Back to the Bruce Trail

Dusting off the Hiking Boots

A few years ago I made a well intentioned resolution to hike 100km of the Bruce Trail that year. I am embarrassed to say that I only did a little over 25km.

After a recent unappealing visit to my weight scale, I’ve decided it’s time to dust off my hiking boots and get back on the trail.

Tobermory Here We Come

brush and a rocky shoreline that curve around the lake in the foreground with clear bright turquoise waters near the shore and dark blue waters further out
In May a few buddies and I headed off towards the Tobermory area. We stayed at a great cottage on Red Bay for two nights. In hindsight we should have stayed at least four nights because there is so much to see and do.

End of the Bruce Trail

On our first day, we went into Tobermory. We visited the cute town, did a small walk along the bay and posed beside the Tobermory Cairn which marks the end of the Bruce Trail.

Molly’s Faux Paw (pun intended)

a taxidermy stuffed beaver on a green platform with a black shaggy dog looking up at it

Our next stop was Bruce National Park which has a gorgeous lookout tower and a really well done visitors centre (which allows dogs).

Sometimes my dog, a barbet called Molly can be really embarrassing. Don’t get me wrong; she is very well behaved but has a bad habit of sniffing butts; be it dog, human or any other mammal.

One of the displays at the visitors centre is a taxidermy beaver on a platform. As I feel it’s fur, Molly jumps onto the platform, stuffs her head under it’s tail and deeply inhales the aroma of its butt…Really!

Hiking in the Park

a man and woman with their back to the camera walking down a woodland trail

After hiking some of the park trails and having a picnic, we head back to the Red Bay cottage, have a great meal, watch a sunset and make smores over the fire pit.

a group of people around a dinner table laden with food

Lion’s Head

looking down a rocky tree lined cliff into bright marine blue colored waters that are edged with bright turquoise at the shoreured man sitting at the top of a cliff with his arms raised over his head

The next day we are in great spirits as we hike the Bruce Trail (McCurdy Trail section) at Lions Head. I am a little concerned to see a sign warning us to Avoid rattle snakes and bears by staying on the trails. Fortunately, we do not come across either of them on our walk.

A sign saying Avoid Rattlesnakes and Bears. Stay on trails.

The sun is out and the woods are filled with trilliums. The trail is rocky and uneven and I’m glad to have my walking poles.
many white trilliums growing on the forest floor
The cliffside lookouts over the vibrant turquoise and blue waters are stunning. The waters are so bright you would think they are a painting.
looking down from above onto bright turquoise rimmed waters
There is so much we do not get to see in this area due to limited time. I definitely want to return and explore further.
A man giving a salute and looking off into the distance
Total hiked May 18 7.2km (to the lookouts and back).
Main trail hiked May 18- 78.0-81.6 Bruce Trail- 3.6km
Total km of the main Bruce Trail hiked to date- 28.7km