Ottawa residents planning a late-summer escape to one of Ontario's most photographed hiking spots will want to check ahead. Parks Canada has temporarily closed the Cyprus Lake campground at Bruce Peninsula National Park and cancelled some parking reservations at the Grotto, citing increased bear activity in the area.
What's happening
The closures affect Cyprus Lake, the park's main campground and trailhead access point for the Grotto, the turquoise sea cave that draws thousands of visitors every summer for its Instagram-famous swimming hole. Parks Canada has not specified how long the closures will last, saying the situation is being monitored and access will resume once bear activity in the area decreases.
Visitors with existing parking reservations for the Grotto during the closure window are being notified directly, and Parks Canada is advising anyone with upcoming trips to check the park's official alerts before heading out.
Why it matters for Ottawa
The Bruce Peninsula, tucked between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron near Tobermory, is roughly a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Ottawa, but it's become a go-to bucket list trip for Ottawa hikers and campers over the past several years thanks to its Caribbean-blue water and dramatic limestone cliffs along the Bruce Trail. Every summer, Ottawa-area road trip guides and social feeds light up with photos from the Grotto, and the park's popularity means reservations for camping and parking often book out weeks in advance.
For Ottawa families who've already locked in late-August or September dates at Cyprus Lake, the closure is worth watching closely. Bear activity closures at Bruce Peninsula aren't unheard of, black bears are common throughout the Bruce Peninsula and Grey-Bruce region, but a shutdown of the campground and Grotto parking together is a bigger disruption than the occasional trail advisory.
What to do if you have a trip planned
Anyone with an upcoming reservation should check Parks Canada's Bruce Peninsula National Park page or contact the park directly before driving out from Ottawa. If Cyprus Lake remains closed, other sections of the park and nearby Fathom Five National Marine Park may still be accessible, but plans should be confirmed in advance given how far the drive is.
Ottawa's own hiking options, including Gatineau Park and the trails along the Ottawa River, remain unaffected and are worth considering as a closer-to-home alternative while the Bruce Peninsula situation plays out.
Source: Global News Ottawa
