Unwind and reconnect in South Bruce Peninsula‘s charming towns, sun-dappled forests and shimmering waters.

Photos by Justyna Charette, Vanessa Chassard, Colin Field, Andrea Hamlin, Boyd Leeson, Lauren Miller, Kristin Schnelten

There’s never been a better time to take a staycation: Hit the road for a few days, even a week, and explore your own backyard, expand your local horizons. And there’s never been a better time to visit South Bruce Peninsula.

Just an hour west of Collingwood, Ontario, this quiet corner of the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula begins in the windswept community of Saugeen/Sauble Beach and reaches through trail networks, rivers and bays to include the charming, quirky town of Wiarton. South Bruce Peninsula, with its rocky shores and tiny hamlets, is on the surging crest of a reawakening—and boasts enough recreation, dining, small businesses and stellar annual events to warrant multiple visits, in every season.

The two largest South Bruce Peninsula communities—Wiarton on the sunrise side of the Peninsula, perched atop the escarpment overlooking Colpoys Bay, and Saugeen/Sauble Beach with its unforgettable Lake Huron sunsets—have long welcomed visitors, evolving and growing over the decades into their own eclectic personalities. Before loading up the car, get to know the people and places of South Bruce Peninsula and plan your visit with insider tips.

South Bruce Peninsula, with its rocky shores and tiny hamlets, is on the surging crest of a reawakening—and boasts enough recreation, dining, small businesses and stellar annual events to warrant multiple visits, in every season.

Saugeen/Sauble Beach

Renowned as the second-largest freshwater beach in Canada, Saugeen (formerly known as Sauble) has attracted tourists and cottagers for more than a century. At more than 11 kilometres in length, that pristine Lake Huron shoreline is the main attraction, but what lies beyond the volleyball nets and boogie boards are the trails and tracts, shops and stops that beckon a visit, long into the mellow seasons bordering the few bustling weeks of summer.

The town‘s main street, built primarily in the post-war boom of the late 1940s, has retained that optimistic, heady energy—and its retro style. Ice cream parlours and sweatshirt shops fling open their wide storefronts to the strolling passersby, who follow the wafting scents of fresh fudge and the bright songs of swirling arcades.

Tiny wooden houses dot the quiet streets, which see more pedestrian than automobile traffic most days, and children dart around mini-golf courses, chasing stray golf balls while parents and grandparents sip afternoon cocktails. It’s simple and quaint, a reminder of easier times and a slower pace.

But the past few years have seen a rejuvenation of the spirit that initially brought it to life. With a treetop adventure park, vibrant new restaurants and chic, trendy accommodations, visitors are experiencing a fresh side of The Beach.

A Saugeen/Sauble Beach Itinerary

Exploring the western coast of South Bruce Peninsula begins with a plan. A multi-day visit will hit the hot spots and give you a taste that may very well have you asking for a sizable second helping.

Crash and Relax: Where to Stay

Want to hang with the hip kids at the coolest pool and hotel in town? The June Motel is your jam. The trendy roadside motel, recently rejuvenated by friends April Brown and Sarah Sklash, offers luxury and style—and is the perfect backdrop for “wish you were here” selfies.

Longing for the sound of the Sauble River outside your window? Check into the Kit Wat Motel & Marina and take one of their canoes, kayaks or SUPs out for a relaxing paddle. Enjoy a picnic meal along the river and roast marshmallows under the stars at this newly renovated long-time favourite.

If a classic cottage experience is your dream, Beach House Cottage Rentals has refreshed their tiny 1940s-era cabins while retaining all of their charm.

Immerse yourself in nature at Woodland Park. At Woodland you’ll find a serviced site for your RV—but if you don’t have your own, they also offer on-site RVs that offer a tiny-home experience. With an indoor pool and hot tub as well as playgrounds, Woodland has all the amenities you’d expect from this beloved family-run campground.

Explore: What to Do

If the beach vibe is what you’re after, Saugeen/Sauble has you covered. With surfboards and boogie boards, wetsuits and wingsurfing equipment, Jack n Jill’s Surf Shop has all the gear you need to hit the waves in style. Or take a few steps from the sand to tackle the high-flying ropes course at Ascent Aerial Park, where you’ll find the best view on the peninsula, hands down.

Need a break from the sunshine? The rush of winning and the dopamine high of “just one more try!” at Giggles Arcade and Grab Lab are sure to induce high-fives and good times.

Taking a stroll down Main Street leads to The Patch, a funky sidewalk shop with curated vintage and second-hand apparel. After a zig-zagging walk across the street, pop in to Grit & Grace for beachy vibe summer wear. Sauble offers not one but two miniature golf courses, with Putterama holding up the retro-kitsch end of the stick and Bar Tiki coming in with the on-site tiki bar and patio experience.

Away from the buzz downtown, there’s an outdoor world to explore. Take a hike at Sauble Falls Provincial Park and pick up a tube while you’re there. Or wander the Rankin River Loop Trail, a 4.7 km easy loop with meadow views. Looking for a bigger water adventure? Both Suntrail Source for Adventure and Outer Vision offer boat rentals and guided trips to take extended tours in the sun.

Fuel Up: Where to Eat

You might need a full week to sample just half of the offerings at Luscious Bakery, where the sweet tooths in your family will be just as happy as the savory crowd. (Bacon, cheddar and onion breakfast croissant? Piles of iced cookies? Yes, please!) And Crust and Crackle offers artisanal breads so good you’ll take a couple loaves home with you.

Picnic lunches are easy with a quick stop at the Casero Taco Bus or Royal Fish & Chips. Afterward, wander around the corner for dipped cones at Happy Donuts, stopping by Bruce County Nut & Fudge Co. to pick up a take-home afternoon treat.

The Dunes Restaurant and Bar serves excellent pub fare along with live music and ice-cold beers on tap, and the signature cocktails at Smashed Burgers are only surpassed by their layered and loaded sandwiches.

Sauble’s renaissance movement hits its pinnacle at Heydays Restaurant, where Executive Chef Tyler Cunningham crafts reinvented coastal classics and is whipping up a revamped menu this season. And Laszlo’s Bistro offers a fast-casual dining experience, punctuated by fresh, handmade pizza.

Don’t Miss Out: Scheduled Events

Sauble Beach is the place to be for regular live music at venues throughout town. And weekly events include the Tuesday evening car show hosted by Sauble Beach Sunset Cruisers, when classic cars from around the area cruise and park on Main Street and Lakeshore Boulevard.

Every Thursday in July and August, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., the Lakeview Vendors Market pops up at the Sauble Beach Town Square, with booths offering produce, baked goods, handmade goods, clothing and vintage finds.

Sneak a Peek: Insider Advice

Ever ventured north to cottage country in June, only to immediately retreat from the bugs? This year, make a beeline to the shoreline of South Bruce Peninsula instead. June is the perfect month for a beach trip: The sand is warm, shops and restaurants are open, the crowds haven’t yet arrived—and blackflies are nonexistent.

Wiarton

Wiarton, long touted as the Gateway To The Bruce Peninsula, is quintessential Ontario, with its shop-lined main street nestled right into the escarpment. But this charming blonde-brick town has outgrown its “gateway” moniker and is more than worthy of a visit of its own.

Filled with offbeat locals who welcome newcomers with enthusiastic arms, the community embraces its hard-working history alongside its bright future, which at the moment looks quite colourful indeed.

The Deep Water Gallery—at 400 square feet, it’s the little gallery that could—opened in 2019, and with it brought a wave of art and artisans to the surface. The vibrant paintings at the Taylor Gallery and curated treasures of Strata Gallery followed a few years later, and the Little MAD Gallery—the wallspace of which is measured in square inches—is gaining its own acclaim.

There’s enough artistic energy burbling here that proponents are rethinking the town as wiARTon, and it certainly seems a fitting change in emphasis.

The old stalwarts of Wiarton—Colpoys Bay views, Wiarton Marina, Bluewater Park with local artist David Robinson’s Wiarton Willie statue, the Bruce Trail and the Bruce County Mountain Bike Park—are deserving of their fame and beg a lingering stay, as well.

Wiarton, with its growing arts scene and access to nature, is a true gem hidden in plain sight.

Wiarton and Beyond: An Itinerary

Tucked deep in the crook of Colpoys Bay and carved out of the rugged escarpment, a visit to the little town of Wiarton is really an invitation to visit to the broader region—to the secret hamlets and many bays along the way.

Crash and Relax: Where to Stay

If you’re craving a cozy, historical retreat, The Wright House B&B in Wiarton is a restored heritage home in the heart of town. Right at the top of the hill on Highway 6, the Spirit Rock Outpost and Lodge is an ideal spot for hikers and adventurers with its simple, tidy rooms.

Camping options abound in the Wiarton area, from the Fiddlehead Resort, located along the Lake Huron shore in Oliphant, to Cape Croker Park, owned and operated by the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.

The classic Lake Huron holiday, with small shoreline cabins surrounding a lively main lodge, is an essential peninsula experience. Both the Red Bay Lodge and Evergreen Resort have been welcoming visitors for more than 70 years. Red Bay Lodge, the logs of its popular pub-fare restaurant adorned with antlers, offers hotel rooms as well as its recently renovated knotty-pine cabins. Evergreen Resort, just a few kilometres down the road, leans more toward the Dirty Dancing era, with home-cooked buffet meals and organized activities for the whole family.

Fuel Up: Where to Eat

An anchor in this sea of thoughtful artisans, Lost Art Espresso brings together the movers and shakers making things happen in this growing town. A hip and funky recent addition to the block, its young owners are building community with every pour. And, tucked between paintings and sculptures at Taylor Gallery, Ashanti Coffee serves cappuccinos and sweet treats (try the butter-tart bar!) with a smile.

Local twin sisters Jessie Lorraine and Ann Marie Hadcock recently launched their Sand Witches Food Truck to great success, and the new Bread Bowl sandwich shop is just getting started. Those two new hot spots join long-time Wiarton favourites The Green Door Cafe—where you’re just as likely to make a new friend as enjoy a home-cooked meal—and The Silo Taphouse, serving burgers, wraps and brews.

A cultural beacon in the local restaurant scene, Coral’s Caribbean is the sole Caribbean restaurant within 100 km, and the Wiarton Inn Restaurant & Bar has been serving Asian cuisine to the South Bruce Peninsula for years.

Meandering through shops and down to Bluewater Park, ice cream in hand, is a ritual, and there’s no better place to scoop up than the award-winning homemade flavours at Lloyd’s Smoke Shop—unless you’re looking for the buzzing summertime scene, in which case you can hang with the crowd for towering soft-serve cones at Frosty Freeze.

Explore: What to Do

With trail options at Spirit Rock Conservation Area and the Peninsula and Sydenham sections of the Bruce Trail meeting in Bluewater Park, hiking and birding are king in Wiarton. But fishing and water sports—kite boards, hydrofoils, kayaks, canoes and SUPs—in the rivers, creeks and bays are a dreamy way to experience this outdoor paradise.

Secluded spots along Lake Huron, in Oliphant, Red Bay and Howdenvale, offer garden tours, quiet beaches and easy launching spots for big-water adventures, including the Oliphant Fen Trail, a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk with interpretive panels that meanders along the shoreline, through lady slippers in the springtime and bright wildflowers in the fall.

Wiarton’s retail stores are a vibrant cornerstone of the community, with chic clothiers like Josie’s Fashions and the tastefully modern Home By Design, which features hand-curated furniture and decor. A visit to Lloyd’s Smoke Shop’s tiny storefront reveals a wide, vintage pool hall in the back, with retro lighting and signage that could beckon even the most reluctant player to pick up a cue.

Sullivan’s Meat Shop’s reputation for tasty sausages spans the globe—they’ve had customers pop in from Germany before—and is strong enough locally to regularly see lines down the block. And Dejong Acres Farm Store is a must-visit stop for fresh lamb, poultry, pork and more.

Don’t Miss Out: Scheduled Events

On August 9, come out to cheer for the athletes (or sign up to join in!) at the Bruce Peninsula Multisport Race. The annual event showcases athletes tackling the paddling, mountain biking and running course through the forest and along the coastline.

The second-annual Wiarton Lavender Festival hits Bluewater Park July 26 to 27, and the Wiarton Poutine Feast is set for Thursday, August 28. Every Friday from May through October, stop by and meet the locals at the Wiarton Farmers’ Market, when growers and makers set up their stalls at the Berford Street Parkette from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

As the heat of summer ramps up, check out the Wiarton Homecoming Weekend, August 2 to 3. With games, food, entertainment, car shows and a popular 50/50 draw benefiting the Wiarton Hospital, the annual event brings together both community and visitors for a full weekend of small-town fun.

Sneak a Peek: Insider Advice

Skip the race up Highway 6 and stay for a while in Wiarton. The peaceful folks here—eager to share their knowledge and learn in turn—are a welcome respite from a busy world. And don’t miss the small inland lakes; their tranquil trails are a favourite with the locals.

The Rest of the Story

There’s so much happening in South Bruce Peninsula, with artists, adventurers and entrepreneurs rethinking and reinvigorating its small towns and big bays. Making time for a springtime visit may just have you rethinking your own summer vacation plans.

Choose your own adventure from our suggestions, or check out www.destinationsouthbrucepeninsula.com for a full vacation-planning guide—and keep in the loop at @discoversouthbrucepeninsula. Article sponsored by South Bruce Peninsula.