Bruce's Caves


Useful Information

Location: 4.8 km northeast of Wiarton, off Grey County Road No 26.
(44.772497, -81.074848)
Open: No restrictions.
[2010]
Fee: free.
[2010]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst Cave
Light: bring torch
Dimension:  
Guided tours:  
Photography:  
Accessibility:  
Bibliography:  
Address: Bruce's Caves Conservation area.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History


Description

These caves are to be found in the former Keppel Township, just off Grey County Road No 26, 4.8 km northeast of Wiarton, in the Bruce's Caves Conservation area which consists of 7 hectares of Niagara Escarpment and rock talus, upland hardwoods and wooded swamp.

The main cave has a 20 m high portal with a stone pillar in the entrance. A crevice at the rear of the cave allows visitors to crawl around to the front of the cave. These caves were formed by the wave action of post-glacial Lake Algonquin, 7,000 to 8,000 years ago. The significance of the cave formations lies in their dramatic illustration of past weathering processes and indicates the magnitude of the post-glacial lake levels. The caves also illustrate the different physical and chemical weathering rates of various sections of the escarpment (soluble limestone and Amabel dolomite).

Bruce's Caves was named after a remittance man by the name of Robert Bruce.


Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.