Bruce Mines

Revel in serene hills that roll gently in pastoral beauty or taper off to share a big sky view as the Trail guides you to the Town of Bruce Mines. Nestled on the shores of Lake Huron, and located directly on the Trans-Canada Highway, Bruce Mines is a scenic community rich in history that also serves as the civic centre for the neighbouring Township of Plummer Additional. The Town was founded in 1846 as Canada’s first copper mine and is the first Northern Ontario town to be incorporated. Bruce Mines is home to all types of accommodations from camping to full service motels to cottages that include a unique stay in an island lighthouse. The local restaurants serve great food with Northern Ontario hospitality and are known regionally for their homemade pies and butter tarts.

Visitors to this vibrant community can connect to local history with a visit to the museum or a tour of the Simpson Mineshaft, relax on the shores by the public marina, or stage for a rugged excursion on the nearby Voyageur Hiking Trail. In early fall, fortunate travellers in the countryside may catch the exultant rise of Sandhill Cranes as they gather in fields in their hundreds during their annual migration. The community provides several amenities to visitors including groceries, restaurants and free WIFI at the library, making Bruce Mines an ideal stop on your trip along the Lake Huron North Channel.

Just under 4 km north of the Trail, you can visit the Meadowview Alpaca Farm. They offer tours and sell many products made with alpaca wool. If you miss them on the Trail, you can visit their booth at the Johnson Township Farmers Market in Desbarats.

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Trail Attributes

Distance: 23km

Includes:

Paved rural and (some) residential roadways

2.5km on Provincial rural Highway 638, which includes an length posted at 80km/h with narrow paved shoulders.

Approximately 5km on unpaved (gravel) rural roads

Local Maps and Connections Staging Areas Amenities and Transit Helpful Links

Links to Local Maps

Bruce Mines

The Central Algoma Freshwater Coalition, an organization devoted to the protection, improvement and restoration of watersheds in the Central Algoma Region, has produced an excellent downloadable map with suggested cycling, hiking and cross country skiing experiences.

Sylvan Circle Tour – A drive-focused experience that can be followed via much of the local Great Lakes Waterfront Trail connecting Bruce Mines to Echo Bay and looping back through the scenic Sylvan Valley.

Connections

Trans-Canada Trail – The Trans-Canada Trail network stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, forming the largest trail network in the world. The Lake Huron North Channel section of the Trail is designated as Trans-Canada Trail.

Voyageur Hiking Trail – The Voyageur Hiking Trail is a collection of wilderness hiking opportunities totaling roughly 1100km in length between Sudbury and Thunder Bay. The Voyageur Hiking Trail and is part of the Trans Canada Trail network.
Connect: via Old Garden River Road and Landslide Rd to Hiawatha Highlands Conservation Area.