Camping on the Bruce Peninsula: Stormhaven

Backcountry camping... What’s the appeal? You trudge, sweating, through winding and sometimes treacherous trails with all of the equipment you need to survive the next few days piled on your back like a pack mule. You sleep on the cold ground with only a thin fabric shell between you and the elements… and the bears. You can’t necessarily bathe or indulge in other luxuries we consider commodities in this day and age. On the surface it sounds like a bit of a masochistic pastime, so why do people do it?

I can’t speak for others, but it seems there’s a sort of magic to camping. I’m not sure exactly what it is, maybe it’s the freedom of the simple life, the distance from everyday stressors, or the constant opportunity to take in the beauty of nature. Maybe it’s a little bit of everything. For instance when trekking to your campsite, you have to focus on putting one foot in front of the other to avoid tripping and breaking your face. You’re forced to exist in that very moment, and to dismiss the troubled thoughts that come with ruminating on the past or the future. Then you’re free to enjoy the gorgeous nature that’s engulfed you; gnarled tree roots, sunlight filtering through the leaves, bizarre rock formations, woodland creatures going about their business.

Why am I waxing lyrical about camping today, you might be thinking? Over the weekend, Kyla and I, as well as six of our friends went camping in the Bruce Peninsula National Park. You could say I’ve fallen in love with the Bruce Peninsula -- I already have plans to return this fall. In this post, we’ll go over what you should know when camping in this gorgeous National Park.

First off, let’s talk about the Bruce Peninsula as a whole. This peninsula extends between the Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, and houses some of the most scenic nature spots in eastern Ontario. Amongst the many attractions on the peninsula is the Bruce Peninsula National Park, a go-to place for outdoor adventurers. The peninsula can be fairly tourist-heavy, but there are places where you can soak in the sights away from all the bustle. One of these is our weekend camping site.

The site in the National Park we stayed at during the weekend was named Stormhaven. As one of our friends put it, it can be described as "Backwoods Camping Lite". A cluster of tent platforms are laid out around a set of bear poles and an outhouse. The spot is reached by hiking through a moderate difficulty 4.5 km of lovely forest trails along the shore of the Bruce Peninsula. The trail rises gradually, passing through a few tricky white stone beaches, until you’re walking along the edge of a cliffside and peering down at the clear blue water of the Georgian Bay.

Flowerpot island can be seen on the horizon on the hike toward the camping site.

The site itself is on top of the cliff, but there are stairs down the steep cliffside that give you access to a gorgeous and quiet beach. It’s perfect if you’re looking to go for a swim, have a picnic, do some light bouldering, or just watch the sunset and stargaze.

The beach near Stormhaven has ridiculously blue water.

If you are staying in Stormhaven, make sure that you show up well over an hour before sundown. The hike to the site takes over an hour, and it’s not ideal to be pitching your tent and making food in the dark. Moreover if you fail to arrive an hour before sundown, you won’t be given your camping pass and allowed to head out to your campsite. If you happen to get stuck in traffic and arrive after the deadline to get your pass, don’t sweat it! The park always reserves drive-in camping spots for people who inevitably arrive late, so you get a free upgrade for the night!

If you like camping and get the chance to check out Stormhaven, I highly recommend it! Feel free to comment below with your own experiences!

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