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There’s an ancient saying that “all roads lead to
Rome
.” In
Ontario
, I think that it’s pretty safe to say that all major trails lead to the
Bruce
Trail
(or at least it seems that way)! With an incredible number of access points (http://www.out-there.com/brc-trl2.htm) from a variety of Conservation areas, it’s hard NOT to hike the
Bruce
Trail
if you’re out and about on the hiking circuit!
In the 1960s, a man by the name of Raymond Lowes proposed his plans for a hiking trail that would follow the Niagara Escarpment from Beamsville all the way up to Tobermory. Today, it is
Ontario
’s longest trail, measuring in at 800 km! The main trail is connected to a great number of side trails, which only makes its stature even more grand. The
Bruce
Trail
runs through conservation areas and campsites and is open year-round. Maintained by a network of Bruce Trail Clubs, trails are monitored not only for safety and signage but also to ensure the sanctity of the land and to avoid over-erosion. When the need becomes evident, trails are closed for rehabilitation. These area clubs also establish relationships with local land owners who have generously allowed some of the trail to cross over their property.
Since the
Bruce
Trail
covers such a vast territory, it flows through an array of landscapes and geological formations. For example, it crosses the dry Cheltenham Badlands but also passes by meromictic Crawford Lake. In Tobermory, the
Bruce
Trail
hugs
Georgian Bay
’s rocky coast where you can explore a large grotto at the Bruce National Park.
Many books and articles have been written about the
Bruce
Trail
. We’ve found the most useful references to be the official
Bruce
Trail
guide (which can be purchased from the Bruce Trail Association at http://www.brucetrail.org/ or from your local outdoor gear shop) and the sites of the various Bruce Trail Clubs. Maps area also available online.
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800 KM