Ontario
The Grotto, Bruce Peninsula
Adventure 8/10 · Scenery 9/10 · Family 7/10 · Access 6/10
The place
A limestone sea cave glowing with turquoise Georgian Bay water at the tip of the Niagara Escarpment. Swim in the cold clear cove, scramble the white dolomite shoreline, and hike the Bruce Trail cliffs.
The Grotto is the jewel of Bruce Peninsula National Park: a limestone sea cave where sunlight bounces off startlingly clear turquoise water. Swim in the cold pool, explore the underwater tunnel that connects it to Georgian Bay, or simply scramble the white dolomite shoreline and take in the colour.
It's popular for good reason, so a timed parking reservation for the Cyprus Lake area is required in season and disappears quickly. The trail down is short but rocky — wear proper shoes — and the park's dark skies make it a superb spot to linger into the evening.
What you can do
- Grotto swimming
- Cliff scrambling
- Bruce Trail hiking
- Stargazing
