We've got beautiful weather ahead of us for a trip to one of the most stunning spots in Canada. The Bruce Peninsula is famous for its crystal clear water and granite shoreline with sandy beaches.
We'll be visiting Tobermory, a beautiful town overlooking Georgian Bay, setting up camp at Cyprus Lake, doing what's maybe the most famous hike in Ontario and hopefully getting in some incredible stargazing.
We'll be driving up early Saturday morning to arrive at Tobermory just before lunch. We'll check out the area and get fish and chips (or something veggie) at a local restaurant before we head to the campsite.
That afternoon we'll set up and settle into camp before eating dinner altogether, hanging out by the campfire and if we've got clear skies, stargaze.
We're planning 2 hikes for this trip:
The Grotto - A 3.5km moderate hike, featuring some boulders and occasional steep sections. Pack a bathing suit and towel if you'd like to swim/wash there!
Stormhaven - A 7km moderately challenging hike along the edge of Georgian Bay. There'll also be steep sections and boulders. It's going to be a hot day making it feel harder.
Sleeping Arrangements
We've got 3 incredible campsites right next to Cyprus Lake. Each campsite accommodates 6 people and allows a total of 3 tents. We're staying at sites 113, 114 and 115 at the Birches campground.
If you reserved gear: You'll be sharing a large tent with others of the same gender. We're reserving everything you need for a comfortable night's sleep. Couples who asked for gear will have a private tent.
Washing facilities
Toilets - There are pit latrines throughout the camp. These are effectively a toilet over a deep hole in the ground and they are stocked with toilet paper.
Water - There is drinking water on tap available throughout the camp
Comfort stations - There are also heated comfort stations with indoor, plumbed toilets, hot showers and sinks with both hot and cold water.
Campsite responsibilities
This trip is an opportunity to build your skills so we'll all be mucking in to make the trip a success. We'll divide up responsibilities on the campsite so you learn how to set up a tent, how to hang a tarp and how to get a campfire going. We'll also share in the work to cook and keep things clean. Is there something you really want to learn while we're out? Do you have skills you could share with the group? PM me on Discord and let's work it in.
Saturday 27th May
06:15 - Those getting a ride meet at the PetroCanada next to Keele Station. We leave at 06:30. There's a Tims around the corner if you want to grab breakfast.
06:30 - Head off to Tobermory. We'll stop en route to pick up rentals and at a rest-stop along the way
11:00 - Meet with self-drivers at the Bruce Peninsula National Park Visitor Centre
11:30-13:30 - Explore Tobermory. Have fish and chips next to the bay
14:00 - Check into Cyprus Lake Campground and set up camp
Afternoon of exploring the campsite
We'll eat together in the evening, hang out around the campsite and find a spot for stargazing.
Sunday 28th May
06:30 - Dawn walk to the Grotto (for those who want to go!)
08:30 - Breakfast
09:30 - Break camp
11:00 - Leave camp and head to Halfway Log Dump
Hike to Stormhaven and have lunch there
14:30 - Return to Toronto
19:00 - Anticipated return to Keele station
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Check back here to see how the weather is developing. Despite what it says, it should be 20 degrees during the day!
Clothing:
Pack according to the weather. This is a suggested packing list:
Gear:
Personal Stuff:
Cooking
If you're not getting the gear rental, make sure you bring your own cookware, dining set and a method for cleaning them.
Random Stuff:
Got games? Bring em! Ditto anything else you think the group might enjoy.
Everyone will get their own lunch at the Fish and Chip shop on Saturday and is responsible for bringing their own snacks and drinks.
If you asked for food: We'll be serving a delicious, hot dinner on Saturday, a hot breakfast Sunday morning and a cold lunch for the hike on Sunday. We will provide cutlery and crockery for anyone on the meal plan which you'll be responsible for keeping clean. We'll also be providing Coffee, Tea and dairy milk.
If you didn't ask for food: You'll need to bring your own cook kit but you can share the washing up facilities.
Rented camping kits contain the following:
Self-drivers will need to purchase parking on arrival at Cyprus Lake. There are two free passes included with our booking so wait for the main group to arrive prior to purchasing your permit.
We'll also need to buy a parking ticket for Halfway Log Dump on Sunday
Water based danger: If you can't swim, keep out of the water. Georgian Bay is very cold and conditions can change pretty quickly so don't swim if unattended and stick to designated swimming areas.
Sunburn: It's looking like it might be very sunny. Make sure you bring suncream.
Hiking injuries: There are a lot of rocks on the trail and it's easy to roll an ankle. Be careful when walking and bring poles if helpful.
Getting lost: Always check in with the trip leaders before heading out separately. Let us know where you'll be going and when you expect to return.
Bruce Peninsula National Park, has a rich indigenous history that spans thousands of years. The area is traditionally inhabited by several indigenous groups, including the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi), Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy), and the Huron-Wendat.
The Anishinaabe peoples have long-standing connections to the land, considering it a part of their traditional territory. They have lived and thrived in the region for generations, relying on its diverse ecosystems for sustenance, spiritual practices, and cultural traditions. The Anishinaabe people have a deep knowledge of the land, its flora, fauna, and natural resources, and their traditional teachings emphasize the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with the natural world.
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, known as the Six Nations, also have historical ties to the region. Their territory extended into parts of present-day Ontario, including the Bruce Peninsula area. The Haudenosaunee have a rich cultural heritage and governance structure, and their traditional knowledge and practices are intertwined with the land and its resources.
The Huron-Wendat people, another indigenous group with a significant historical presence in the area, were part of the Huron Confederacy, a powerful alliance of indigenous nations in the region. They inhabited lands around Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, which encompass the Bruce Peninsula. The Huron-Wendat had a complex social structure and were skilled farmers, traders, and artisans.
These indigenous groups have a deep understanding of the Bruce Peninsula's ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources. They have utilized the land for hunting, fishing, gathering medicinal plants, and conducting sacred ceremonies. The peninsula's unique geography, including its limestone cliffs, forests, wetlands, and shoreline, played a crucial role in their way of life.
It's important to acknowledge and respect the longstanding presence and contributions of indigenous peoples to the land now encompassed by Bruce Peninsula National Park. Indigenous communities continue to maintain connections to the area, engaging in cultural practices and advocating for the protection and preservation of their heritage and the environment.
We've got beautiful weather ahead of us for a trip to one of the most stunning spots in Canada. The Bruce Peninsula is famous for its crystal clear water and granite shoreline with sandy beaches.
We'll be visiting Tobermory, a beautiful town overlooking Georgian Bay, setting up camp at Cyprus Lake, doing what's maybe the most famous hike in Ontario and hopefully getting in some incredible stargazing.
We'll be driving up early Saturday morning to arrive at Tobermory just before lunch. We'll check out the area and get fish and chips (or something veggie) at a local restaurant before we head to the campsite.
That afternoon we'll set up and settle into camp before eating dinner altogether, hanging out by the campfire and if we've got clear skies, stargaze.
We're planning 2 hikes for this trip:
The Grotto - A 3.5km moderate hike, featuring some boulders and occasional steep sections. Pack a bathing suit and towel if you'd like to swim/wash there!
Stormhaven - A 7km moderately challenging hike along the edge of Georgian Bay. There'll also be steep sections and boulders. It's going to be a hot day making it feel harder.
Sleeping Arrangements
We've got 3 incredible campsites right next to Cyprus Lake. Each campsite accommodates 6 people and allows a total of 3 tents. We're staying at sites 113, 114 and 115 at the Birches campground.
If you reserved gear: You'll be sharing a large tent with others of the same gender. We're reserving everything you need for a comfortable night's sleep. Couples who asked for gear will have a private tent.
Washing facilities
Toilets - There are pit latrines throughout the camp. These are effectively a toilet over a deep hole in the ground and they are stocked with toilet paper.
Water - There is drinking water on tap available throughout the camp
Comfort stations - There are also heated comfort stations with indoor, plumbed toilets, hot showers and sinks with both hot and cold water.
Campsite responsibilities
This trip is an opportunity to build your skills so we'll all be mucking in to make the trip a success. We'll divide up responsibilities on the campsite so you learn how to set up a tent, how to hang a tarp and how to get a campfire going. We'll also share in the work to cook and keep things clean. Is there something you really want to learn while we're out? Do you have skills you could share with the group? PM me on Discord and let's work it in.
Saturday 27th May
06:15 - Those getting a ride meet at the PetroCanada next to Keele Station. We leave at 06:30. There's a Tims around the corner if you want to grab breakfast.
06:30 - Head off to Tobermory. We'll stop en route to pick up rentals and at a rest-stop along the way
11:00 - Meet with self-drivers at the Bruce Peninsula National Park Visitor Centre
11:30-13:30 - Explore Tobermory. Have fish and chips next to the bay
14:00 - Check into Cyprus Lake Campground and set up camp
Afternoon of exploring the campsite
We'll eat together in the evening, hang out around the campsite and find a spot for stargazing.
Sunday 28th May
06:30 - Dawn walk to the Grotto (for those who want to go!)
08:30 - Breakfast
09:30 - Break camp
11:00 - Leave camp and head to Halfway Log Dump
Hike to Stormhaven and have lunch there
14:30 - Return to Toronto
19:00 - Anticipated return to Keele station
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Check back here to see how the weather is developing. Despite what it says, it should be 20 degrees during the day!
Clothing:
Pack according to the weather. This is a suggested packing list:
Gear:
Personal Stuff:
Cooking
If you're not getting the gear rental, make sure you bring your own cookware, dining set and a method for cleaning them.
Random Stuff:
Got games? Bring em! Ditto anything else you think the group might enjoy.
Everyone will get their own lunch at the Fish and Chip shop on Saturday and is responsible for bringing their own snacks and drinks.
If you asked for food: We'll be serving a delicious, hot dinner on Saturday, a hot breakfast Sunday morning and a cold lunch for the hike on Sunday. We will provide cutlery and crockery for anyone on the meal plan which you'll be responsible for keeping clean. We'll also be providing Coffee, Tea and dairy milk.
If you didn't ask for food: You'll need to bring your own cook kit but you can share the washing up facilities.
Rented camping kits contain the following:
Self-drivers will need to purchase parking on arrival at Cyprus Lake. There are two free passes included with our booking so wait for the main group to arrive prior to purchasing your permit.
We'll also need to buy a parking ticket for Halfway Log Dump on Sunday
Water based danger: If you can't swim, keep out of the water. Georgian Bay is very cold and conditions can change pretty quickly so don't swim if unattended and stick to designated swimming areas.
Sunburn: It's looking like it might be very sunny. Make sure you bring suncream.
Hiking injuries: There are a lot of rocks on the trail and it's easy to roll an ankle. Be careful when walking and bring poles if helpful.
Getting lost: Always check in with the trip leaders before heading out separately. Let us know where you'll be going and when you expect to return.
Bruce Peninsula National Park, has a rich indigenous history that spans thousands of years. The area is traditionally inhabited by several indigenous groups, including the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi), Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy), and the Huron-Wendat.
The Anishinaabe peoples have long-standing connections to the land, considering it a part of their traditional territory. They have lived and thrived in the region for generations, relying on its diverse ecosystems for sustenance, spiritual practices, and cultural traditions. The Anishinaabe people have a deep knowledge of the land, its flora, fauna, and natural resources, and their traditional teachings emphasize the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with the natural world.
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, known as the Six Nations, also have historical ties to the region. Their territory extended into parts of present-day Ontario, including the Bruce Peninsula area. The Haudenosaunee have a rich cultural heritage and governance structure, and their traditional knowledge and practices are intertwined with the land and its resources.
The Huron-Wendat people, another indigenous group with a significant historical presence in the area, were part of the Huron Confederacy, a powerful alliance of indigenous nations in the region. They inhabited lands around Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, which encompass the Bruce Peninsula. The Huron-Wendat had a complex social structure and were skilled farmers, traders, and artisans.
These indigenous groups have a deep understanding of the Bruce Peninsula's ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources. They have utilized the land for hunting, fishing, gathering medicinal plants, and conducting sacred ceremonies. The peninsula's unique geography, including its limestone cliffs, forests, wetlands, and shoreline, played a crucial role in their way of life.
It's important to acknowledge and respect the longstanding presence and contributions of indigenous peoples to the land now encompassed by Bruce Peninsula National Park. Indigenous communities continue to maintain connections to the area, engaging in cultural practices and advocating for the protection and preservation of their heritage and the environment.
