The Scoop on Visiting the Grotto in Tobermory (2026)
Planning to visit the Grotto in Tobermory? I have all the up-to-date tips you need to know for your visit. I’ve been to the grotto dozens of times over the past few years.
The Bruce Peninsula, specifically Tobermory, is one of our favourite family trip destinations in Ontario. We never want to miss the Grotto and Indian Head Cove when we’re there.
I’ll be honest; the Grotto definitely suffers from overtourism. It can be tricky to navigate with the sheer volume of people who want to see this geological wonder up close – but, rest assured:
- The Grotto is definitely worth seeing, despite the crowds
- It can look very different at different times of the year (sometimes the cave is full of water, sometimes it’s empty)
- The hike to the Grotto/Indian Head Cove is easy, but it takes 30-45 minutes from the parking lot. It took us 35 minutes, with a 4-year-old.
- I’d allow at least 2 hours at the minimum to visit the Grotto, for the round-trip hike plus enjoy your time there. You should budget 3-4 hours for everything, as there’s a lot to see.
The truth is – most people visit without ever actually seeing the real Grotto. Most people hang out at Indian Head Cove, and the popular sea cave, in my photos above – the actual Grotto is right around the corner from these things.
The truth is – visited the Grotto twice without realizing that I missed the actual Grotto.
Check out my tips for visiting the Grotto, Indian Head Cove, and the sea cave below. This is all the stuff that I wish I’d known before!
Quick Tips for Visiting the Grotto
✅You will definitely need decent, good walking shoes or hiking boots. The rocks near the Grotto and Indian Head Cove are slippery, and falls and accidents happen.
✅ You should bring: sunscreen, hat, lots of water (1 litre per person, minimum), snacks, good footwear, appropriate clothing for the weather, plus a towel and swimsuit if you want to swim.
✅ You can swim at the Grotto and Indian Head Cove, but the water is quite cold, even in the summer. Also, its all rocks, no sand. Water shoes, sandals or Crocs would be helpful for wading in the water
✅ Sometimes the waves are ferocious at the Grotto/Indian Head Cove. Even with just a light breeze, the waves can get so choppy, which would make swimming and getting near the shore unsafe or impossible.
✅ Advance parking registrations are required, and you could be turned away and denied visiting if you haven’t reserved your parking. Just a park pass isn’t enough, you need to reserve parking here as well (see my instructions and tips for this reservation link below.) There’ve been thousands of people who visit the Grotto as a day trip from Toronto only to be turned away, so I want to help others avoid that kind of disappointment.
✅ The Grotto isn’t really in Tobermory, like what is often suggested- its a 25 minute drive from the town. So, we sometimes visit the Grotto on our way to Tobermory, or on our way home.
✅ There is no food, snacks or drinks sold at the Grotto at all. Bring snacks, but be sure to take garbage with you. The closest restaurants to the Grotto are a 20-minute drive away, and they are:
- Tacomory, a food truck selling Mexican food
- Las Chulas, a Mexican restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating (expensive, but very good and authentic food)
- A pizza vending machine, just outside Las Chulas
There are lots of other restaurants in Tobermory as well – fish and chips, pub food, and even Indian food.
Step 1: Reserving Your Grotto Parking Pass Online
If your visit to the Grotto is happening anytime between May 1st and October 31st, then you’ll need to reserve a parking spot online.
Parking spot reservations for the Grotto open up on February 2, 2026 and stay open for the season.
If you show up without having bought the pass online, they’ll likely turn you away. You can’t buy the pass on the spot. The time slots also fill up in advance on popular days (ie: summer weekends) so get that reservation in as soon as you can.
Simple and Easy Grotto Reservation Instructions
- Visit this link to be brought to the reservation page (open in a new tab if you still want to see these instructions)
- On the page that opens, scroll down and click the “Reservation Service” button
- On the next page, select ‘Parking (Bruce Peninsula), and select your visit date and the number of people that will be in your car
- A map will appear. Hover over the part of the map that says Grotto parking, and click it
- Vehicle types will appear. Select either regular, oversized or accessible – whichever applies to you
- On the next page, the time slots will appear. Select the available time slot in green that works for you
- A receipt will be emailed to you. Either print it, or present it on your phone when you arrive at the Grotto parking
Important tips for Reserving the Grotto
- There are different 4-hour time slots available each day
- You have to show up within the first 2 hours of the slot you choose, or you they may turn you away, because you need more than 2 hours to visit the Grotto
- You can’t cancel, so be sure about the time slot you choose
The rules do seem strict, but the purpose is to manage the crowds and volume of people who visit the Grotto.
The parking pass will cost around $35 for a regular (not oversized) vehichle, with taxes and other fees – this goes towards preserving the Bruce Peninsula National Park.
Navigating the Grotto Parking Lot
The Grotto Parking lot is HUGE, and as long as you reserve a spot in advance, then it shouldn’t fill up.
The parking lot and the Grotto itself do get busy pretty early. Last time, we arrived in October 2025 around 10am, and there were already quite a few people parked in the lot.
I recommend coming as early as possible to enjoy the park before it gets too crowded.
Right by the parking lot and before the entrance to the hike, there are washrooms, information plaques and picnic tables.
I highly recommend using the washroom before you start the hike to the Grotto. There are washrooms on the hike, but we found them to be absolutely revolting last time we tried to use them, so I always go before the hike.
The Hike to the Grotto
The hike to the Grotto takes 30-45 minutes, depending on how fast you’re going.
This hike is a part of the Bruce Trail, which is a section of the longest marked trail in Canada. It’s a beautiful hike through a dirt path in the woods, passing streams, lakes and limestone rock formations.
The teail is very flat, and easy. I’ve done this hike with babies and toddlers, and walking children should be able to walk most of it.
Although most of the ground of the trail is flat, I don’t recommend bringing stroller because you won’t be able to use the stroller once you get to the actual Indian Head Cove and Grotto, and you’ll have to leave it somewhere inattended which isn’t ideal.
Of course, most people just want to make a beeline for the Grotto (which is understandable), I recommend taking it easy and making the hike a fun and relaxing experience for the whole family or group.
The Grotto vs Indian Head Cove
The Grotto and Indian Head Cove are technically two different things, but they are very close to eachother.
It’s only a 5 minute walk along the Bruce Trail to get from the Indian Head cove area to where the famous Grotto is.
When you arrive at the end of the Grotto hike, you’ll see the Indian Head Cove on your right, and the Grotto rocks/sea cave to your left.
There are so many people at these first two areas, that most people figure it’s “the grotto,” and they stop there. Some of us (myself included) never make it to the Grotto, which is just PAST the first stop.
I thought that the first sea cave (‘Natural Arch’) was the grotto, but it was not. If you want to see the ‘actual’ Grotto, then you need to continue heading north on the Bruce Trail, as shown on the map below. It will only be another 5 minutes of walking.
A good 2 hours or more can easily be spent at all three of the amazing areas in this above photo (there is more than I’ve even explored or seen.)
Yes, it will be busy at the Grotto, so try not to be in a hurry. Take all the time you can, slow down, and enjoy and take in this amazing natural geological wonder with your fellow visitors.
Want to maximize your time at the Grotto and in the Tobermory area? Check out my recommendations for places to stay in Tobermory for families
What to Do at the Grotto
You can do whatever you want once you get to the Grotto. It’s possible to just take your pictures, turn around and leave – but I recommend taking your time there to explore the nooks and crannies of the area.
Here are some things that we do and that I see others doing at the Grotto:
- Exploring/getting pictures of the cave and in front of and on top of it. This is a must see. You’ll want to get pictures. Some people even climb into the cave, but this can be dangerous. Most people get photos standing on top of the cave, or infront of it. Be patient – the cave is a popular photo spot, and on a summer weekend, there will likely be lineups
- Sunbathing and swimming. Some people bring towels, swimsuits and they set up for a few hours. Many people swim in the waters (although its cold, even in the summer)
- Climbing/exploring the surrounding rocks. There are lots of rocks to climb, cliffs, caves, endless lookouts on the transparent turquoise lake. Take your time to explore this serene Canadian beauty
Visiting the Grotto and Indian Head Cove FAQ
Can You Swim at the Grotto?
You can absolutely swim at the Grotto, and Indian Head Cove. Many people do it. The average water temperature, even in the summer, is between 11°C to 19°C – so its pretty chilly.
The other thing to keep in mind is that its not a sandy area, its very rocky – we’re talking about large, smooth, fist-sized rocks. They can get slippery, especially if they’re near the shore. So, water shoes, Crocs and crocks are helpful, especially for kids who want to wade in the water.
How long is the Grotto hike to Tobermory?
It’s possible to hike from the Grotto area over to the town of Tobermory – it would take 3.5 hours, one way. Even if you are not parking, you still need to buy a park pass and a parking reservation – this is to manage crowds in the busy months, and these fees go directly into managing the park.