Spirit Rock and the Spiral Staircase

On February 24, 2026, we embarked on our final hike of our long weekend in the beautiful and rugged landscape of the Bruce Peninsula. This particular hike was the fourth in our series, and we were filled with a mix of excitement and a touch of nostalgia as we set out to explore the last segment of this stunning natural area. Luckily for this last hike, we had my sister, Taylor, join us, infusing our group with fresh new energy and enthusiasm. Her presence was a welcome addition, as she always brought a sense of adventure and a positive spirit that could lift our morale, especially after several days of hiking.

Our planned hike was a moderate 6.5 kilometers long, and I was aware that part of the trail would be well-traveled, particularly because we were heading towards a popular attraction known for its picturesque spiral staircase that led up to the cliffs edge. I had seen numerous Instagram posts showcasing this spot, so it was clear that this destination was a favourite among both locals and tourists alike. On our drive to the trailhead I told Taylor that I knew this spiral staircase would be a challenging aspect to this hike and that I was concerned that Oliver would be too scared to climb it. I told her that we would need to get creative in getting him up it. I anticipated that the closer we got to the end of our hike, near the charming town of Colpoy's Bay, we would be traversing through expansive fields. From my previous experiences and observations, I assumed that these fields would likely be covered in a thick blanket of snow, potentially making our journey a bit more challenging. Given the winter season, I suspected that the snow could be quite deep, which led me to conclude that we would need snowshoes to navigate through the snowy terrain effectively.

We started our journey in Wiarton at approximately 8:30 AM, ready to embrace the chilly morning air. The temperature was a brisk -15 degrees Celsius, a stark reminder that winter was still very much in full swing. I was well-prepared for the conditions, having donned all my light winter gear. As we gathered our gear and set off, I couldn’t help but notice the beauty of the winter landscape around us. The sun was beginning to rise, casting a warm golden glow that peeked through the clouds, offering a much-welcomed reprieve from the overcast skies we had experienced in the previous days. This brightening sky not only lifted our spirits but also promised a day filled with adventure. Taylor, declared herself to be our good luck charm for these outdoor hikes. She reminisced about the previous hike she had joined us on, which turned out to be an easy and great hike filled with shared laughter. For those interested in reading about our earlier adventure, you can find the details of that memorable hike here: Caledon Hills and Cheltenham Badlands.

Start of the Hike

We walked through Wiarton Park and marina, which is beautifully situated around the picturesque Colpoy's Bay. The sun was beginning to break through the clouds, casting a warm golden glow over the landscape, and the vibrant blue skies provided a stunning contrast to the frozen and snow-covered water below. The bay, usually teeming with life during the warmer months, lay still and serene, its surface glistening under the sun's rays, creating a breathtaking winter scene.

Fortunately, the park had been well-traveled, with the snow compacted down by the many visitors who had come to enjoy the winter wonderland. This made our walk much easier, as we could navigate the paths without sinking into deep drifts of snow. We continued our journey by walking down Bayview Street. This quiet road offered a peaceful ambiance, allowing us to chat and catch up on life.

Eventually, this street led us to the Spirit Rock Conservation Area. We continued down the trail, carefully navigating the winding path that hugged the bay at water level. I knew that we would soon be making our way up high on top of a cliff that overlooked the expansive landscape. This particular trail is well used in this area, which was evident from the well-trodden path beneath our feet. Although we had brought along our snowshoes we definitely didn't need them as of yet.

We approached this rather steep hill that we would have to climb up. The path to ascend this hill was equipped with a railing, designed to assist travellers like ourselves in navigating the treacherous ascent. Due to the sheer number of people who had traversed this route before us, the surface had become quite slippery, coated in a slick layer of ice.

As we approached, it became clear that the packed snow had accumulated to such an extent that the railing, which was meant to provide support and stability, was almost rendered ineffective. In some areas, it was buried so deeply that it was almost at our feet, making it nearly impossible to grasp without bending down awkwardly.

I was already wearing my snowshoes because I had a lot of gear strapped to my back. Climbing the hill with them was difficult. The trail was very narrow, and the snowshoes were too wide for the path. I had to take large, awkward strides to avoid stepping on the other snowshoe. Despite my efforts, this happened a few times, and Taylor pointed it out to prevent me from tripping. While it was true that snowshoes might not have been strictly necessary for this particular hill, the metal spikes on the bottom of my footwear proved invaluable. They provided a much-needed grip on the icy terrain, allowing me to navigate the slippery slope with a bit more confidence. As we made our way to the top of this icy hill, we came into view of the beloved Spiral Staircase.

Spiral Staircase

Taylor pointed out that she had never encountered a spiral staircase outdoors before, which struck me as an interesting observation. The concept of a spiral staircase, with its elegant curves and intricate design, indeed seems like a remarkable engineering feat to complete when considering its used by hikers in the outdoors. All of the other staircases we've encountered on the Bruce trail have been simple wooden ones that may have a landing in order to change directions. In this exact spot, I would assume they chose the spiral because it takes up less space. There wouldn't have been much room for a wooden staircase as its on a steep hill.

This metal staircase had very narrow steps and they numbered around 30 in total. The stairs were not wide enough to accommodate both dogs at once, which led me to conclude that it would be best to send them up one at a time. I turned to Taylor, who was standing nearby, and asked her to ascend the staircase first with the intention of verbally helping the dogs navigate the climb afterward by calling them. Taylor readily agreed and began her ascent, carefully placing her feet on the metal steps as she climbed higher. Meanwhile, I positioned myself at the bottom of the staircase, ready to release Mia from her leash so that she could follow suit and climb the staircase. Mia, always the fearless little one, was typically adventurous, but this time, she hesitated. As soon as I unclipped her leash, she stood at the base of the staircase, her tail wagging uncertainly, but she refused to move up the steps. On the other hand, Oliver, who had been watching the whole situation unfold, began to cry out in distress. It was clear that he wanted to go up, so I decided to let him off his leash as well. However, much to my surprise, he also refused to ascend the staircase, standing at the bottom with his ears perked up and eyes wide, seemingly unsure of what to do next. He actually moved to go around the staircase in order to find a different, less daunting, way up instead.

Realizing that I needed to intervene, I called out to Taylor to come back down and assist one of the dogs in making the climb. Given Oliver's eagerness, Taylor decided to lead him by the harness, gently guiding him up the staircase. They moved slowly but steadily, and I watched in relief as they successfully navigated the narrow steps together. Once they reached the top, I turned my attention back to Mia, who was still waiting at the bottom. I grabbed her harness, preparing to replicate the same method that Taylor had used with Oliver, but what happened next was far from what I had anticipated. Mia managed to make it up only about five steps before she suddenly laid down, her back half resting on the lower steps while her front half remained higher up. I could see her little nose and paws sticking out from the staircase. I attempted to gently pull her to her feet, encouraging her to try again, but she resisted, clearly frightened by the height and the unfamiliarity of the metal staircase. Faced with her evident fear, I quickly made the decision that I would have to carry her the rest of the way up. Mia weighs around 50 pounds, and given the awkward position she was in, I struggled to find a comfortable grip on her. The staircase was so narrow that she couldn’t fit sideways, forcing me to hold her at an odd angle.

I was also holding onto their leashes, which were trailing behind me, threatening to trip me up or get snagged on the staircase railings at any moment. Before proceeding, I decided it would be prudent to stop and set Mia down briefly. I took a moment to carefully wrap up the leashes to prevent any further complications that might arise during the ascent. As I began to make my way up the stairs, I had to keep a vigilant eye on where I was placing my feet, trying to maintain my balance while ensuring Mia felt secure in my grasp. With each step, I could feel the tension in my muscles increasing as I navigated the precarious climb, hoping to reach the top without any mishaps.

I had a video running capturing our adventure as we ascended the staircase. It took us a full 10 minutes with all the chaos that ensued. If you have read some of my other posts you will know that once again, Oliver proved me wrong. I was worried about him for no reason. He handled these stairs with assistance but did such a great job. Meanwhile, Mia surprised me by needing help to ascend them which I can't blame her based on how narrow the steps were.

End of the Hike

After the staircase, we hiked within the bush for a little bit. There were well-trodden paths that meandered off onto side trails, hinting at the adventures of previous hikers. However, since we were committed to following the main trail, we found ourselves navigating through untouched snow, where no clear path was evident. I turned to Taylor and asked her to lead the way, suggesting that she pack down any snow ahead of us to make our passage easier. Given that the pups and I had already covered 25.5 kilometers this weekend. As Taylor took the lead, Oliver began to cry incessantly. His whines echoed through the stillness of the bush, a clear indication that he was not content with merely following. It soon became apparent that Oliver wanted to take charge of the expedition. Once Taylor moved behind us, he instantly calmed down, his demeanour shifting from anxious to assertive as he confidently took the lead. Fortunately, the snow was hard-packed, allowing us to traverse the landscape without the struggle of forging a new path, which meant we weren’t sinking into the snow with every step.

Eventually, we arrived at expansive open fields, again, we found ourselves in a pristine area where no one else had ventured before us. The blanket of snow stretched out before us, glistening under the soft sunlight, yet remarkably, we weren’t sinking at all—not even the dogs. This was a pleasant surprise, as I had initially expected that we would be trudging through deep snow, struggling with every step. So far, today’s hike was proving to be much easier than anticipated, which was perfect for both the pups and me. Perhaps Taylor was indeed our good luck charm, guiding us through this enchanting landscape with ease.

At one point, I decided to take off my snowshoes, curious to test the firmness of the snow beneath my feet. I stepped lightly, expecting to feel the give of the snow, but to my delight, I remained buoyant, gliding along without any sinking at all. It was a liberating experience, and while I had brought the snowshoes as a precaution, it became clear that they were likely unnecessary for this particular trek. Nevertheless, it was comforting to have them as a backup, ensuring that we were prepared for any unexpected challenges that might arise on our journey.

Unexpected Challenge

When we were walking through the expansive open fields, Taylor encountered an unexpected mishap. As she was navigating through the firm snow, one of her snowshoes unexpectedly caught on a hidden edge beneath the surface. The sudden snag caused her snowshoe to fall down sideways off a ledge and then plunge deep into the snow, which, unbeknownst to us at the time, concealed a layer of water underneath.

In that instant, we were taken aback by the realization that Taylor had inadvertently been walking half on a boardwalk that was completely obscured by the thick blanket of snow. The seamless way in which the snow covered the boardwalk was astonishing; it was as if nature had crafted a perfect disguise, hiding the sturdy wooden path from our view. As Taylor found herself on the ground, stuck and somewhat disoriented, I couldn't help but burst into laughter. She looked at me in shock, asking for assistance to get back on her feet. However, I found myself in a bit of a predicament; with both dogs securely attached to me, I was unable to lend her a hand right away. Eventually, after a few moments of awkwardness, Taylor joined in on the laughter, realizing the humour in her predicament. Thankfully, she emerged from the situation unscathed, with no injuries to speak of, which only added to the hilarity of the incident.

Looking back, we both understood why we had fortunately been wearing snowshoes, even though they weren't needed. Had Taylor not been wearing them, her boot would have undoubtedly plunged straight into the icy water below, leading to a much less pleasant experience. Instead, we were left with a funny story to recount, a reminder of the unpredictable nature of winter adventures and the joys of being out in the wild, even when things don’t go quite as planned.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this hike was probably the easiest of the entire four day weekend of hiking. The weather was predominantly sunny, which was a delightful contrast to the cold temperatures that accompanied us through the days journey. Despite the chill in the air, I believe the bright sunshine played a significant role in enhancing our experience, making the cold more bearable and even enjoyable. The trail itself was quite manageable; half of it was well-packed down by other hikers and the other half of the trail led us through open fields, where the snow was firm enough that we didn't have to worry about sinking in with every step. This combination of conditions created a truly pleasant hiking experience, which was a refreshing change from the more challenging trails we had faced on the previous days. I was completely wrong in most of my predictions of the day. I had thought Oliver would have struggled to make it up the staircase but he was a total champ. I also thought we would have needed snow shoes for the open fields but again, they weren't needed. These two instances definitely remind me that I can prepare for hikes the best I can but those plans usually end up changing as the hike ensues.

The conclusion of this hike brought us back to the very spot where I had begun my Saturday hike Colpoys Bay . Interestingly, even though it was the same area, the experiences were quite different. On Saturday, we found ourselves sinking into the snow, which made for a more strenuous outing. Thankfully, I had brought along snowshoes, which allowed me to navigate the soft snow with relative ease. However, Oliver and Mia were not so fortunate; they struggled to keep their footing and often sank into the snow, which added an extra layer of challenge to our adventure. I think that only difference was that on the Monday it was so windy out that it must have firmed up the snow. It’s fascinating how just a couple of days can dramatically alter the nature of a hike, transforming what could have been a challenging ordeal into a much more enjoyable and accessible experience.

Since Taylor came up to join us, we had two vehicles so we were able to hike straight through and cover more of the trail. We hiked 6.5kms which can all be contributed to the main Bruce Trail. It took us 2 hrs and 40 minutes. Our previous day's hike was just as long and it took us over an hour longer to travel which just shows how much easier this hike had been. You can read Monday's hike here: Peninsula Failed Hike

As always,

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

Kendal

You Adventure Won't Always Go to Plan, Just Go With the Flow