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Feature |
Highest Point on the Bruce Trail – Osler
Bluff Lookout |
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Directions
& Parking |
From Collingwood take 6th street west to
Osler Bluffs Rd. Go south to Grey Rd 19. Follow Grey Rd. 19 to 2nd
Line and turn left. Follow the road south for approximately 2 km and
park at intersection of Gibraltar Sideroad and 2nd Line. |
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Hike
Directions |
Follow the 2nd Line road allowance south
for 400 metres along the Osler Side Trail and turn left (east) into
Pretty River Valley Provincial Nature Reserve. Following the
blue-blazed side trail, you will soon pass the highest point on the
Bruce Trail (540 metres) and reach the Bruce Trail. Follow it east
along a high ridge to reach the Osler Bluff Lookout. From here,
follow the Trail out to Gibraltar road allowance, turn left and head
west to the Russ McConnell Side Trail. Follow this trail south to
rejoin your route in at the Bruce Trail. Turn right and retrace your
steps to 2nd Line road allowance along the Osler Side Trail.
(Bruce Trail Reference Map #23) |
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Length |
The loop will require about three hours and
is about 8 km. (Note that 2nd Line is not open in the winter: you
will have to access Gibraltar Sideroad from Banks). You can also
return to 2nd Line along Gibraltar Sideroad. |
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| Duncan
Crevice Caves Provincial Park |
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Feature |
Due to
seasonal extremes in temperature and the forces of gravity, large
blocks of rock have broken away from the main face of the Niagara
Escarpment. The gradual shifting downwards of these huge blocks has
produced the crevice caves of the Collingwood-Blue Mountain area.
The park's range of microclimates supports interesting cliff face
vegetation communities.
The Duncan Escarpment is part of the Niagara Escarpment Parks System
and the Niagara Biosphere Reserve. There are no visitor facilities.
The Bruce Trail provides good hiking and nature appreciation
opportunities. Visitors are asked to remember that the natural
features are vulnerable and easily damaged. Camping, rock climbing,
off road vehicular traffic and hunting are not permitted in this
nature reserve. |
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Directions
& Parking |
From Thornbury follow the
Beaver Valley Road south through Heathcote and turn off at the Blue
Mountain/Euphrasia Town Line south to the 9th sideroad. Turn left
and look on the right for the signs and parking area. |
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Length |
Beginner to intermediate
loop - 6 km |
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IMAGES COURTESY OF TWJ DESIGN |
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| The Loree
Forest |
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Feature |
The area is
single track, with a few spurs that provide some even more technical
riding. The trails are located in the Grey County Forest at the top
of the Georgian Peaks Ski Hill, providing some excellent views.
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Directions
& Parking |
From Highway 26 at
Thornbury, take Grey County Road 2 south where you head north.
Follow the 2 to Victoria Corners and head east for about 4km where
you'll find the small parking area on your right. The trail entrance
is across the street. |
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Length |
Beginner to intermediate
loop - 8km |
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Feature |
Metcalfe Rock |
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Directions
& Parking |
Take Grey Road 2 north from Feversham or
south from Ravenna. At 9th Sideroad turn to the west and turn south
onto 10th Line. There is roadside parking where the Trail crosses
10th Line. |
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Hike
Directions |
Follow the Bruce Trail east across a stream
and up through a huge fissure to the summit of Metcalf Rock where
there is a splendid view of the Kolapore Creek Valley. If you choose
to continue along the edge of the Escarpment, you will reach the
Chuck Grant Side Trail which you can follow down to 10th Line. Here
you can follow 10th Line south for 500m to the start or you can
continue west through the valley and rejoin the Bruce Trail in the
Duncan Crevice Caves Provincial Nature Reserve. Turn left and follow
the Bruce Trail back, crossing Kolapore
Creek, to the parking on 10th Line.
(Bruce Trail Reference Map #25) |
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Length |
To the top of Metcalf Rock is 800 metres.
If you do the whole loop, expect to spend three hours for the 8 km
loop. |
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Feature |
Inglis Falls |
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Directions
& Parking |
Travel north on Highway 10 toward Owen
Sound. Turn west onto Derry Line at Rockford and then right onto
Inglis Falls Road. Parking at Inglis Falls Conservation Area.
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Hike
Directions |
At Inglis Falls the Trail takes you across
Sydenham River via a bridge over the Falls. Inglis Falls is an 18
metre high cascade, created by the Sydenham River meeting the edge
of the Escarpment. The erosive power of the water has carved a deep
gorge at the base of the falls. The Trail continues alongside a
stone wall, offering an excellent view of the Falls. A beautiful
loop involves following the Trail north to Grey Road 5 and turning
east (right) to follow the Harrison Park Side Trail into the Park.
Cross the old road bridge across the Sydenham River and turn right
to follow the well marked path back to the Bruce Trail above the
falls.
(Bruce Trail Reference Map #30) |
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Length |
Less than 100 metres to the Falls. The
Harrison Park loop will take about 2 hours and is about 5 km long. |
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Feature |
Half-Way Dump Side Trail, Cave Point and
Georgian Bay |
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Directions
& Parking |
From the south, take Highway 6 north from
Owen Sound through Wiarton. Leave Highway 6 via Emmett Lake Road
(NOT maintained in the winter) and follow the signs to a large
parking lot. |
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Hike
Directions |
Follow the blue blazes of the Half-way Dump
Side Trail until you reach the shoreline and are rewarded with
beautiful views of Georgian Bay. From here you can head north along
the Trail to beautiful views of the coastline. Note: This is VERY
rugged walking and will require proper foot gear and clothing.
(Bruce Trail Reference Map#39) |
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Length |
From the parking lot it is 900 meters to
the Bruce Trail near the boulder beach at Georgian Bay. The view
points on the cliffs above Cave Point will add another km to your
trip. Expect to spend two to three hours for a 4-km round trip to
Cave Point |
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Summer Packages –
Guided Hiking Tours
For hikers some of the best preserved trails in
the world are available along the Niagara Escarpment. Tours vary in
length and difficulty and can be customized for groups.
Cost $10 per person |
