It had an amazing view of the clear blue waters! Halfway Log Dump 4 8 reviews #16 of 35 things to do in Tobermory Bodies of Water Beaches Visit website Call Write a review What people are saying " AmazIng time " Aug. 2022 We loved the pebble beach and the little coves. Hiking is the best (and only) way to get around Bruce Peninsula National Park (unless you are an experienced kayaker perhaps). The loop is 3 km and takes between 1.5 to 3 hours to complete, depending on hiking speed. Then youll return via the trail to Horse Lake. North of halfway log dump (haha) along the bruce trail, there are some serious 120' cliffs into deep water. Im at High Dump in a few weeks and was under the impression that I can purchase overnight parking for Half Way Log Dump upon check in. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There is a parks canada gate at Emmette lake road, book in advance if you want in because the bureaucracy has put in restrictions on the outdoors. Although it's still popular enough to require parking reservations. Cyprus Lake Campground and Day Use Parking: This is where you go if you have a reservation for camping (either car camping or backcountry). Generally considered a challenging route. Between June 11 and October 31st it needs to be booked in advance due to popularity. By visiting early in the morning, you beat the crowds of people who are still in their cars driving in. Tobermory is renowned for its white limestone shorelines and turquoise waters. Challenging hike though, not for beginners. Once you've pushed through this rocky hike, you'll be rewarded with aquamarine beauty and refreshing breezes. If youre visiting BPNP specifically to see The Grotto, I recommend Stormhaven as it is 2.7 km from The Grotto. The trail is fairly wide and gradual, and is suitable for beginners. Wear proper hiking footwear, as parts of the trail are rough and rocky. The peninsula is part of the traditional territory of Saugeen Ojibway Nation. Instead, I opted to camp in the park. However on my visit, the Park Staff were asking people not to do this as it poses safety hazards. Each campsite has a wooden tent platform, guaranteeing a flat place for you to put your tent. You will need to drive here as it is far from camping at the Grotto. Biggest limitation was the time limit on parking but is doable within the allotted time. But if hiking isnt your jam, there is also a front country campground you can drive into you. Reaching the end of the trail, you will come to the popular rock formation known as the Grotto, a cave that allows you to peer through the rock of the escarpment into the waters of the bay below. The campsites are predominately wooded, ensuring privacy from other campsites. Le sentier offre plusieurs activits et sa meilleure utilisation est de avril novembre. Walking on Emmett Lake Road is not allowed due to safety concerns. We hiked this after (and during the rain) made for some slippery conditions. This is the trail youll be on if youre hiking to either of the backcountry campsites. Grotto parking is available starting April 30 to October 31, 2022 ~ $12.25 per vehicle plus applicable reservation fee. So in this guide, Ill provide you with tips on how to visit The Grotto while avoiding the crowds. You can see at the top in the centre the label Cyprus Lake. The trail is fairly rugged and the park deems it difficult. What can I see in 4 hours? Take your time and be careful! Although hard to see on the map, the chart in the top-right corner has the hiking distances between major sights and campgrounds. Do it during the week when the crowds are less I suspect and don't dare do Tobermory on the weekend, I swear all of toronto is there - yuk. The Georgian Bay shoreline including the Grotto, Halfway Log Dump and surrounding trails is a popular area of the park. Voyageur Tripper is a blog dedicated to outdoor adventure for those of us who arent professional explorers. Theres a bear hang for everyone to use and there is a large tent platform (annoying for pegging the tent, but ensure a flat spot). Make sure to wear full sleeves shirt and full trousers as there are many flies which will bite you a lot. The Head of Trails parking lot can be found at the end of Cyprus Lake Road (5 km). Rugged trail conditions provide quality exercise. Technically there is a hole you can go down to access to the caves and you could go swimming there. Brila (/ b r i l /, also US: /-l /, Romanian: ()) is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brila County.The Sud-Est Regional Development Agency is located in Brila.. Please note that as with the Grotto, once you check in the drive in the park to the parking lot is very long, we kept wondering when we will get there. so it may be a tight time frame to complete this entire hike. Trail is well marked and challenging enough for a good adventure for the whole family! Part of the trail is wide, smooth and flat. HALFWAY LOG DUMP (Tobermory) - 2023 What to Know BEFORE You Go. Polyester or other synthetic materials will cool you while they dry. You can also walk along the Bruce Trail in either direction, but you'll need to return the same way you came. It's just a hair longer than 6km to The Grotto and should take less than an hour and a half if you're moving at a good pace. It is located on Bruce Peninsula, which is a a long peninsula pointing northwest into Lake Huron. There are three trails, an easy 900m Log Dump Trail and two Bruce Trails on either side of it. Staying warm: If hiking in the spring or fall, I really recommend getting a merino wool hiking shirt. What are the trails at Halfway Log Dump like? All of the campsites at High Dump are about equal distance to the water. If you're still determined to visit the Grotto, it is possible but you've got a long hike ahead of you at 6 kilometres each way. Get fit for summer with our fitness planning guide! Many tourists love to enjoy some fulfilling snacks by the shores to fuel themselves for the rich calorie-burning trod back. The campground has the following facilities: composting washroom, tent platforms and bear hang station. It was super challenging. Found the trail to be well marked except at the start where we walked along the beach at first. Once you turn into the park, there is an entrance gate and a park ranger. The Grotto is a unique natural wonder and memorable place to experience. This is a gorgeous trail- youre walking on top of the escarpment so lots of rocks/walking on top of boulders etc. Mikaela is a Wilderness First Responder and Whitewater Rescue Technician. Infinite secret places to cool off in the icy, yet healing bay. The Grotto is a shoreline sea cave with beautiful blue waters. Most of this terrain is rocky and requires technical footing so it is really important to wear hiking footwear, especially once arriving at the beaches. Halfway Log Dump (Emmett Lake) to Crane River Gate - strenuous to moderate - 15 km. So if you see front country camping think car camping or RV camping. Wear proper hiking shoes and watch your footing as its easy to roll your ankles. The loop is 3 km and takes between 1.5 to 3 hours to complete, depending on the hiking speed. The trail to the Grotto would be mostly stroller friendly (very wide and level), but around the Grotto itself is quite rocky. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The trail ranking as difficult is accurate! The trail is well signed and easy enough to do with kids. Reservations are required at those locations. You can read more about the parks fees here. You can also order printed visitor, paddling and trails maps for free! Difficult difficult difficult. Winter is a great time to visit the Grotto because there are significantly fewer crowds during this time. Jammed between the wooded escarpment of the Bruce Peninsula and the sublimely frigid waters of Georgian Bay, Halfway Log Dump provides some quality bouldering in an amazing location. So yes, The Grotto was totally worth the effort and I wouldnt say it is overhyped at all. Here is a video I made about camping at Bruce Peninsula National Park. Expect traffic, long wait times and full parking lots. The Grotto is located in Bruce Peninsula National Park, at the northeastern end of Bruce Peninsula. . I wouldnt say its worth it at all. For both the Grotto and Halfway Log Dump, it is highly encouraged to plan on visiting in the shoulder seasons, (spring/fall) and be sure to call ahead and book a reservation. It costs $6.00 to make your reservation. If backcountry camping isnt your thing, there is one campground (with three sections) for front country camping in Bruce Peninsula National Park. Leaving from the campground, you pass on the west side of Marr Lake, arrive at The Grotto and come back the way you came. You can do so through the Parks Canada booking portal. The boulders are found along a thin section of the rock beach where the water nearly reaches the base of the cliff. Peninsula . I know this is disappointing, but the fires damage the fragile environment. I thought about doing this previously, but instead got distracted by the pristine Georgian Bay waters and went for a dip to cool off. I dont recommend doing the hike this quickly unless you are short on time. I absolutely loved High Dump. The highlight of the route are the beaches with the beautiful turquoise water and its tropical vibe. Near the town, there are two National [] This is an amazing hike that should definitely make it onto your list if you find yourself in the Bruce. View from Halfway Log Dump, Bruce Peninsula Singing Sands. Excited to see the Grotto August 21, 2021. Any information would be helpful! Took 5.5 hours. I didnt need to book a parking space (since it was late in the year), but in July I think you should. Grotto of course overrun by people, more like an amusement park. Voyageur Tripper is a blog dedicated to outdoor adventure for those of us who arent professional explorers. This can be done in advance to ensure that you secure a spot. Tobermory ON Canada. What restaurants are near Halfway Log Dump? There are two different destinations in the park, depending on what youre doing: Visitors Centre: This is where you go if you want to learn about the park or if you will be spending time in the adjacent Five Fathom National Marine Park. If youre doing the Bruce Trail, you should wear hiking boots / hiking shoes / trail running shoes. The parking lot can fill up, but people come and go all day long so it doesn't take long to get a spot. There are also washroom and shower facilities. If you go clockwise, youll take the trail to Marr Lake and the nearby Boulder Beach before reaching Grotto. The Cyprus Lake Campground contains more than 230 sites throughout three sub-campgrounds (Birches, Poplar and Tamaracks). You can learn more About Me here. There are no campfires permitted in Bruce Peninsula National Park. You can also walk along the Bruce Trail in either direction, but youll need to return the same way you came. You must gather water from Georgian Bay, so bring a water pump / filter or be prepared to boil your water. This makes it easy to keep your food away from bears and raccoons. The impact rattles me, but Cassandra is up and moving the moment we land. If youre a reader with a question, please contact me here. From the parking lot it's 8.0 km to High Dump and 15.5 km to Halfway Log Dump. It is also a very popular and busy location, especially during the peak season of July and August and on long weekends. The shorter distance is likely what makes it more popular than High Dump (or maybe its the name, because high dump? Here you can explore a large section of the beautiful Georgian Bay shoreline, hike the Bruce Trailalong the clifftops, or combine both for a memorable experience before returning to your car. If you are looking for a swimming area, this place is perfect. Hiking the Halfway Log Dump to the Grotto Trail is an amazing experience along the shores of Georgian Bay that will see you climb uphill along the rocky escarpment for some stunning views across the water. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The hike features ancient cedars growing out of cracks in the granite ground and cliff faces; in the spring the trail is lined by different varieties of wildflowers, like orchids. Watch the latest videos about #halfwaylogdump on TikTok. (Admissions fee) + (Parking fee) + (Reservations fee). Both High Dump and Stormhaven have nine campsites. You can also walk along the Bruce Trail in either direction, but you'll need to return the same way you came. All trail indique 7.7, par contre cest pour se rendre lautre parking. Reaching a four-way intersection with some washroom facilities, take the trail on the left and follow it through the forest to hike parallel to the shoreline of Georgian Bay, receiving some nice intermittent views across the water in the process. This provides more than enough time to explore the area before returning to your car. If you have not made a reservation at The Bruce Peninsula National Park to visit The Grotto and are looking for an alternative way, then you've found the right article.. Still, it is a striking journey with gorgeous views, just be prepared for the distance and difficulty with proper equipment, water, food, etc. The map below is by Parks Canada. Can you bike on the trails to the grotto? There are not, however, electric sites for trailers. Poses safety hazards area before returning to your car a merino wool hiking shirt access the! Time limit on parking but is doable within the allotted time to moderate 15... 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