area:

• Queenston Heights Park, which is the very first Bruce Trail hike on the map! The park has childrens’ playgrounds, walking trails, historical monuments and views of Lake Ontario
• Balls Falls Conservation Area (pictured above), which has two waterfalls, and lots of beautiful trails

2. Blue Mountains

There are many trails in the Blue Mountains area, near Collingwood, Ontario where you can hike along the Bruce Trail.

In this area, there are:

• lots of geological rock formations, including caves
• lookouts that give you incredible views of Georgian Bay.

There are a few options for hiking the Bruce Trail near Collingwood:

• Scenic Caves Nature Adventures which has dozens of caves and crevices you can explore. There’s also a suspension bridge that overlooks Georgian Bay, and the Thunderbird -one of the longest ziplines in Canada
• Beaver Valley Loop Trail, an 8km (13-mile) loop trail, with very scenic Georgian Bay lookout views.

3. Glen Huron

Glen Huron is near the Blue Mountain area includes a few different hiking areas that include the Niagara Escarpment and the Bruce Trail.

You can hike:

• Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area, which has tall moss-covered limestone rocks that tower far up over your head
• Devil’s Glen Provincial Park (park pass needed, which you can buy online in advance.)

These hiking areas are just a 15-minute drive from the tourist village of Creemore, where you can find the smallest jail in Ontario and get something to eat.

4. Mono Cliffs Provincial Park

Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is located along the Bruce Trail. From the summit of the Lookout Trail, you can even make out the skyline of Toronto on a clear day.

There are several trails in Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, with various side trails leading off from them. The key thing you don’t want to miss is the:

• Lookout Trail, which is the summit where you can see the Toronto skyline on clear days
• The Cliff-Top Side trail, where you can find the little crevice with the tall rocks (pictured above)

Read about the best trails in Mono Cliffs park here to plan your day.

5. Bruce Peninsula National Park

The Bruce Peninsula National Park near Tobermory contains a huge chunk of the northern part of the Bruce Trail.

The Bruce Trail in the Bruce Peninsula area has a number of scenic lookouts of Lake Huron, which looks turquoise blue on a sunny day.

Part of the Bruce Trail includes the Grotto and Indian’s Head Cove, which are very close to eachother and some of the most popular tourist attractions in Ontario.

Simply hiking from the parking lot to the Grotto is apart of the Bruce Trail. It’s also possible to hike via the Bruce Trail to and from the town of Tobermory, which would take 3.5 hours.

6. Hamilton

A few of the waterfalls near Hamilton, Ontario – specifically, Sherman and Tiffany Falls- contain sections of the Bruce Trail.

They’re available off of side trails that can be accessed from the Bruce Trail.

7. Owen Sound

Many of the waterfalls and scenic views surrounding the town of Owen Sound are apart of the Bruce Trail as well.

Places to hike the Bruce trail in Owen Sound are:

• Inglis Falls Provincial Park, one of the best waterfalls in Ontario. The falls just a short hike from the parking lot and you can get many views of the falls from different angles.
• Jones Falls, which is located in the Pottawatomi Conservation Area near Owen Sound. You can get really close to the flowing rapids, and enjoy sounds of the rushing water

8. Flesherton

Flesherton Ontario is one of the best towns to visit in Ontario; especially because of its proximity to the Grey Hightlands part of the Bruce Trail; including two amazing waterfalls!

Here’s what you need to know about the Bruce Trail near Flesherton:

• Eugenia Falls (pictured above) are apart of the Eugenia Falls Conservation Area. Its the tallest waterfall in the area, and it cascades off the cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment. It’s a short walk from the parking lot, but there’s a hiking trail too.
• Hogg’s Falls waterfall and trails. You can simply park and go see them, or there’s a Hogg Falls loop. Parking can get pretty packed (*if its full, you are not allowed to park on the road.)

You can visit and hike these two waterfalls and trails seperately, or there’s also a 12km hike that connects both waterfalls