Ontario National Park extends campground closure as safety threat looms

Bruce Peninsula National Park has officially extended the closure of its Cyprus Lake Campground after ongoing black bear activity continues to threaten public safety.

"The reopening of Cyprus Lake Campground at Bruce Peninsula National Park has been extended to Dec. 15," Fatima-Zohra Hamidi, a Public Relations and Communications Officer at Parks Canada, tells blogTO.

She confirmed that while day-use experiences at the Visitor Centre and in the Cyprus Lake area, like the Grotto, remain open to the public, overnight camping is still off-limits.

News of the bear sightings first plagued the popular camping destination in August, prompting closures at Cyprus Lake Campground over the Labour Day long weekend as activity heightened. That closure was subsequently extended to Nov. 1, and now the campground will remain shut to overnight campers until mid-December.

"The extension of the closure will help reduce the potential for human-bear interactions and support the safety of visitors and wildlife," Hamidi says. "Parks Canada is taking a precautionary approach by allowing additional time for black bears in the region to enter their winter dens before welcoming visitors back to the campground." 

The decision to prolong the closure follows careful consideration of public safety and seasonal bear behaviour.

"When determining an appropriate reopening date, Parks Canada considered black bear hibernation trends in the region," Hamidi explains, confirming that "by mid-December, black bears would typically have entered their dens for the winter, significantly reducing the likelihood of bear activity in and around the campground." 

The black bear frequenting the campground was reportedly drawn to the area by human-left attractants. The animal had access to food and garbage on site, which likely contributed to its return and increased human-bear interactions over the summer.

Cyprus Lake Campground at Bruce Peninsula National Park is scheduled to reopen for winter camping on Dec. 15, with the season running until April 30, 2027.