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Tourism
and Recreation
Wiarton
says it best in pictures. Please take
in the scenery here.
Area Highlights
The Town of South Bruce Peninsula is a high-volume tourism area
with many intriguing things to do and see. The municipality meets
the Northern Bruce Peninsula, which is the area to the North and
ends at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. Whether people come here
to hike, camp, snowmobile, or just relax at the beach, the Town
of South Bruce Peninsula has it all.
The Bruce Trail
The Bruce Trail runs along the Niagara Escarpment overlooking Georgian
Bay. It opened in 1967 and is Ontario's longest and most popular
hiking trail with a length of 780 kilometres. From Wiarton the trail
follows the north shore of Colpoy's Bay to Cape Croker. It continues
along the shore, through the Lion's Head area and then ending in
Tobermory. There are also
many alternative trails for walking, hiking and winter recreation.
The M.S. CHI-CHEEMAUN
The M.S. Chi-Cheemaun has been in operation since 1974. It can carry
638 passengers and 143 automobiles. The ferry starts its runs on
May 3rd and continues through until October 20th each year. It travels
between Tobermory, which is at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, and
South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. The M.S. Chi-Cheemaun is owned
by the Owen Sound Transportation Company.
Snowmobiling
There is amazing snowmobiling on the Bruce Peninsula covering all
areas from Highway 21 and up through the Peninsula. This area alone
has approximately 592 km of groomed, single and double trails available
to the avid snowmobiler.
Wiarton Marina/Bluewater Park
The Wiarton Marina is located along the east side of Georgian Bay
in Wiarton and is a full service marina. Depths at the entrance
of the marina are 18 feet with 8 feet at the gas dock. Boats to
a maximum of 70 feet can be accommodated on the floating finger
docks. Repairs can be done on the spot to boats and engines and
a 25-ton travel lift is available. Facilities: gas, diesel, pumpout;
water and 15 and 30 amp power at each slip; ice, washrooms, showers,
picnic tables, public phone and launch ramp. The marina is adjacent
to the town dock, which is $5 for an over night stay. Nearby Bluewater
Park has washrooms, a picnic area, large play equipment for kids,
and a swimming pool. The dock is lit at night.
The Wiarton-Keppel District Airport
The Wiarton-Keppel District Airport is located on the south shore
of Colpoy's Bay, minutes from Wiarton. Its 5021-foot, 150-foot wide
asphalt runway can accommodate DC9s, 727s and 737s and sits on 820
acres of land atop the Niagara Escarpment. There is also a 3100-foot,
100-foot wide gravel runway. Accommodations include a private sleep
room, shower and change room as well as a private lounge, which
are available to pilots.
Sauble Beach
Sauble Beach is on eleven kilometres of sandy beach making it the
second longest freshwater beach in the world. Beside the beach itself,
the area holds many wonderful highlights. Sauble Falls Provincial
Park, the Rankin River Canoe Route (starting just south of Mar and
ending in Sauble Beach), Sauble Speedway and Sauble Beach Amusements
are just a few of the marvellous attractions within the Sauble Beach
region of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. Sauble Beach's annual
events include Sandfest, Winterfest, and Beach Volley Ball Tournaments.
Oliphant Fen
The Oliphant Fen is a boardwalk built by local field naturalists,
which can be accessed on the Shore Road north of Oliphant. It is
a 1/4 km walk through viewings of lady slippers, gentians and many
other wild flowers are not normally found in any other part of the
world. There are bumper boards on each side to help, people stay
on the boardwalk and it is wheelchair accessible.
Golf Courses
There are many golf courses in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.
Two are between Hepworth and Sauble Beach, and the other is on Highway
6 just north of Hepworth. Wiarton Golf & Country Club is in
Keppel Township, just east of Wiarton on the shore of Georgian Bay.
There is also a golf course at Chesley Lake.
Wiarton Willie
There is an abundance of festivities and excitement each year on
February 2nd in Wiarton due to the famous groundhog, Wiarton Willie.
The legend of Willie has been ongoing since 1956. Every year the
international media follows Willie's prediction, broadcasting it
throughout the world. This legendary groundhog has set off a growth
in the annual festivities bringing people from all around into the
area for news of his prediction.
Hunting & Fishing
The Town of South Bruce Peninsula is well known for its quality
of hunting and fishing. There are many fishing derbies throughout
the Bruce Peninsula, plus plenty of sport hunting to participate
in within the appropriate seasons.
Area Events
There are many area events throughout the entire year in the Town
of South Bruce Peninsula for locals and visitors to enjoy. Our constantly
updated website has all events, times and dates. The website address
is www.southbrucepeninsula.com or www.wiarton-willie.org. These
sites will give a detailed listing of every event in the area including
the Wiarton Willie festivities, annual fair events and much more.
Here are just some of the main events in the area:
• Annual Santa Claus Parade
• Canada Day Festivities
• Chi-Cheemaun Spring Cruise
• Cops for Cancer
• Giant Spring Auction &
Dance
• Groundhog Day Festivities
• Mountain Lake Jamboree
• Pow-Wow - Cape Croker
• Purple Valley Maple Syrup
Festival
• Rotary Village Fair
• Sauble's Deck Day Dance
• Sandfest
• Saugeen Bluffs Maple Syrup
Festival
• Snow-a-rama/Ski-a-rama
• Wiarton & District Agricultural
Society Fall Fair
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