The Osler Castle Loop – Visiting the Spooky Abandoned Ruins of a Mountain Chalet

Located deep in the heart of the Blue Mountains, you will find a ruined stone cottage once belonging to a Canadian Crown Counselor from Toronto. His name was Britton Bath Osler. A man of wealth and taste, a summer cottage for him famously consisted of a 15 room castle! Although but a shadow of its former lavish self, this ruin haunts the landscape drawing hikers to its proximity.

*** Note: Also included in this hike is a private lake ***

Table of Contents

• Where to Park? (& Where to Start the Hike)
• The Bruce Trail
• The Cascade
• The Lake
• The Castle
• Return via the Castle Estate

Where to Park? (& Where to Start the Hike)

Driving in from nearby Collingwood, one will pass by the old Osler Bluff Ski Club. Do note that the ski club and the castle owner share the same name. From here you will take Roadway 19 to Line 2, where you can park on Line 2 or in front of the Bruce trailhead off the road. You will be starting your journey on this trail! Please see the map for more information.

Alternatively you can walk in via the Ski Doo trail. Bring snowshoes in winter as the snow piles up here!

The Bruce Trail

From the intersection of 2nd Line and Roadway 19, you will find the Bruce trail leading down into a gorge.

On your right, you will find a trail and sign for the Castle Glen development. It leads to the sewage lagoon and development. Stay away from this part for now as you will be looping through here later, on your return.

The Cascade

At the bottom of the gorge you will cross over the bridge, with a small stream running under it.

You will then come across a second bridge, over a much more imposing section of stream. This was part of the original Osler purchase, who relished the spring found on their land.

This crystalline spring has a rather impressive flow, especially in spring. After crossing the bridge you will want to bifurcate from the Bruce Trail following the stream.

In the distance, you will see the blue mountain peaks extending around you.

On the opposite ledge of the stream you will see the cottages of the Castle Glen estates.

Finally near the top of the cascade you will be privy to a stunning, yet tiny, waterfall.

You may find plenty of wildlife as well as interesting vegetation during this walk, including many mushrooms!

The Lake

Once you have made your way up the cascade, you will find a beautiful mountain lake, with crystal clear waters and a nearby picnic table.

After a brief look around I could tell that the lake level is controlled by an overflow weir. The lake is obviously fed from mountain melts or some sort of stream.

This weir leads to a culvert that is the source of the cascade seen earlier!

Enjoy you time by the lake before proceeding to the nearby castle.

The Castle

Located just north of the lake is the reason you came to the blue mountains, Osler Castle. From the lake follow a large, clear cut snowmobile trail up a gentle slope to find the ruins. Completed in 1884, the cottage was the gift of a loving husband to his frail and dying wife. You see, Caroline Osler was suffering from a debilitating arthritis. Mr. Osler wanting to help his wife thought that the purchase of acres of mountain top land would be the perfect place to help ease her sickness. His thinking was in line with the medical advice of the era, that the fresh mountain air would do her a service. The home was named Kionontio, a First Nation’s name signifying “Top of the Hill”. Unfortunately poor Mrs Osler did not get to enjoy her new home, dying soon after its completion. Mrs Osler himself was not long for this world, also passing in 1901.

The remains you see today, show the ravages of time. The sumptuous stone exterior along with a chimney and stone archway are all that remain of the home. Once this was a richly decorated place, with fine furnishings ordered directly from England. Yet after it was abandoned, those finishing were stolen, then the place was ransacked and vandalized. Over the years it became a place of ill repute and legend, with locals inventing stories of the ruins being haunted by wicked spirits… enjoy!

When you are done at the castle head back down to the lake.

Return via the Castle Estate

From the lake it is easy to head back to you car. Instead of heading back down the cascade pathway, continue down the snowmobile trail that is located near the lake weir mentioned earlier. The trail leads back to roadway 19, but instead take the turnoff into the Castle Glen estates, for a view of the Georgian bay in the distance.

Follow the road around to the Castle Glen estates for a path leading back to the Bruce trail. This is the same private property path mentioned previously. It is located near the sewage lagoon and offers a great view of the north, where you will find the Petun Conservation Area and the Osler Ski Bluff. From the Bruce trail you will find your way back to your car from the way you came in.