In short
- Bruce Peninsula features the Grotto, hiking trails, and camping.
- Fathom Five offers boat tours and Flowerpot Island.
- Both parks are located side-by-side in Tobermory, Ontario.
In this article
Tobermory is home to two distinct national parks. You can hike the rugged limestone cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment at Bruce Peninsula. Alternatively, you can take a boat tour through Fathom Five to view sunken ships.
What is the main difference between the parks?
Bruce Peninsula is a land-based park, while Fathom Five is a water-based marine park.
Bruce Peninsula National Park covers 156 square kilometers of land on the Saugeen Peninsula. Visitors come here to hike the Bruce Trail, camp at Cyprus Lake, and see the sea cave known as The Grotto. Fathom Five focuses on the waters of Georgian Bay. Visitors take boat tours to see submerged shipwrecks and rock formations.
Which park has the Grotto?
The Grotto is located in Bruce Peninsula National Park.
The Grotto is a limestone sea cave carved by waves. You access it by parking at Cyprus Lake and hiking the trails. You need an advance parking reservation to visit the Grotto from May 1 to October 31.
Where is Flowerpot Island?
Flowerpot Island is part of Fathom Five National Marine Park.
The island is known for towering rock formations that look like flowerpots. You reach the island by taking a commercial boat from Tobermory. Many boat tours use glass-bottom vessels so you can view shipwrecks on the way.
Which park is better for hiking and camping?
Bruce Peninsula National Park is the primary choice for hiking and camping.
The park offers access to the 782-kilometer Bruce Trail. It also operates the Cyprus Lake Campground, which provides 232 drive-in unserviced campsites and 10 yurts. If you camp here, you get access to the Grotto trails without an extra parking reservation.
Can I see both parks in one trip?
Yes, you can easily visit both parks since they are located in Tobermory.
Many visitors combine a morning hike at the Grotto with an afternoon boat tour in Fathom Five. The town of Tobermory serves as the base camp for both locations.
Bruce Peninsula vs Fathom Five feature comparison
Here is a quick breakdown of what each park offers.
Review this chart to plan your activities in Tobermory.
Questions travellers ask
Do I need separate tickets for both parks?
Yes. Bruce Peninsula charges a roughly $10 CAD admission plus parking fees. Fathom Five requires separate boat tour tickets to access the water and islands.
Are there shipwrecks in Bruce Peninsula National Park?
No. The famous sunken shipwrecks are located in the adjacent waters of Fathom Five National Marine Park.
How far is Toronto from these parks?
Driving north on Highway 6 to Tobermory takes about 4 hours by car from Toronto.
