Some of the most breathtaking scenery in Southern Ontario lies along the southwest shore of Georgian Bay. Limestone cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment, formed 400 million years ago at the bottom of a warm ocean, now rise 40 metres (131 feet) above the surface and plunge almost as far underwater. Here the bay is clear, cold and brilliantly coloured like the waters of a coral sea.
The escarpment forms the spine of the Bruce Peninsula. Last year I wrote about camping there with my daughters, and we returned again this August. Over the next few weeks I'll present a photo tour of a few features of this remarkable area. We'll start with a trip along the shore of Georgian Bay.
Protected regionLuckily for nature lovers, most of the Niagara Escarpment is so rugged that it has discouraged many forms of development. However, economic interests such as logging and aggregate extraction have threatened this important wildlife corridor, which provides habitat for many of Ontario's rarest orchid and fern species. Since the 1960s people have pressured the Ontario government to give it special protection, which came in the form of the Niagara Escarpment Commission in 1973, then assignment as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1990. This designation helps manage a balance between protected ecosystems and surrounding development.
Conservation information is available from the website of the Escarpment Centre Ontario.
The Bruce Trail follows an 800 km (497 mi) route along the entire escarpment within mainland Southwestern Ontario, beginning at Niagara Falls in the south. Traveling from the south, the trail approaches Georgian Bay near the scenic Beaver Valley. From this point north, the route provides many panoramic lake views, especially after passing the small city of Owen Sound and proceeding along the Bruce Peninsula. In that region, the shore of Georgian Bay is closely associated with the escarpment itself.
Bruce adventuresSo the Bruce Trail offers the ultimate experience in exploring this part of Georgian Bay from land. To enjoy it fully, hikers should obtain a membership in the Bruce Trail Association and a copy of the trail reference, a binder including maps and valuable tips. Information is available from the website. Support this group if you can. With 8,000 members and 800 volunteers, its role is crucial to the preservation of habitat along the escarpment.
There are excellent opportunities for camping, caving, rock climbing and finding interesting plant life. Out There provides extensive information for adventure travellers in Canada, with many resources on the Bruce Peninsula. Try clicking on the "Bruce Trail" link. Or "Out-there's Directory" at the bottom of the main page, which will give a list of various activities, for example "Caving." If you click that item, you'll find an article on Warsaw Caves, elsewhere in Ontario, but at the bottom of the page is another link to "Caving in Ontario." This provides directions to all kinds of caves. One of the sites is Bruce Caves, near Wiarton on the Bruce Peninsula.
From Cyprus lake
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