Barrow Bay: Dobson/Nakashima and Deal properties

Barrow Bay comprises the Dobson/Nakashima and Deal properties and are located east of Barrow Bay in the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, County of Bruce. These properties feature amazing views of crystal-clear blue water along the coastline of Georgian Bay.

The Ontario Heritage Trust took ownership of these properties in 1998 with a management agreement with the Bruce Trail Conservancy. The 27.7 hectares (68 acres) of escarpment coast are dominated by sugar maple hardwood forests, with open shoreline, coniferous forests and talus communities also represented. Barrow Bay supports 268 documented species, including 132 plant species and 36 faunal species. Four species were observed on the property that are classified as species at risk that are provincially and/or federally protected.

Public access

The volunteer Peninsula Club of the Bruce Trail Conservancy maintains over 3.4 kilometres (2.1 miles) of hiking trails on these properties. The Bruce Trail Barrow Bay side trail traverses these spectacular properties. There is no parking available here, but the side trail can be accessed from Rush Cove Road.  Learn more about the Peninsula section of the Bruce Trail.

Map

Heritage value

These properties are part of the provincially significant Barrow Bay South Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI), which contains rare species–including hart’s-tongue fern, round-leaved ragwort, eastern wood-pewee and wood thrush. The majority of these properties is a cliff and talus ecosystem with a unique, mature sugar maple forest community, and the presence of multiple permanent springs and seeps along the escarpment edge.