“The better organised you are in the simple things, the more spontaneous and free you can be in the more important things.”
​-Brian Tracy

Staying Connected
Canada is behind when it comes to sim card plans for visitors. They are harder to find and a lot more expensive than basically anywhere in the world. If you have someone you know in Canada, it's worth going for a tablet sim card. These give you internet without the calling minutes. You pay per usage. The trap is that you need a Canadian address. That's when your friend comes in handy.

​On this hike, you will have cellphone reception close to towns, on some roads, and exposed peaks. Expect no cellphone coverage anywhere else. The bruce peninsula is the wildest part of the trail, you will find less cellphone coverage there than the rest of the trail. ​

There and Away
Flight: Toronto will be your cheapest option for incoming flights.

Niagara Falls, Ontario: There are a couple of ways to get to Niagara Falls. The first is by train, the company is called VIA Rail. The second is by Bus with Megabus.

Tobermory, Ontario: Parkbus offers bus services to/from Toronto.

Permits
No permits are require for doing the Bruce Trail. If you wanna give, you can donate to their organization here. That being said, the trail passes through Bruce Peninsula National Park which requires a day-use fee and campground fee (prices here). If don't wanna sleep in the national park and you are a relatively fit hiker it is possible to cross the entire park in a day (from tobermory to the end of the park is about 41km/25mi).

Camping
Wild camping on the Bruce Trail is not allowed. In Challenges, I give more details of the option that are opens to you for doing the trail from one end to the other.

Food and Water
Food: On average, you are looking at 70km between sections. Some are around 20km while the longest is above 250km. For more information, visit Resupply Plan.

Water: Water is not an issue on this trail. I only carried 2L of water for almost the entire trip. Creeks and water sources are abundant but you should always treat your water.

Trail
Being one of the oldest establish trail in Canada comes with a few perks, one being a well marked trail. Never did I have an issue finding the trail. Keep in mind that the northern you get the more rough the trail is. It is still very worned but more rocky and more roots. Nothing crazy, just enough to be noticeable. 

Wildlife
A small black bears community is on the peninsula. You chance to sight one is very rare. A bear spray is probably overkill. I did bring my bear proof sack though, mostly for the bear sakes. 

Ontario is home of 17 species of snakes in Ontario, only one is venomous (Massasauga Rattlesnake). There are only two recorded death from this venomous snake (Let's chill out!). You have a much higher chance to die by bee sting (no trying to add something to worry about). Snakes usually try to avoid human encounters, here are a few tips for prevention (to calm down our minds)
  • Wear proper footwear (not sandal)
  • Wear long pants
  • Avoid hiking in area of low visibility
  • If you sight one, leave him alone

I do recommend to do the hike in the fall so you can have the notorious vivid colours and avoid the mosquitoes.

Direction
Should you go Northbound or Southbound? I recommend going Northbound (starting at Niagara Falls and finishing at Tobermory). Why? One simple reason: the northern you go the wilder and more beautiful the trail gets. Better keeping the best for last (don't you think?)

FAQs
Q: Is the Bruce Trail a good trail for a first thru-hike?
A: Absolutely, any thru-hike will have its challenges, but there are a few things that make the Bruce Trail a great first hike.
  • The elevation gain is small
  • The remoteness is minimal
  • You don't have to post any food boxes.
Q: Is it easy to find gas for my cooking stove?
A: Sorry, I'm a stoveless hiker so I wasn't looking for some. There are a few cities as resupply that would be big enough for you to find some.
Q: What were the hardest sections?
A: The peninsula (North of Owen Sound), is wilder and the trail slightly rougher. Nothing that would make you swear, but you will have to pay more attention to your footing. On the bright side it is also the most beautiful part of the trail.

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