Winter at Bruce Peninsula National Park: A Season of Community, Creativity & Connection
Parks Canada shares a current look at what's happening this season at Bruce Peninsula National Park, from bird watching and yurt camping to Grotto hikes, journaling prompts, and guided experiences.
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Winter at Bruce Peninsula National Park is a less busy, tranquil season. Whether you want to explore, relax, learn, or create, there is a way for you to personally connect with the land, the season, and the community.
With the renewal of the Canada Strong Pass, there will be free admission and a 25% reduction in camping fees from December 12, 2025, to January 15, 2026, to help everyone celebrate the holidays and spend time with loved ones.
(Please note, regular fees still apply for other experiences and services like parking and reservation fees.)
What is open?
The Grotto and Cyprus Lake Area are open for hiking daily.
The visitor centre is open Friday to Tuesday from 9am to 5pm, closed Wednesday/Thursday and closed Christmas Eve/Day and New Year’s Eve/Day.
The Cyprus Lake Campground is open for front-country winter camping daily.
Yurts are available Friday to Monday with no nightly minimum.
Backcountry camping is available in Stormhaven daily. The High Dump backcountry camping area is closed for the season.
There is no winter maintenance at Halfway Log Dump and Singing Sands Day Use Areas. Once there is snow accumulation, these places become inaccessible to vehicular traffic.
Self-Guided Activities
Looking to get more out of your next visit to the park?
Winter is a great time to try bird watching. Less foliage makes it easier to spot birds. Visitors can borrow winter birdwatching kits and try bird bingo to help guide their experience. There are several other activities to learn more while hitting the trails, including matching animal tracks in the snow and identifying evergreens.
For visitors looking to slow down with mindfulness activities, they can try the 31 days of journaling prompts, or cozy up by the fire in the visitor centre with Anishinaabe and Parks Canada colouring sheets.
Families can also build “Our Snowman Story” together by writing what makes winter special to them and adding it to a growing snowman display in the visitor centre.
Join Guided Experiences
For those who prefer shared experiences, there are guided hikes, wellness wanders, snowshoe walks, fireside learning, and cultural programs led by an Anishinaabe team member.
Visitors can gather around a fire for a Community Campfire Social, an informal and unscheduled drop-in space for conversation, reflection, laughter, games and community connection. There is also a weekly film on Friday afternoons at 1 pm at the visitor centre, hosted by the Tobermory Friends of the Library.
Everyone is Welcome at Bruce Peninsula National Park
These programs are offered with the local community in mind—easy to drop into, welcoming for all ages, and designed to help everyone enjoy the park at a time of year when it’s quiet, peaceful, and deeply beautiful.
For dates, times, and program updates, visit parks.canada.ca/bruce-winter or stop by the visitor centre.
Photos and text submitted by Parks Canada.
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