By Joanne Rodgers, Bruce Peninsula Press
Community days for residents of Northern Bruce Peninsula will be held at Bruce Peninsula National Park (BPNP) on July 14 and August 16. On both days access is completely free and no reservation is required for residents. Proof of local address is required upon arrival at the gatehouse – e.g. piece of mail with local address, driver’s license, municipal parking hang tag etc.
On July 14, residents will have access to the Grotto in the morning (9am-1pm) and Halfway Log Dump in the afternoon (2pm-8pm).
On August 16, residents will have access to Halfway Log Dump in the morning (7am-1pm) and the Grotto in the afternoon (1pm-5pm).
How the Canada Strong Pass will work at Bruce Peninsula National Park (BPNP)/ Fathom Five National Marine Park:
As part of the Canada Strong Pass, the Government of Canada is offering free admission to national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada and a 25 per cent discount on camping fees from June 20 to September 2 inclusive.
While day entry is free for all visitors to the BPNP, the Canada Strong Pass does not guarantee automatic entry. Reservations are still required at Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park. Regular fees still apply for other experiences and services such as parking, reservation fees, dive tags, third-party services like boat tours, and more.
Bruce Peninsula National Park is a very popular location, and the peak months of July and August always book up in advance. Parking reservations are already 60% full for the next several weeks and are certain to fill to max capacity days ahead of bookings. For those looking to camp in the park, front-country camping and yurts are 99% booked and backcountry campsites are 96% booked for all of July and August.
Parking is limited; as such, to ensure a safe experience, parking reservations continue to be required to visit the Grotto and Halfway Log Dump (Parks Canada reservations) as well as Little Cove (reservations through the Municipality). Reservations are also required for camp sites and yurts. The Park also advises that if you are planning to take a boat tour in Fathom Five National Marine Park with a third-party tour boat operator, it is recommended that visitors reach out to the operator to reserve in advance as well.
Booking ahead helps to avoid disappointment, reduce crowding and results in visitors having a successful and enjoyable experience in the park.
Parking reservations to visit BPNP have been in place since 2017 and are an important approach to managing visitation levels and protecting the park. This continues to be communicated to the public through digital communications like social media and website content, radio notices, print materials, at outreach events, through our tourism partners, and by working with news outlets to publish articles with up-to-date information. The Park says they continue to proactively inform the public about the need to book ahead. The team is working hard on multiple public communication tactics to reach visitors before they arrive on the peninsula to help them plan accordingly.
The Park cautions that visitors rarely head out for an adventure with the expectation that something will go wrong, but sometimes the unexpected happens. Natural hazards like ticks, poison ivy, rattlesnakes, bears and variable weather, terrain and water conditions are a part of the national park experience. You can reduce the impact of an unfortunate circumstance by following park rules and being well informed and prepared. Safety is of the utmost importance to Parks Canada, but safety is also a shared responsibility. Make sure you are fully prepared for the activities you choose to participate in at the national parks so you can have a safe, enjoyable, and memorable visit.
Booking campsites and parking
In 2025, reservations are required for parking to access the Grotto from May 1 to October 31, for Halfway Log Dump from June 16 to September 1, and at Little Cove from May 15 to October 15.
The key to a successful and enjoyable visit to these parks is planning ahead.
To book a front-country (drive in) campsite, backcountry (hike in) campsite, yurt, or parking spot, please visit the Parks Canada website at https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/ or call 1-877-RESERVE (1-877-737-3783).
A new “Notify me” feature is also now available on the Parks Canada Reservation Service. With this new feature, you can sign up to receive an email notification if a front country campsite or Parks Canada accommodation that you are interested in and that was previously reserved becomes available. Please note, this feature is not available for parking reservations.
Visitors who booked a parking spot or campsite between June 20 and September 2, will receive an email with more information on the process to receive the prorated refund as their reservation date approaches.
The Park says that they appreciate visitors’ patience as they work through the refund process, which may take some time to complete. For questions about refunds, call 1-888-773-8888.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit, the Park asks visitors to plan and prepare for their trip by visiting the parks’ websites and social media for information on required reservations, what to wear and pack, safety and hazards, and more.
Bruce Peninsula National Park has been full during the peak summer season for many years, and they say that they have staffing levels in place to manage this successfully. They are ready for a busy summer and making tweaks, such as staggered shifts, to have better coverage throughout the day.
Parks Canada staff are expecting a busy and full season. They ask all visitors to treat staff and fellow visitors with kindness and respect, ensuring a positive experience for all. The Park thanks the local community for their understanding, and for the respect and courtesy shown toward their staff and visitors.
The Park continues to work closely with partners such as the Municipality and Explore the Bruce to help direct visitors who are not able to gain access to the national parks to explore other local tourism attractions.
Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of free admission and discounted camping this summer. There are plenty of Parks Canada administered sites to check out in Ontario. Georgian Bay Islands National Park and Beausoleil Island National Historic Site offer a unique, island-based experience that is accessible from Honey Harbour. Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site in Gravenhurst also offers the opportunity to learn about a national historic person in Canada. If visitors are coming from the GTA or locals on the way to Toronto, take the opportunity to visit Rouge National Urban Park.
For a full break down of how the pass will apply at each national park, please visit the respective websites.
