The Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area is a 400-acre jewel on the Escarpment. The unique geology has created a veritable land before time, as deep crevasses cut their way through the hardwood and coniferous forest. During the hike, you can expect to find open fields, limestone bluffs and woodlands carpeted in green undergrowth, which provide the backdrop for one of our area’s hidden gems.
The Bruce Trail, along with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) trails, have created a network throughout the Nottawasaga Bluffs conservation area. One could easily spend an entire day exploring the rugged landscape. For our hike however, we chose to spend most of our hike exploring the Keyhole Side Trail.
Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Trail
We begin our hike at the NVCA’s parking area on Sideroad 15/16 Nottawasaga.
From Collingwood take Highway 124 South toward Singhampton. Just before Singhampton turn left on Mill Town Rd. Then a quick left on Ewing Road. Turn left again on 17/18 Sideroad. Follow as the road bends to the right, then take your first left on Sideroad 15/16. Look for the parking area 500 meters ahead on your right. From Highway 124 there are NVCA signs pointing in you the right direction.
Since the NVCA has its own trails in the area, it is important to keep a lookout for the white and blue blaze markers of the Bruce Trail.
From the parking area, we headed straight into the Bruce Trail heading south before veering off to the west to find the Keyhole Side Trail. It’s not that well marked so after you pass the Betty Carter Side trail on your left, you then take the Nottawasaga Bluffs Lookout Side Trail. on your right This will lead you to the interpretive signage.
At that point, you are maybe 50 feet from the beginning of the Keyhole Trail, which basically heads down into a series of crevices, which you can spend at least an hour or more exploring before heading off towards the signature Keyhole in the path.
There are steep climbs and descents through the rugged landscape, where ancient cedars find tiny rays of sunlight in the cold and otherwise dark crevices.
Keep a lookout for the blue blaze, as the trail takes a few unexpected turns including a tight passageway through the limestone wall, which is the namesake for the side trail. We love the thick moss carpeted sheer wall faces of the escarpment inside these crevices, so take the time to appreciate just how beautiful this hike is.
As you climb out of the dark depths of the limestone crevices, you will reach the main tract of the Bruce Trail. It meanders through the forest here as you exit the crevices.
Follow it left to head to the Lookout. Once there, you will be treated to a wonderful view from the edge of the cliff but enjoy the view and then allow others to also enjoy the view.
I like to think that hiking etiquette dictates we should enjoy the view then back out of the way to allow others to do the same. Don’t hang out sitting on the edge having lunch while others are trying to get the same photo you hoped to take. Be hike courteous.
Once done, you can continue along the Bruce Trail to the right after leaving the Lookout.
Shortly, you will come to a series of deep crevasses on the right, in the forest floor known as Best Caves. They’d be better off named fissures or crevices as they are not really caves. They extend for a considerable distance and some have nice easy entrance points with sloping paths built up from years and years of leaves falling and creating soil. It’s generally soft but secure footing.
We’ve wandered down into several of these but if you are looking down them from above, be careful. They are deep and narrow. That said, we have been able to hike down into several of them and not always find a way back out, which leads to several backtracking hikes, but it’s all fun and worth it, in my opinion.
It’s also 10 degrees cooler down in the depths on them so a fleece is a good idea.
Back above ground, follow the main trail east until you reach the Betty Carter Side Trail. Turn left and follow the side trail back to the main track. From here turn right and follow the white blaze back to the parking area. The path wanders through beautiful thick forest and in the fall, is stunning in it’s full Autumn shades of yellow, umber and reds.
If time permits, explore the Ian Lang Memorial Trail and discover where pioneers once worked to cut a living out of the wilderness. There are traces of an old stagecoach road, limestone kiln and remains of an original homestead.
If you haven’t hiked this section of the Bruce Trail yet, put it on your Escarpment Summer bucket list.
Each year, after we hike this trail, I add more photos to the gallery below to create a more complete hike, which explains why you see different people with us.
Enjoy the trail. Bring hiking poles and light gloves.
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