Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area Hiking Trails
Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area is a great place for a full day trip from Toronto. Less than 2 hours from the city this trail is great to get out with mother nature. There are 5 trails within Nottawasaga Bluff Conservation Area. The Bruce Main trail Which wraps around the park and is a loop trail just over 9kms. This trail branches to the Main Lookout Trail, Keyhole Side Trail, Ian Lang Memorial Trail and the Betty Carter Side Trail.
Visit Mono Cliffs Provincial Park
How to get to Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area from Toronto: Take ON-410 N, Hurontario St and ON-10 to Dufferin County Rd 124 in Shelburne. Continue on Dufferin County Rd 124. Take Grey Rd 124/Simcoe County Rd 124 to Sideroad 15 & 16 Nottawasaga in Glen Huron. 8861 Sideroad 15 & 16 Nottawasaga
Nottawasaga Bluffs is a 400 acre conservation area has stunning limestone cliffs, wetlands, crevices and fissures. Being part of the Bruce Trail you know this area is majestic. There is a 10.00 entry fee or 70.00 for the year. Best to get the pass online before you go as the service in the area is not that great. At this moment the washrooms are still not available but hopefully soon.
Another day trip area Hamilton : Check out Best Waterfalls in Hamilton Ontario
Nottawasaga Bluffs Trail MAP
Download High quality Map of Nottawasaga Bluffs Trail here in PDF.
What to bring with you.
Nottawasaga Bluffs Trail is a moderate trail. Be sure you have comfortable and sturdy hiking shoes. I would also suggest to bring hiking poles. In your backpack bring water, snacks, flashlight (for the caves), first-aid kit, sunscreen and bug spray. Don’t forget your camera!
Parking Fees
- ​Daily Parking – $10.00 per vehicle
- Annual Parking – $70.00 per vehicle (valid for all NVCA-operated conservation areas)
- For more details on parking fees in Nottawasaga Bluffs
Please note there is NO overnight parking permitted at the Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area.
Operating Hours
- Dawn to dusk, daily
Ian Lang Memorial Trail.
From the parking lot, start your hike and make your way down the Ian Lang Memorial Trail. Here, on this side trail, you can find traces of the past. Limestone kiln, an old stagecoach road and pieces of the original homestead stone foundation.
Keyhole Side Trail
The Keyhole Side Trail is what brought me to the Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area. This area of the conservation park is filled with crevices which get more stunning as you make your way around each corner. Not an area I would go to during the winter but great for summer and fall. Even in June you can find snow here.
Read about – Eugenia Falls Conservation Area
This is the blue blaze portion of the park. Once you leave the parking area head straight and follow the blue markers on the trees. This is a moderate hiking area, however I’m not sure I would bring kids as the area is covered in moss and can be very slippery.
Around every corner you can go left or right and find new caves, crevices. We could have spent about 3 hours just exploring this part of the trail.
As I was walking through here I couldn’t help but think this place reminded me of a movie. It wasn’t until I got to this one area where it clicked. Labyrinth! If you are an 80’s movie or David Bowie fan you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t seen this movie, finish reading this post, then go watch it!
As I made my way through this skinny entry way, all I could think was that this cute little worm was going to say “Allo”. He would invite me in to meet the misses and then send me in the wrong direction.
If you make your way to the top of each of the crevices you will need to watch your footing. This area has loose rock and mossy covered stones. You do not want to slip into a hole.
Like conservation areas? Don’t forget to check out : Cedar Creek Conservation Area hiking and kayaking
Pictures do not do this place justice. This trail is meant to be seen. I will definitely come here again, maybe a warmer day, as Fall was a little chilly.
Bruce Main Trail
The Bruce Main Trail wraps around Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation. There are 3 great areas around this trail. The trail is highly trafficked area although in the fall you need to make sure you are following the markers. The trail here gets covered in leaves and can be tricky to see the path. There are also rocks along the path so you want to watch your footing.
The trail leads you along the side of the limestone cliffs. You can get a great view of them just after the Keyhole Side Trail. It will also bring you around the wetland area.
From this portion of the path you can also get to the Betty Carter Side Trail.
Overall Review
I love it here. This is a great place to relax in nature. Plus I love moss and greenery. I would suggest this as a family activity for the outer trails and would not suggest bringing your younger ones to the Keyhole Side Trail.
This is one of the nicest trails I have visited in Ontario and would highly recommend coming here. Happy trails everyone and look out for more amazing trails to come.
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