2026.04.06 – Midland Trail Detour Around Closed Bridge at Wye River

A detour has been created to get around the Wye River bridge closure affecting the Midland trail. In the attached picture the green route is the detour and the red route indicates the section of the normal trail that is affected by the bridge closure. A description of the detour follows.

“At km 13.6 of the Midland section, note that the small pedestrian bridge that leads the trail under highway 12 to Sainte Marie Park is under construction and closed until the end of May. Therefore, as a detour, continue on the paved Tay Shore Trail across the wooden tresle bridge, which leads to the green highway 12 bridge. Stay on the paved trail until it turns right (east). At the next intersection turn left (north) immediately past the creek railings, enter the forest through a small opening from where you will pick up the existing Ganaraska Hiking Trail blazes again.”  

Chain Saw Course – May 2 & 3, 2026

The Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc (GHTA) is pleased to announce that in partnership with Hike Ontario, a 1 day chainsaw course for GHTA members is being offered on May 2 and May 3, 2026, at a Midland GHTA club member’s property near Midland, Ontario. The course is being delivered by Bernie Stockermans of Logging & Sawmill Safety, who last year provided this same course to some GHTA volunteers, when the County of Simcoe Forestry hosted the course in Midhurst. 

The course will consist of an indoor session in the morning to discuss safety, chainsaw maintenance, etc. and the afternoon session will be a field practice and observation session. Course participants will have to bring a chainsaw, as well as proper safety equipment such as chaps, helmet, ear protection, safety glasses. Chaps that tie around the leg are recommended.  Some of our clubs have bought this PPE safety equipment last fall and club members should be able to borrow it. 

The course fee will be $150 + HST. Details about how to register will follow in the next few days. 

Any Ganaraska Hiking Trail member who participates in the course, will be reimbursed 50% of the course fee immediately upon completion of the course, and the other 50% after contributing to at least one work party as a  chainsawer. 

For more information, contact president@ghta.ca or call Frieda Baldwin 705-245-1005. The Hike Ontario announcement for the course can be seen at https://hikeontario.com/chainsaw-course-may-2026/ .

2026.02.17 – Mad River Trail Reroute in Glen Huron Area

The Mad River trail section between Concession Road 6S / Riverside Drive and Concession 8 in the area just south of Glen Huron is being rerouted onto the Nottawasaga 15/16 Sideroad (see attached diagram). When hiking along Concession Road 6S continue until reaching Nottawasaga 15/16 Sideroad, then turn west until reaching Concession Road 8S, then go south until rejoining the trail where it climbs up the cairn at the junction with the Bruce Trail.

This change will be effective February 28. Note also that this change results in moving the junction of the Mad River and Wasaga Beach trails to the intersection of Nottawasaga 15/16 Sideroad and Concession 6 (a short distance north of the current junction).

The reason for this reroute is to comply with the wishes of a private landowner along the affected section that no longer wants the trail on their property.

Options for getting the trail off the roads again will be explored in the future.

2025.12.03 – Simcoe County Interactive Map Updated to Show Current Ganaraska Hiking Trail

For those of you that use the Simcoe County Interactive Map (https://opengis.simcoe.ca/public/ ) we are happy to announce that the map has been updated to reflect the current Ganaraska Hiking Trail, including all side trails. Our thanks to Victor Tolgyessy for working with the Simcoe County GIS team to get this done.

2025.10.10 – Logging Operations in SCF Breedon Tract Affects Orillia Trail (Complete)

Update 2025.11.10 – Notification has been received that logging operations are complete and the trail is available for use. Clean-up and re-blazing work will be sized up and completed as soon as possible.

2025.10.10 Original Post – Logging operations have started in in SCF Breedon Tract which affects the Orillia Ganaraska Hiking Trail between Lines 8N and 9N in Oro-Medonte. Please avoid this area until logging operations are completed.

2025.10.03 – Logging Operations Affect Orillia Trail

Logging operations will be starting soon on private land east of Line 11N in Oro-Medonte that hosts the Orillia trail. This section of trail should be considered ‘off-limits’ until the logging is completed and the landowner notifies us that trail use can resume. If hiking in the area, please obey all signs posted on the trail.

2025.09.10 – GHTA Barrie Club Trail Affected by SCF Logging Operations (Update: Trail open as of 2025.11.02)

2025.11.02 – Update: Logging operations have completed and the trail between the Midhurst Community Centre and Gill Road is now open. Enjoy the trail.

2025.09.10 Original Post – The Ganaraska Hiking Trail in Midhurst (part of the Barrie Club trail) is temporarily unavailable due to logging operations in SCF Midhurst Tract. ‘Do Not Enter’ signs are in place both at the trail access point at the Midhurst Community Centre and at the access from Gill Road. Please avoid this area until the ‘all clear’ is announced (date unknown at this time).

2025.09.03 – Kawartha Trail Still Affected by Ice Storm (2025.11.10 update – trail open for use)

2025.11.10 Update: Trail Closed signs have been removed and the Kawartha trail between Monck Road (KM 63.6) and Buller Road (KM 74.0) is now available for use.  Note however that there is a 1.5 km section still requiring maintenance starting at the bottom of Corben Lake northwards, and that small detours may be required due to fallen trees/damage. This area is mainly open deciduous forest and ‘walk-arounds’ should be possible. This section will not likely be cleaned up until next year.

2025.09.03 Original Post – Note that the section of the GHTA Kawartha Club hiking trail between Monck Road (KM 63.6) and Buller Road (KM 74.0) remains closed due to damage from the March ice storm. All trail users are asked to avoid this section of trail until further notice. Trail maintenance events are planned for September but the schedule for re-opening the trail is unknown at this time. A future NEWS posting will announce when this section of the trail is once again available for use.