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Turquoise water, a limestone sea cave, and the town at the end of the highway.
Nobody believes the photos until they're standing in it. Georgian Bay goes an honest, ridiculous turquoise here, held in by white limestone cliffs the water has been chewing on for about ten thousand years. The Grotto is the payoff — a sea cave with a cold blue pool inside, reached by either swimming through the gap or picking your way down the rocks. Next door, Indian Head Cove is all sun-warmed slabs and people who came for one photo and stayed three hours.
The shape of the day: three-ish hours in the park, an hour loose in Tobermory (fish and chips at the harbour is the local sacrament), and a last pull-over at Inglis Falls — 18 metres of water dropping past an old grist mill, two minutes from where we park. Yes, it's a long drive. That's the trade. You'll sleep on the way home, and you'll have a story that doesn't sound like Ontario.
“To get down to the Grotto you either swim it or climb it. Both are worth it.”
— NorthStar field note · every trip leader ever
“The water really is that colour. Freezing, but I'd do it again tomorrow.”
Hana, 27swam at Indian Head Cove“Long day on the road, absolutely worth it. Tobermory fish and chips then a waterfall on the way home.”
Devon, 31first NorthStar trip“The Grotto is the photo, but Inglis Falls at golden hour was the surprise of the day.”
Amrit, 24brought two friends
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trip 07
