One of the most popular tourist attraction in Southwestern Ontario is in Northern Bruce Peninsula along the Niagara escarpment: Tobermory. In Tobermory, are 2 of the most famous national parks: Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park. This UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world that flock to visit these crystal clear turquoise water of Lake Huron and majestic cliffs along the coastline every year between May to October. The claim to fame for these national parks is probably The Grotto that is found in the Bruce Peninsula National Park and the Flowerpot Island at Fathom Five National Marine Park.
At these National Parks, you can hike trails that lead to picturesque views, visit epic islands, or even dive the many shipwrecks in the Georgian Bay. Fun fact: this community is also known as the fresh water SCUBA diving capital of the world. There are also rare habitats for flowers and endangered plants. This area also protects snakes, bears, bats and migratory birds.
Now, the preservation of these parks are funded on their own without government help. So that means all revenue from park fees that you pay for admission are re-invested into the parks to support their visitor programs, services, facilities and helps with conservation efforts. Parks Canada protects some of the world’s most extraordinary wonders of nature so we should work together to do our best to preserve these parks for future use.
Time From Toronto
As you plan to visit these beautiful National Parks, we’ll use Toronto a starting point. Depending on which part of Toronto you’re coming from and the traffic you can encounter, it can take anywhere between a 3.5 to 5 hour drive. Also take into consideration the time of day, the day of the week and holidays. Be sure to double check if there are any road closures as that can delay your arrival time.
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Admission
Years ago, you were able to visit the Bruce Peninsula National Park on a first come first serve basis. I’m not sure when this has changed, but more so ever since the pandemic, you have to make a parking reservation to The Grotto and/or the Halfway Log Dump for day use here. Once they’re out of parking spaces, there will be no more entrance admissions for that day. If you don’t make a reservation and still want to enter the park, you can hike into The Grotto for free but I was told by my friends and tourists I met that this takes a couple hours each way, in and out. Prices can be found here but keep an eye out for 2023 when prices will be changing. You can also make camping reservations as well.
Temperature
The Bruce Peninsula National Park is north of Toronto and has a milder and cooler climate. The temperature ranges from 5˚ C to the mid 20’s between May to October. The hottest month is in August where the maximum temperature averages around 21˚ C. The water will also be cold year round. I went this year in June and the water temperature was around 7˚ C. I get cold easily so I wasn’t able to jump in as much as I wanted to. I was able to put my feet in the water for a few seconds before it went numb. Of course, there are others who can wade in that water for hours with no problem it seemed.
Hiking Between The Grotto And Halfway Log Dump
It is possible to visit both locations. It is about a 7 km hike each way by foot so you don’t have to pay admission twice. It’s pretty much a straight walk through so it is easy to find. If you plan to do this, parking at the Halfway Log Dump might be better since you have 2 more hours of parking time than The Grotto.
Do I Need To Stay Overnight Or Can It Be A Day Trip?
I’ve done both day trips, and overnight stays. It is a long drive, but if you are able to do it in one day you can save money on a hotel. If your only goal is to visit one National Park, a day trip is plenty of time.
For overnight stays, remember to book ahead of time! If you’re an avid outdoors person, you can make a reservation to camp in these parks. This is a very popular tourist travel destination and especially when the weather is nice out, accommodations in the area get sold out extremely fast. Also, the benefit of an overnight stay is that you can visit other popular destinations in Tobermory while you’re there. For hotels in the area, check here.
Bruce Peninsula National Park – The Grotto
When To Visit
The Grotto is open to visitors between May to October every year, but double check on their website for exact dates. This may change every year depending on weather and this year in particular, the opening was delayed due to the pandemic restrictions.
Time Spent
With your day use reservation, you will be allowed a 4 hour parking time slot and you can choose the hours between 8 AM to 9 PM. If you’re only doing a day trip, I would definitely say take all 4 hours. It is absolutely breath taking and so serene there, and there is so much to explore. It’s also nice to relax at Indian Head Cove and enjoy the Caribbean-blue waters. To be honest, I wish we had more time but because of restrictions and protecting the Park from overcrowding, that just isn’t possible anymore unless you camp overnight. Plus, I’m sure it was a long drive to get there so make the time worth it!
The must-visit areas are Indian Head Cove where you can soak up the sun and appreciate the tranquillity of the water and visiting the famous Grotto. When hiking The Grotto, you need to be extremely careful as it is very high and you’ll literally need to climb the cliff to get to the cave below. There is no barrier, no steps, and nothing to cling to. So remember to wear hiking shoes, take your time, and don’t carry too much with you. For those with a fear of heights, this might not be for you but you can enjoy the view from up top – just don’t stand too close to the edge.
Grotto Trails
There are a few different hiking trails to choose from to get to The Grotto and Indian Head Cove for all levels of hikers.
| Trail | Time | Distance | Description |
| Georgian Bay Trail | 25 minutes | 1.5 km | Easy, wide trail that is most direct to the Georgian Bay shoreline |
| Horse Lake Trail | 55 minutes | 2.1 km | Easy boardwalk to cobblestone shores that intersects with the Georgian Bay Trail |
| Marr Lake Trail | 1 hour | 1.5 km | Rugged, incline trail that leads to the Georgian Bay shoreline |
Bruce Peninsula National Park – Halfway Log Dump
When To Visit
The Halfway Log Dump in the Bruce Peninsula National Park is open to visitors between May to September every year. Again, double check on their website for exact dates. This may also change every year depending on different factors.
Time Spent
With your day use reservation, you will be allowed a 6 hour parking time slot and you can choose the hours between 7 AM to 8 PM. Like the Grotto, it is gorgeous here and you can hike, tan, or go swimming if you can brave the cold. There are unique rock formations and you can climb them easily. As always, remember to be careful!
Halfway Log Dump Trail
| Trail | Time | Distance | Description |
| Log Dump Trail | 30 min | 1 km | Steep, rocky terrain |
Fathom Five National Marine Park
The Fathom Five National Marine Park is Canada’s first national marine park that was established in 1987 and is part of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. It protects over 20 shipwrecks, 3 historic lighthouses, and 22 islands in the Georgian Bay. Most notably, Flowerpot Island. It is also one of the best places for freshwater diving in Canada. The waters are cold, but it is clear, clean, and has much to offer with their caves and cliffs.
Distance From Bruce Peninsula National Park
It is just under 10 km from Bruce Peninsula National Park to Fathom Five National Marine Park. It’s about a 9 minute drive and a 2 hour walk, but it’s best to drive.
Admission
When I went to hike the Fathom Five National Marine Park this summer, it was first come first serve and there was no admission fee. But to be safe and if anything changes in the future, here is a list of park fees that you can refer to.
Temperature
Even though Fathom Five National Marine Park is only about a 9 minute drive away from Bruce Peninsula National Park, the temperate drops about 1-2 degrees.
When To Visit
This national marine park is also open from the months of about May to October, between the hours of 9 to 6 PM in the summer and 9 to 5 PM in the fall.
Time Spent
You can hike the main trail in about 2 to 2.5 hours. If you want to stay overnight, you can book accommodations here. If you want to camp, there is only one campsite at Fathom Five National Marine Park and that is at Flowerpot Island and you’ll need to make reservations online. See below for more information on Flowerpot Island.
Fathom Five National Marine Park Trails
| Trail | Time | Distance | Description |
| Little Dunks Trail | 25 minutes | 950 m | Easy, wide forest trail to lookout |
| Burnt Point Loop | 1.5 hours | 3.2 km | Narrow, uneven forest trail with lake views |
| Burnt Point Shortcut | 45 minutes | 1.6 km | Shorter loop option with limited lake views |
Flowerpot Island
Now, the only way to get to Flowerpot Island is by boat. And no, you can’t spot the flowerpots from land – I tried the first time I visited the Fathom Five area and didn’t realize it was actually about a half an hour boat ride to the island. Flowerpot Island is surrounded by the waters of Georgian Bay and is famous for, as you obviously know, the flowerpot sea stacks.
How To Get To Flowerpot Island
There are ferries that can take you directly to the Flowerpot Island or you can book a boat tour that takes you to the site of a couple shipwrecks before heading to the island.
2 major tour companies are:
They both have different tours available where they can take you to Flowerpot Island, or you can stay aboard the cruise ship for a boat tour.
My Experience With Blue Heron Cruises At Flowerpot Island
I took Blue Heron Cruises this summer and chose their Drop-Off Cruise To Flowerpot Island. Although there was guide on board, it was really hard to hear them through the wind and there wasn’t much of a speaker system. The first leg of the ride was to pass by the Big Tub Lighthouse and see a couple 19th century shipwrecks which took about 45 minutes or so. The return trip was about 25 minutes. Our cruise allowed for about 4 hours total so there wasn’t too much time on the island. And also because of the pandemic restrictions, they had to make it so that there were a limited amount of visitors as they had to take into account other tour companies as well.
We almost didn’t get to visit the shipwrecks because of the pandemic restrictions, but luckily on the day I visited this summer, was the first day we were officially allowed to take a tour and not only have a drop-off service. It was easy to see the shipwrecks since the waters are so clear.
On Flowerpot Island
It is a very small island and doesn’t take too long to hike it. But with having only under 4 hours there and having to choose between a trail hike or spending time at the water, it was an easy choice for me. I spent most of my time by the water and only hiked a little bit towards the end. The cave and the lighthouses were closed due to capacity restrictions so weren’t able to visit this time around.
There were a lot of visitors and you might have to dodge some people as the trails aren’t that wide. I also saw a couple snakes which I am not a fan of, but they are native to this island and can only be found there. (Thank God for the little things.)
Temperature
I will say though, that the water temperature is surprisingly warmer than the Bruce Peninsula National Park where Indian Head Cove is. I was actually able to get in the water and stay in for a while. The island itself, has a large amount of forestation so even though it was hot when I went, there’s a lot of shade.
Flowerpot Island Trails
| Trail | Time | Distance | Description |
| Flowerpot Trail | 30 minutes | 1.3 km | Easy, wide trail with stairs. Access to flowerpots and cave. |
| Light Station Lookout | 10 minutes | 250 m | Narrow catwalk with steep sections |
| Mountain Trail | 40 minutes | 1.4 km | Natural, very rugged trail with steep sections and stairs |
| Marl Bed Side Trail | 20 minutes | 800 m | Wooden boardwalk and leads to shoreline |
Safety At The Bruce Peninsula National Park And Fathom Five National Marine Park
- Safety is always your own responsibility and there’s no staff watching the trails.
- Check the weather ahead of time and watch out for when sun goes down. You don’t want to get lost!
- Pick a trail that is for your skill level.
- Wearing proper hiking shoes is an absolute must.
- Let someone know of your hiking plan – including time and trail.
- Use a park map as trail markers aren’t always easy to read or discernible, so stay on the trail.
- Swimming can be dangerous. The water is very cold even in the summer and water depth can suddenly drop off. There can also be strong waves or currents and if you are close to a shoreline or the caves, you’ll need to be extremely careful around the sharp rock formations. Someone dies every year along the shorelines and they’re usually males around the age of 18 to 30.
Tips For Visiting Tobermory And The National Parks
Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park are truly natural wonders and in this unsupervised wilderness, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Book ahead of time. These national parks aren’t opened year round and it’s a major travel destination in the summer.
- Do your part and take care of the beautiful nature while you’re there. We want to be able to leave it for the generations to come.
- Make sure you don’t run out of gas on the way there. There are very few gas stations and it won’t be easy to get to one.
- There’s basically one way in, one way out – watch out for traffic and also be prepared that you may get stuck in traffic, especially if there is construction like there was this summer.
To have a great experience, you’ll need to be prepared. Here are 13 Things You Absolutely Need To Bring On A Hike + 2 Bonus Items to help you get ready. Plus here are 22 Vital Lessons Learned On My Summer Road Trips that will make your road trip much more comfortable.