BaseCamp Willie

Geographically, the town of Wiarton is defined by the rugged limestone cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment and the picturesque shores of Colpoys Bay.  The town has long been known as the gateway to the Bruce Peninsula but is best known for the Wiarton Willie Festival and Wiarton Willie, the albino groundhog who predicts the length of winter every Groundhog Day.

Tourism forms an important part of the town's economy, attracting many seasonal visitors to the area's cottages and resorts and to the town's extensive marina. The Bruce Trail, Canada's oldest and longest footpath, provides public access to the 895-kilometre-long Niagara Escarpment which runs through the town.

As a full-service community on the Niagara Escarpment and the shore of Georgian Bay, Wiarton is a great basecamp for a Bruce Peninsula Adventure.  Whether it’s late winter or an early spring, combining a sense of outdoor adventure with the iconic Wiarton Willie—Canada’s foremost weather prognosticator—yields “Basecamp Willie.”