Should you’re a path runner in southern Ontario, you’ve nearly definitely encountered the white and blue blazes that signify you’re on part of the Bruce Path, the 900-km path that begins on the Niagara River and runs alongside the Niagara Escarpment all the way in which to Tobermory, on the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. Alongside the way in which, an extra 450 km of aspect path—with extra added nearly yearly—makes it the proper bucket-list problem.
As a result of the path is damaged into 9 distinct sections, setting a objective to run one part yearly (and even doing among the shorter sections in a single day, or a weekend) is cheap. And should you’re searching for a bit to placed on the calendar for 2025, I extremely suggest planning a weekend or two within the items of path which might be south of Collingwood, Ont.
The Three Stage part and the singletrack that leads as much as the brand new part that skirts the Highlands Nordic Centre are effectively definitely worth the journey, particularly should you’re craving technical climbs and descents. The terrain is as rocky and rooted because it will get in Ontario, and the 40 or so kilometres from the beginning of the Three Stage space to the top of the Satan’s Glen phase are among the trickiest singletrack in Canada.
The brand new part—a couple of kilometres round Highlands Nordic—will be marshy, and it’s nonetheless being “damaged in” (that means it may be perilous working by the excessive grass and spiky raspberry cane). However it does enable path customers to skip passing by the ski centre.
A lot of the trail-running pleasure occurs over within the Blue Mountains part. It’s barely much less rugged, however the Summit 700 race held at Blue Mountain Resort in July ventures onto the path, and in October 2025, it is going to even be the positioning of the Blue Bully Extremely stage race placed on by the Sinister Sports activities group.
That space tends to be essentially the most closely trafficked, due to the convenience of entry from the highest of the resort. However a couple of kilometres additional south is the place essentially the most technical sections start. Park on the base of Fairly River Highway (within the snowmobile parking zone), then head up Fairly River Highway to connect with the Bruce Path. Flip proper, and also you’ll begin the climb as much as the highest of Three Stage; anticipate to hike among the steeper sections, nevertheless it’s in any other case largely runnable. From that lot to the parking zone at Petun is nearly an ideal 10 km, so it’s a terrific one to do with a good friend, dropping a automobile at one finish and beginning on the different, or doing a 20 km out-and-back, or taking one of many many sidetrails and making it an extended journey.
If you wish to get messier, flip left as an alternative and make your method as much as the Nottawasaga Bluffs, climbing as much as Singhampton, the place you shouldn’t skip the Keyhole aspect path—one of many coolest, weirdest and most technical sections of your entire path. From there, you’ll finally make it to the latest part and into Satan’s Glen, the place, after the primary gnarly climb, it lastly will get a bit simpler. From the snowmobile parking zone to the Bruce Path Parking zone on the different finish of Satan’s Glen, it’s a stable 13 km (and never a straightforward 13 km, so carry loads of snacks).
Dufferin Hello-Land and Blue Mountains sections
Journey: The Toronto Bruce Path Membership affords occasional bus journeys to those areas, or plan a weekend journey to the Blue Mountain Resort or Collingwood.
Data: brucetrail.org
Races: Summit 700 in July and the Blue Bully Extremely stage race in October
Molly Hurford is a health and diet author, ultrarunner, creator and founding father of Robust Lady Publishing. She lives and trains in Collingwood, Ont.
