Author: John Sloan

2025.08.26 – SCF Logging Operations Affects GHTA Orillia Trail

Posted on by John Sloan

2025.10.03 Update – Logging operations in this area are complete, however trail ‘clean-up’ is still pending.

We have received notification from the Simcoe County Forest Forestry team that logging operations are about to begin in SCF Johnson Tract and will be continuing in the Arbour Tract. These SCF tracts are between Lines 6N and 7N, and north of Bass Lake Sideroad, in Oro-Medonte (see Map #21 for details). A section of the Orillia trail runs through both of these tracts and will be off limits until the logging operations are completed. Please obey all posted signs if you decide to hike in this area.

2025.08.14 – GHTA Barrie Trail Detour in Midhurst

Posted on by John Sloan

A 2024.07.01 post announced a ‘temporary’ closure of the section of the GHTA Barrie Trail between the Doran Road / Belmont Cresent intersection and Highway 27 in Midhurst. The detour that was announced at that time is no longer available due to construction activity. For the foreseeable future, trail users will need to stay on Doran Road until it reaches Hwy. 27 and then walk along Hwy. 27 back to where they can rejoin the trail. The attached map (a marked up screen shot from Ondago) explains the new detour. Please take care walking along the Hwy. 27 shoulder – this is a busy road with high speed traffic.

2025.08.07 – Barrie Trail Affected by SCF Logging Operations in Tustin Tract

Posted on by John Sloan

On 2025.08.05 Simcoe County Forestry advised that logging operations were about to begin in SCF Tustin Tract. This tract is between Line 5N and Sugarbush Estates in Oro-Medonte and the GHTA Barrie trail runs through it. The entire tract will be closed until the logging operation is complete. Please avoid this tract and obey all signage if you choose to hike in the area.

The following is extracted from the 2025.08.05 SCF notice for reference.

“We have just been notified that operations will be starting up tomorrow in the Tustin Tract (Oro-Medonte). The operator will be establishing his landing off the Line 5 road allowance.

I do not currently have the exact stands he will be completing the salvage operations in, but as the pine is throughout several stands in Tustin, the entire Tract will be closed for these operations. 

Signs will be installed tomorrow morning.”

2025.08.07 – Barrie Trail Affected Through SCF Miller Tract

Posted on by John Sloan

On 2025.08.06 we received a notice from Simcoe County Forestry that they are conducting road work in SCF Miller Tract and there will be heavy machinery there for “the next week or so”. The GHTA Barrie trail enters the Miller Tract going south from Pinegrove Road. Please avoid using this area until the work is complete and the heavy machinery removed.

2025.07.07 – Message About Trail Conditions

Posted on by John Sloan

To all Ganaraska Hiking Trail users – our trail inspection and maintenance activity for many sections of the overall trail is still focused on recovery from the ice storm earlier this year. This means hikers may find parts of trail where normal trail maintenance activities such as weed control or trimming or minor debris clearing are not yet done. We ask for your patience for getting the entire trail back to our normal standards, and also ask you to be extra careful on the trail – especially be sure to check for ticks if you find yourself hiking through tall grass. 

2025.06.27 – GHTA Kawartha Club Trail Status Update

Posted on by John Sloan

Due to the hard work of many volunteers, and multiple trail inspection and maintenance events, the GHTA Kawartha Club trail is now open from Crosswinds Road (KM 0.0 on Trail Guide map #5) through to Monck Road (KM 63.6 on Trail Guide map #12).

The remaining section from Monck Road to Moore’s Falls (KM 79.3 on Trail Guide map #12) will be worked on next. Approximately 5 km of the remaining trail section is on roads. However, the other 10 km is more difficult to access and navigate bush trails with many swamps, beaver dams, etc.

2025.06.14 – GHTA Tiny Side Trail to Mole Mountain Open

Posted on by John Sloan

Confirmation has been received that the side trail in Tiny Marsh to Mole Mountain is open and ready for hikers to use. To add to the good news, there are currently great displays of blue flag iris and yellow water lilies (with white lilies coming in the near future). With this news the entire GHTA Tiny trail is open end-to-end. Enjoy!

2025.06.08 – Ice Storm Damage Update for GHTA Midland / Tiny Club Trails

Posted on by John Sloan

After a lot of hard work by a lot of volunteers, the Midland Club trail is open except for the 4.1 km stretch between Vasey Road and Hogg Valley Road (Trail Guide Map #32) and the Tiny trail is open except for the side trail in Tiny Marsh that goes to Mole Mountain (Trail Guide Map #29 & #30). Further updates will be posted as these trail sections are inspected and cleared.

A caution reminder – All trail users should remember that even though the trails themselves are clear there may still be risks in forested areas due to overhead broken branches or leaning or weakened trees due to the ice storm. Hike with caution and watch for overhead and nearby hazards. All trail users must accept personal responsibility for their own safety.

2025.06.05 – GHTA Barrie Club Trail in Springwater Provincial Park Now Open

Posted on by John Sloan

On 2024.12.07 the Barrie Club trail through Springwater Provincial Park was closed due to “Significant Conifer Plantation Management” activity in the park. This work in the park has been completed, and they have cleared the trails after the recent ice storm, so this section of the Barrie Club trail is now open. Enjoy!

2025.06.04 – Ice Storm Damage Update for GHTA Orillia Club Trail

Posted on by John Sloan

The GHTA Orillia Club trail had significant and extensive damage from the recent ice storm. Even with the hard work of many volunteers since the ice storm there is still a lot to do before the entire trail can be considered open and ready to use The trail is closed between Line 8N and 12N in Oro-Medonte with more trail clearing to be done and hazardous conditions to be addressed. SCF Strachan and Oro tracts are closed for logging salvage operations affecting the trail west of Line 8N. The state of the trail east of Orillia in SCF Rathburn tract is unknown and may not be inspected until next winter due to wet conditions in this trail section. Please avoid using the GHTA Orillia Club trail until the trails are cleared and announced as ready to use (reference Trail Guide maps #16 to #21).