HikingZanetaOntario, Canada, Bruce Peninsula National ParkComment

Bruce Peninsula

HikingZanetaOntario, Canada, Bruce Peninsula National ParkComment
Bruce Peninsula

We spent a few days exploring an area new to us, the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, on our way west.  From the Bruce Peninsula National Park we explored the gorgeous turquoise waters of the Georgian Bay and striking cliffs along the Niagara Escarpment, one of the thirteen UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves in Canada.  The Bruce Trail, a 156 km trail,  runs along the coast and can be accessed from trail-heads and campgrounds in the park.  Hope you enjoy the photos.

Turquoise waters on the Bruce Trail

Turquoise waters on the Bruce Trail

the-openroad.com Bruce Peninsula
the-openroad.com Bruce Peninsula Hiking
the-openroad.com Bruce Peninsula
The Grotto

The Grotto

Don't let Koda fool you- the water was ice cold!

Don't let Koda fool you- the water was ice cold!

the-openroad.com Bruce Peninsula
the-openroad.com Bruce Peninsula
the-openroad.com Bruce Peninsula

Info:

Entrance Fees: Day use/ trail-head parking fee required at Bruce Peninsula National Park.  When we visited it was $11.79 CAD/day. Check with Parks Canada for current rates.  If camping, one parking spot is included in your camping fee and you can hike right from your site- there is a loop trail that connects to the popular trails adjacent to the campgrounds. 

Camping: Bruce Peninsula National Park has three large and popular campgrounds (fee) along Cyprus Lake. Back-country sites along the Bruce Trail are also available (fee) and reservable.  They appear to fill up quickly!

Pets: Dog friendly.  Leashes required.

Tips: The Grotto is spectacular, as not surprisingly very popular.  If you are looking for peace and solitude plan your visit accordingly.  We hiked to the Grotto on an Friday morning and arrived just minutes before a group of 100 or so students got there.  We hightailed it out of there and did find a beautiful place to relax along the shore for awhile before we back-tracked. The portion of the Bruce Trail west of the Grotto towards Overhanging Point and east towards Half-Way Log Dump were considerably less crowded and very beautiful as well. If backpacking the Bruce Trail be aware that traversing the cobble beaches is pretty slow going.

 

HikingZanetaMaine, Bigalow Preserve1 Comment

Of Moose and Mountains- Bigalow Preserve Maine

Sometimes things work out.  We were six hours into what we thought was a three and a half hour drive, not sure if we were even on the right road, and both of us thinking to ourselves that we might be spending the night pulled over somewhere along the dirt road we were traveling.  We passed a low lying wetland area and I said it looked like there should be a moose out there.  Nick responded that at least that would make the drive worth it.  Just a few minutes later what pops out on the road- two moose! Score one! 

HikingZanetaMaine, Bigalow Preserve1 Comment
Of Moose and Mountains- Bigalow Preserve Maine
HikingZanetaSawtooth National Forest, Idaho4 Comments

Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho

Roadtrip serindipity. Sometimes you find what you didn’t even know you were looking for.  When rising temperatures pushed us out of Wyoming we decided to head towards the Oregon coast where temperatures looked nice and cool.  By chance we decided to stop over in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho; after all, it was on the way and why not.  What we found were spectacular mountain ranges, deep gem-colored alpine lakes, some of the best free dispersed camping we had found yet (and a place to hide out from the crowds over the 4th of July holiday) and a ton of hikes to add to our ‘need to do’ list.  I think we will definitely be coming back to this area. 

HikingZanetaSawtooth National Forest, Idaho4 Comments
Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho
HikingZanetaWashington, Cascade MountainsComment

Northbound- Cascade Mountains Washington

Mark another one down on our want to re-visit list.  As many other travelers have found, the more places we visit the longer our to-do list gets.  With just a little time for a stop-over in the Cascade Mountains on our way north we got a taste of area but there’sso much exploring to do here- so on the return list it goes...

HikingZanetaWashington, Cascade MountainsComment
Northbound- Cascade Mountains Washington
Hiking, AdventuresNickalaska, Wrangell St Elias National Park, Root Glacier4 Comments

Alaska- Wrangell St. Elias National Park

We arrived in Alaska as most road travelers do on the Alaska Highway, which deposits you at a nexus in Tok, Alaska. From there one can either take the high road to Fairbanks or the low road toward Valdez and the Kenai Peninsula; we had already decided that the low road was where we would start our Alaskan journey. While scouring the maps and Milepost for campsites and things to do, a side trip down the Nabesna Road jumped out us for both scenery, free camping and possible hiking. Oh but wait, that’s in Wrangell St Elias National Park...

Hiking, AdventuresNickalaska, Wrangell St Elias National Park, Root Glacier4 Comments
Alaska- Wrangell St. Elias National Park