Pretty River Valley Provincial Park is a non-operating provincial park located at 569668 Sideroad 6, in Blue Mountain, ON. The park is situated at the highest point of the entire Niagara Escarpment, thus providing great views of not only Pretty River, but also the surrounding area. It is popular amongst Bruce Trail hikers, as well as hunters. I visited in June 2025.
I can't find any information about the history of Pretty River Valley Provincial Park online. If you know anything, email me at ntremblett19@gmail.com.
It's called "Pretty River Valley", because it's a valley containing the Pretty River. And of course, the Pretty River got its name because it's "pretty" gross.
Because of its status as a non-operating park, Pretty River Valley offers very few facilities. But, there are still a few activities, like:
- hiking along a portion of the Bruce Trail
- snowmobiling on maintained trails
- hunting during permitted seasons
- picnicking atop grand vistas or riverside plateaus
- birding for unique/endangered species
- fishing for river standards - namely bass
There is one main trail, with a few side trails:
The main trail Pretty River Valley offers you is the famed Bruce Trail. It lets you see everything this park wants you to see, including lookouts and valleys and hills and rivers and etc.
A spur of the Bruce Trail heads north towards Side Road 6, making for an easy return to Petun Conservation Area, if that's where you've come from. It is very easily navigable.
Another spur juts off of the main Bruce Trail while it is traversing south downhill, to instead go uphill northwards. It rejoins the main trail again near a farm and the main entrance.
This trail spurs in an easterly direction in a lackadaisical fashion. Although much of this trail is rugged/abandoned, it is very pretty and rejoins the main trail beside two bridges.
Nearby, you can access Petun Side Trail.
Please note that there used to be a trail connecting two portions of the main trail (see below), but it has been closed as an attempt to renaturalize the area. Please avoid.
Go to the end of Second Line, where it intersects 6th Sideroad. Park here.
Note that the photos in this section are not explicitly from this park, they are good photos of species that live here.
Wildflowers
Fat moss on stones
Ferns, including ostrich and sensitive
Fossils? Potentially...
Camp at Craigleith and visit here.
Pack a picnic and picnic atop the lookout, below.
Instead of accessing from 2nd Line, you can hike through Petun Conservation Area, adding about 3km.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy stated that the rerouted Bruce Trail was just for renaturalizing the old trail - they made no mention of the incredible lookouts on said trail. These lookouts are on the Main Trail facing southeast over the countryside. It's on the stretch of trail east of the base of Russ McConnell and south of 6th Sideroad (see map directly below). They are easily accessible and don't require incredibly strenous climbs, especially when accessed from the north. I recommend hiking to the top, and stopping to have a sandwich overlooking Grey County. I bet you won't regret it.
Very well maintained for a non-operating park. And, there is stuff to see. For what it is, it's an 8/10, and I do recommend.
There is no official map.
