A Georgian Bay village under limestone cliffs, with a famous Bruce Trail lookout in a provincial nature reserve, a harbour lighthouse, and a sandy beach in the middle of town.
Lion's Head sits on Isthmus Bay, on the Georgian Bay side of the Bruce Peninsula, about 45 minutes south of Tobermory. The village is named for a cliff profile that, from the water, looks like a lion's head. The Bruce Trail climbs through Lion's Head Provincial Park, a nature reserve on the Niagara Escarpment, to a lookout high above the bay.
There are no visitor facilities in the park; the point is to protect the rock, the ancient cliff-edge cedars and the rare plants. In the village, a sand beach, a harbour and a small lighthouse sit a short walk from the shops. An easier stretch of trail starts at the beach and runs north along the shore. Tobermory and the national park are a natural next stop up the peninsula.
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Free No charge to enter · Cheap A small entry, permit or parking fee · Paid Tickets, tours or rentals
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Lion's Head Lookout
The famous cliff-top view over Georgian Bay, reached on the Bruce Trail through the provincial nature reserve. About 200 feet above the water, with views south to Cape Dundas and north to White Bluff and Cabot Head. Stay on the path and back from the edge. Free to hike; trailhead parking at McCurdy Drive must be reserved in season.
Season The hike is year-round on the Bruce Trail, but trailhead parking at McCurdy Drive must be reserved 15 May–15 October. The official visitor page said the Moore Street Side Trail was closed (check before you go).
A 526-hectare nature reserve on the Niagara Escarpment, with no visitor facilities. The official purpose is to protect the lion-head rock formation, ancient cliff-edge cedars and rare plants. Hiking and nature appreciation only. Free.
Season A non-operating nature reserve with no visitor facilities; best suited to hiking and nature appreciation (check before you go).
An easier, shorter loop of about one kilometre off the Bruce Trail near the beach, through forest to escarpment lookouts, a gentler walk than the main cliff trail. The official visitor page describes starting from Lion's Head Beach, crossing to the marina and walking north along Bruin Lane. Free.
The Lion's Head Harbour and the shore of Isthmus Bay, with a viewing platform and a short waterfront walk from the beach to the lighthouse. Free to walk.
The municipal harbour in the heart of the village, with a viewing platform, memorial gardens and, in summer, Friday-night music on the waterfront. Free to walk.
Parking: Paid parking is in effect in Lion's Head from 15 May to 15 September. Reservations are required at the McCurdy Drive trailhead lot from 15 May to 15 October; book ahead. There is no parking on Moore Street. Official parking information is at the municipal parking page.
The lookout trail: Parts of the trail are challenging, with crags, sinkholes and no handrails. Stay on the marked path and back from the cliff edge. The official visitor page said the Moore Street Side Trail was closed; check before you go. The natural features in the nature reserve are easily damaged.
We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
