Bruce Peninsula

At the northwest tip of the Niagara Escarpment a mosaic of dramatic cliffs, spectacular caves, gentle beaches, fens and forests offer a glimpse into the wonder of the Bruce Peninsula.

Bruce Peninsula is a rocky finger of the Niagara Escarpment within easy driving distance of busy urban centres but a world apart.

The limestone cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment rise bold and dramatic above the deep blue waters of Georgian Bay. Over millions of years, endless waves have carved the soft limestone layers, leaving the region with spectacular caves and grottos, overhanging cliffs and whittled columns of rock called flowerpots.

The Peninsula hosts an old-growth forest of ancient eastern white cedars and is full of unusual flora and fauna. It is home to over 40 varieties of wild orchid and many types of delicate ferns, some nationally rare. Trout streams and quiet inland lakes beckon the canoeist and the fisherman, and for the more adventuresome, there is the allure of "deep water."

From Tobermory, where the Escarpment dips into Georgian Bay, to Colpoy's Bay, 13 distinctive Escarpment parks help capture the beauty and diversity of the Bruce Peninusla.

Parks include Fathom Five National Marine Park of Canada, composed of green islands, lake bottoms and clear cold water. Visit the park's Flowerpot Island where you can see the flowerpot rock columns, camp and explore. Bruce Peninsula National Park is its mainland counterpart of limestone cliffs, mixed forests, wetlands and tranquil beaches.

Visit the "Parks in the Bruce Peninsula" web page to learn more about the escarpment parks and attractions in the area and to explore the rocky ridge of the Escarpment.