The Bruce Peninsula presents a formidable barrier to water transportation between Lake Huron and southern Georgian Bay. To avoid a difficult detour to the north, aboriginal peoples developed a portage route across the base of the peninsula. The eastern section ran along high ground between here and Colpoy's Bay at Wiarton. West of here were two routes. One ran south across Boat Lake and along the Rankin and Sauble Rivers to Lake Huron. The other crossed from Boat Lake to Spry Lake, then overland to the Lake Huron shore opposite the Fishing Islands. For centuries the Bruce Peninsula Portage was an important link in the Great Lakes transportation network.

Location

At the Ministry of Natural Resources boat launch beside the old Rankin River Bridge, County Road 21, 6 km west of Wiarton

Themes

• First Nations
• Industry and trade
• Transportation systems and communications