Bruce Peninsula National Park is fully booked for the upcoming Civic Holiday long weekend on August 5. Sean Skinkle, the park’s visitor experience manager, confirmed that all parking and campsite reservations are at capacity.
This includes spots like The Grotto, Halfway Log Dump, and Cyprus Lake trails, which require confirmed reservations for access. For those without bookings, Skinkle offers alternative options.
“There are first-come, first-serve parking lots at the visitor’s center and Singing Sands, which are wonderful and accessible locations. But they do fill up first thing in the morning. And they do not provide access to other locations like The Grotto,” Skinkle explained, as reported by 97.9 the Bruce news on July 31.
Skinkle emphasized the importance of reservations, stating, “Once parking lots are full, there’s no other access to the national park.”
The park’s popularity was evident during the recent Canada Day long weekend when over 2,000 vehicles were turned away due to full parking lots. This trend is expected to continue for the upcoming holiday.
Skinkle advised that visitors traveling to Bruce Peninsula National Park over the August long weekend should make reservations to avoid disappointment, as the park aims to ensure a “safe and enjoyable visit” for everyone.
Located in Bruce Peninsula National Park, the Cyprus Lake Campground serves as a basecamp for exploring the peninsula. It features 232 drive-in unserviced campsites around the inland Cyprus Lake, divided into Tamaracks, Birches, and Poplars sections.
Suitable for tents, trailers, and RVs, up to 27 ft/8 m at specific sites, each site includes a picnic table and firepit. The campground has both outhouse and flush toilets. Opened in 2020, “The Campground Hub” offers an open-air pavilion with shower facilities, indoor washrooms, a WiFi hotspot, playground, basketball net, mini soccer field, and outdoor theater.
For those still hoping to experience the Bruce Peninsula area without a national park reservation, several nearby camping options are available. The Tobermory Village Campground, located southeast of Tobermory, offers electric and non-electric campsites, washrooms, free showers, and a pool.
Lands End Park, just east of Tobermory, provides electric and non-electric sites, washrooms, and paid showers with access to Lake Huron. Additionally, Mountain Trout Camp, southeast of Tobermory and the national park, features various accommodations including campsites, cabins, and trailers for rent, along with a private beach on Gillies Lake and canoe and kayak rentals.
