Camping near Tobermory with hiking

At the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, Tobermory is a quaint community nestled into the Niagara escarpment and the expansive waters of Lake Huron. Most famously known for multiple shipwrecks, it’s a scuba diving hotspot that draws campers from around Canada and beyond. Even on land, Tobermory is teeming with wildlife from black bears to snakes and rare plant species, bringing you face-to-face with the great outdoors. Stargazers delight in this Dark Sky Community (a place with strict guidelines on outdoor lighting), making it a prime location for studying the Milky Way. A variety of tailored accommodations are available in the area, from lakeside campsites perfect for fishing to RV parks and spacious yurts with washrooms and shower facilities.

Surrounded by rock slabs stretching out from the shore into Georgian Bay, Bruce Peninsula National Park is a superb location for summer swimming and hiking. Miller Lake offers treed campsites for pitching a tent and waterfront cottages for added luxury. Or choose Cyprus Lake Campground as a home base, and hike the 45-minute Bruce Trail to The Grotto, a cave featuring craggy rock formations sprinkled with clinging pine trees and a spacious natural pool inside—a solid spot for cliff jumping. Be sure to book advance parking reservations if you plan on driving—spots fill up quickly. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing dominate the trails in winter, but certain areas of the park may be inaccessible due to snowy conditions.

Hipcampers are spoiled with seasonal activities all year, so the best time to visit Tobermory truly depends on personal preference. May through September is popular for tent camping, biking, campfires, and swimming, while October offers colourful forests filled with changing leaves—an ideal time for hiking. Winter weather from November to early March brings snowy activities and crisp scenery, but some may consider bundling up and snagging an RV campsite to fend off the chilly temps that dip well below freezing.