About this tour
When Alex from our team tackled the Duncan and Metcalfe Caves loop near Collingwood, we found a refreshingly flexible private hike that actually lets you shape the day. You're guaranteed no crowds—this is just your group, a knowledgeable guide, and the craggy Blue Mountain terrain. Everyone walks through the Metcalfe crevice, explores Duncan Caves, and hits a waterfall break. The clever bit: on the return leg, your guide offers three different route options (ranging from 8.5km to 10.5km), so you can lean toward more lookouts or more cave scrambling depending on mood and energy. It's a solid five-hour outing that rewards moderate fitness and a bit of curiosity.
Highlights
- Private group means your guide tailors pace and route to your crew
- Three return-path options let you pick between views or cave exploration
- Metcalfe crevice walk is genuinely tight—shoulders-width squeezing included
- Waterfall pit stop breaks up the day nicely with a proper breather
- Crampons supplied in spring/autumn when ground is icy or slick
- Digital photo album sent after—guide captures the scrambling moments
- Headlamp included, making shadowy cave sections feel properly adventurous
- Guide bios shared upfront, so you know who's leading
What to expect
The morning starts with a briefing on your route options and what the day's terrain feels like. Alex's hike began with a steep descent into the crevice itself—it's genuinely narrow, and you're using handholds and footholds on the rock face, so scrambling confidence matters. The cave section involves low passages and tight turns; headlamps switch on, and the guide points out formations and quirks of the geology. Once through, the waterfall emerges as a welcome reward halfway through—there's time to sit, drink water, and catch breath.
The return is where the flexibility kicks in. Our guide sketched the three loops: one emphasises sweeping viewpoints over the valley, another loops back through more cave systems and crevices for those keen on underground exploration, and a third splits the difference. Pacing never felt rushed. The ground is rocky and rooty, not groomed—you're moving carefully, and the guide checks in without hovering. By hour five, your quads know they've worked.
What travellers say
- Private groups eliminate crowds and commercialised tour rush
- Route customisation genuinely changes the adventure on the fly
- Caves and crevices feel genuinely wild, not polished
- Guide expertise shapes pacing and learning, not just logistics
- Digital album captures your scrambling—good memento
- Scrambling and tight passages not for nervous cavers
- Moderate-to-decent fitness is genuinely required, not optional
- Weather closures mean flexibility needed; poor cardiovascular health ruled out
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
Private groups mean no queuing or waiting for strangers to shuffle through tight passages. If you love caves and scrambling, this delivers both without the commercial-tour atmosphere. The three-route choice keeps it interesting—two groups could hike the same day and have totally different adventures. Your guide is genuinely invested in matching the walk to your crew's interests and fitness, not just herding bodies through.
This is not a casual stroll. Moderate fitness is a real requirement—expect scrambling, handholds, steep terrain, and uneven footing. The crevice is genuinely tight; claustrophobia could be a genuine issue. Spring and autumn can be muddy or icy; crampons help, but you need decent boot grip. Not recommended for anyone with spinal issues or poor cardiovascular health. Minimum two people (no solo hiking), so costs split between your group. Weather can close terrain, so be prepared to reschedule.
Duration is five hours total. Bring plenty of water, sturdy hiking boots, and a jumper—shaded crevices stay cool. The headlamp and crampons are provided. Group size is kept small by design. Check stepitupadventures.ca for guide bios and availability before booking.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.