Lion’s Head is a small port village, located on the shores of Isthmus Bay in the upper part of the Bruce Peninsula. Surrounded by beautiful limestone cliffs which, when viewed from Georgian Bay, resemble the head of a lion, give Lion’s Head it’s name. Lion’s Head is also located at the 45th parallel – exactly halfway between the equator and the north pole.
The complete Lion’s Head Trail is a 17 km loop trail that circles the entire peninsula but we’ve never done the entire loop. The complete trail is part of the much longer Bruce Trail that runs through the region and is marked with blue and white blazes.
Here is the map of the Lions Head Trail we have taken.
To start your hike, park your car at the Bruce Trail Parking Lot on McCurdy Drive Parkette and follow the trails outlined on the map provided at the trailhead. There is no parking permitted on Moore Street, and the Moore Street Side Trail is currently closed.
From here, the trail heads slowly upwards through a forested area of birch and maple trees and rocks, lots of rocks, which can make for some insecure footing so as I’ve pointed out on many of my other hiking posts, hiking poles and a pair of light gloves make this hike a little more comfortable for me. This part of the hike is more strenuous than it appears because of the ups and downs of the rocky terrain and can take upwards of 20 – 30 minutes before you reach an old logging road, on which you head northwest towards the shoreline of Georgian Bay.
Within 10 minutes, you will turn right into a trail through a forested area with a wide, worn path.
The greenery here is beautiful, and moss covers many rocks and tree trunks, offering magical landscapes. The trail slowly climbs up until you reach a fork and then the trail will hang a right near the Giant Cauldron Pothole. Not too long after, you will come across the Lion’s Head Potholes. These rock formations from thousands of years ago were formed during the ice age.
They’re pretty impressive.
Once back on the trail, you’ll find more rocks and roots now as the trail heads towards the edge of the cliffs with many ups and downs.
Once the trail reaches the cliff face, it follows the edge of the escarpment with frequent look out points over the crystal clear and turquoise waters of Georgian Bay. You have to look for these because the trail is perhaps 30 – 50 feet inside the edge of the escarpment. There are also more glacial outwash instances and eroded potholes on top of the escarpment so keep a sharp look out for where you are stepping.
The trail continues along the ridge, in and out of tree cover, with many lookouts before plunging back into the forest.
As you continue, the trail brings you to the cliff’s edge 200 feet above the clear blue-green water of the Georgian Bay. It’s a bit of a scramble to get there though. There’s some rocky descents to navigate and a couple pf ascents that require you to test your balance but the view is worth the effort.
The scenery is nothing less than stunning. The limestone cliffs rise from the turquoise Caribbean- coloured waters.
This is a great place to stop for lunch, in my opinion but keep in mind that others may want to share the space and be mindful to allow everyone the chance to enjoy the view.
If you choose to continue, just past the Lions Head Lookout, you’ll come across a keyhole in the escarpment. That’s a pretty cool spot.
The hike thickens from here on due to less foot traffic. After another 3 kilometres of hiking in and out of the forest, with views over the bay and the trail descends to the shores of McKay’s Harbour.
Some makeshift stairs along the way will help with some quick elevation loss areas of the trail. Once on the shoreline, you can take advantage of the refreshing water. The pebble beach is a perfect place for a break and a snack.
The trail follows the harbour’s shoreline and then plunges back into the forest again to head back to the trailhead, closing the loop, or to continue the entirety of the trail. Take a right at the fork and that will lead you back to around the Lions Head Lookout.
Whichever route you take you’ll find yourself gazing out over some of the most spectacular views Georgian Bay has to offer. The Niagara Escarpment is at its majestic, stony best here. Sheer exposed cliff faces tower over the shore line while ancient white cedars cling precariously by their gnarled roots to the limestone and laugh in the face of gravity. All this while the water below displays an incredible range of hues from dazzling aquamarine to deep, inky indigo.
If looking out over incredible turquoise and ultramarine blue waters from stunning 200-foot cliffs give you a thrill, the main Lion’s Head Trail is one to explore.
On a clear day, look to the south from the cliffs and you’ll see Cape Dundas and Barrier Island and to the north, you’ll see the cliffs of White Bluff, Cape Chin, and Cabot Head. The Lion’s Head Trail has two loops – the main trail and inland trail for a total of about 18-kilometres. The trails are marked with blue and white blazes.
From the lookout, you can head back the way you came, making the hike a little over 6 kilometres but it will feel like much more. We’ve spent at least 2 and a half hours to upwards of 4 and a half hours here, depending on the route we’ve taken, how many photos we stopped to take and how hungry we were along the way..
Once back in Lions Head Village, take some time to walk along the docks out to the Lighthouse. On a clear night, you may be lucky enough to enjoy an amazing pink sunset.
This little lighthouse has endured more hardship than the mariners it guided. The first lighthouse was established in 1903 and was rebuilt several times due to the high-energy weather conditions of Georgian Bay. Automation in 1969 finally replaced the attractive structure with a metal post and light.
In 1983, a group of high school students built a replica model lighthouse from the blueprints of its original building that existed in 1903. The replica lighthouse still stands in its place today and is a popular destination for visitors.
I’ve also added a Photo Gallery below.
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