Hiking & Biking in Collingwood & Blue Mountain

Mountain Bike Rentals

Kolapore Uplands Wilderness Trails

Features: Natural rock gardens, cliff and crevasse climbing, views of the valley from atop Metacalf's Rock, hardwood and softwood forests, bogs and swamps, tornado.

Directions & Parking From Collingwood

• Take Highway 26 west through Craigleith, past Georgian Peaks
  and the Georgian Bay Golf club to Grey Rd 2.

• Follow Grey Rd 2 through Ravenna
  Stop at the Ravenna General Store or Little Ed's Ski and Bike Shop
  to purchase a map - you cannot go into Kolapore Uplands without one

• South about 10 km. When the road finally begins to turn (to the left)
  slow down, the parking is on your left.

Hike Directions: There are many routes to choose. Hikes take anywhere from 1 1/2 to 6 hours.

Length: As long as you like to hike (overnight camping is prohibited)

Blue Mountains Bruce Trail

Features: Highest Point on the Bruce Trail � Osler Bluff Lookout

Directions & Parking From Collingwood

• Take 6th street west to Osler Bluffs Rd. Go south to Grey Rd 19.
  Follow Grey Rd. 19 to 2nd Line and turn left.

• Follow the road south for approximately 2 km,
  park at intersection of Gibraltar Side road and 2nd Line.

Hike Directions: Follow the 2nd Line road allowance south for 400 metres along the Osler Side Trail and turn left (east) into Pretty River Valley Provincial Nature Reserve.

Following the blue-blazed side trail, you will soon pass the highest point on the Bruce Trail (540 metres) and reach the Bruce Trail.

Follow it east along a high ridge to reach the Osler Bluff Lookout. From here, follow the Trail out to Gibraltar road allowance, turn left and head west to the Russ McConnell Side Trail.

Follow this trail south to rejoin your route in at the Bruce Trail. Turn right and retrace your steps to 2nd Line road allowance along the Osler Side Trail.

Length: The loop will require about three hours and is about 8 km.

Blue Moutains Bruce Trail Club Links Link Our Parent Organization The Website of the 9 member clubs of the BTC The BTC Environment Committee Our 2011 End to End information Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Ganaraska Trail Wilderness Section Grand Valley Trails Association Greg Vincent's Hiking Site - Hiking Tips Hiker Hart Town of Collingwood

Bruce Trail Blue Mountains Section Highlights Blue Mountains Section: Lavender to Craigleith Website: www.bmbtc.org Distance to Niagara: 376.9 km Distance to Tobermory: 517.0 km Exploring: This is a section of Bruce Trail like no other. The terrain changes abruptly as the Trail enters the area best known for Ontario's ski resorts. The Trail in this section is set among high bluffs interspersed with deep, wide valleys. From the Trail, the expansive views of the rolling countryside and the Nottawasaga Bay are lovely. Suggested Hikes: Nottawasaga Bluffs Loop (4 km) Singhampton Caves (3.5 km) The North Rim of the Pretty River Valley (4.8 km) The Pretty River Side Trail (5.1 km)

Duncan Crevice Caves Provincial Park

Features: Due to seasonal extremes in temperature and the forces of gravity, large blocks of rock have broken away from the main face of the Niagara Escarpment. The gradual shifting downwards of these huge blocks has produced the crevice caves of the Collingwood-Blue Mountain area.

The park's range of microclimates supports interesting cliff face vegetation communities.

The Duncan Escarpment is part of the Niagara Escarpment Parks System and the Niagara Biosphere Reserve. There are no visitor facilities. The Bruce Trail provides good hiking and nature appreciation opportunities.

Visitors are asked to remember that the natural features are vulnerable and easily damaged. Camping, rock climbing, off road vehicular traffic and hunting are not permitted in this nature reserve.

Directions & Parking From Thornbury

• Follow the Beaver Valley Road south through Heathcote and turn off at the Blue Mountain/Euphrasia Town Line south to the 9th sideroad.

• Turn left and look on the right for the signs and parking area.
   

Length: Beginner to intermediate loop - 6 km.

The Loree Forest

Features: The area is single track, with a few spurs that provide some even more technical riding. The trails are located in the Grey County Forest at the top of the Georgian Peaks Ski Hill, providing some excellent views.

Directions & Parking From Highway 26 at Thornbury

• Take Grey County Road 2 south where you head north. Follow the 2 to Victoria Corners and head east for about 4km

• You'll find a small parking area on your right. The trail entrance is across the street.

Length: Beginner to intermediate loop - 8km.

Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club

Features: Metcalfe Rock

Directions & Parking

• Take Grey Road 2 north from Feversham or south from Ravenna.

• At 9th Sideroad turn to the west and turn south onto 10th Line.

• here is roadside parking where the Trail crosses 10th Line.

Hike Directions: Follow the Bruce Trail east across a stream and up through a huge fissure to the summit of Metcalf Rock where there is a splendid view of the Kolapore Creek Valley.

If you choose to continue along the edge of the Escarpment, you will reach the Chuck Grant Side Trail which you can follow down to 10th Line. Here you can follow 10th Line south for 500m to the start or you can continue west through the valley and rejoin the Bruce Trail in the Duncan Crevice Caves Provincial Nature Reserve.

Turn left and follow the Bruce Trail back, crossing Kolapore Creek, to the parking on 10th Line.

Length: To the top of Metcalf Rock is 800 metres. If you do the whole loop, expect to spend three hours for the 8 km loop.

Sydenham Bruce Trail Club

Features: Inglis Falls

Directions & Parking

• Travel north on Highway 10 toward Owen Sound.

• Turn west onto Derry Line at Rockford and then right onto Inglis Falls Road. Parking at Inglis Falls Conservation Area.

Hike Directions: At Inglis Falls the Trail takes you across Sydenham River via a bridge over the Falls. Inglis Falls is an 18 metre high cascade, created by the Sydenham River meeting the edge of the Escarpment.

The erosive power of the water has carved a deep gorge at the base of the falls. The Trail continues alongside a stone wall, offering an excellent view of the Falls. A beautiful loop involves following the Trail north to Grey Road 5 and turning east (right) to follow the Harrison Park Side Trail into the Park.

Cross the old road bridge across the Sydenham River and turn right to follow the well marked path back to the Bruce Trail above the falls.

Length: Less than 100 metres to the Falls. The Harrison Park loop will take about 2 hours and is about 5 km long.

Peninsula Bruce Trail Club

Features: Half-Way Dump Side Trail, Cave Point and Georgian Bay.

Directions & Parking

• From the south, take Highway 6 north from Owen Sound through Wiarton.

• Leave Highway 6 via Emmett Lake Road (NOT maintained in the winter) and follow the signs to a large parking lot.

Hike Directions: Follow the blue blazes of the Half-way Dump Side Trail until you reach the shoreline and are rewarded with beautiful views of Georgian Bay. From here you can head north along the Trail to beautiful views of the coastline. Note: This is VERY rugged walking and will require proper foot gear and clothing.

Length: From the parking lot it is 900 meters to the Bruce Trail near the boulder beach at Georgian Bay. The view points on the cliffs above Cave Point will add another km to your trip. Expect to spend two to three hours for a 4-km round trip to Cave Point

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