Category: News

2023.10.26 – Trail Blocked on Heather Dalton Memorial Side Trail Loop (Barrie Section)

Posted on by John Sloan

Earlier this summer high winds in the Midhurst area brought down a lot of trees in Simcoe County Forest Midhurst Tract. Of those that affected the Barrie Ganaraska hiking trail through this area, almost all have been cleared or removed from the trail. There remains, however, a spot on the Heather Dalton side trail that is completely blocked. It is possible, but not particularly easy, to go around the blockage through the forest. This situation will not be resolved in the foreseeable future so this notice is to make trail users aware of the situation.

2023.10.12 – Work Begins to Develop Rail Trail Between Stayner and Angus (Mad River Club Trail)

Posted on by John Sloan

A recent local news report announced that work has begun to remove railway ties and rails on the abandoned railway line between Stayner and Angus as a first step in the conversion of this corridor to a recreational rail trail. The work to remove the ties and rails is expected to be complete mid-December this year, but the total conversion project will last until late 2025.

Starting immediately, sections of the Mad River Club trail that follow the rail line will be inaccessible where work crews are active. Signs will be posted preventing access to work zones and in some situations there will be a ‘watch person’ to prevent access.

As the work will be intermittent and section-by-section this stretch of the Ganaraska trail will not be closed but all hikers are advised to follow the instructions of all posted signs and avoid areas where work crews are active. Also, hiking this section of the Mad River Club trail is not required to earn a Ganaraska End-to-End badge for the foreseeable future.

2023.10.07 – Logging Operation in Simcoe County Forest in Orrock Creek North Tract

Posted on by John Sloan

Logging operations have started in Simcoe County Forest in the Orrock Creek North Tract. This is between Old Second South and Gill Road. Our trail runs through this tract, but does not run through the area being logged – so hiking can continue. However, anyone hiking in the area on trails other than the Ganaraska trail needs to watch for, and comply with, all warning signs that are posted about the logging operation.

WARNING – WILD PARSNIP on MAD RIVER TRAIL

Posted on by John Sloan

Wild Parsnip has been noted along the Mad River Hiking trail section in the Glencairn Conservation Area  (this area is found at KM 25.3 on both the Ondago mobile app and Map 25 of the downloadable Trail Guide). Take caution when hiking through this area.

Wild parsnip is a member of the carrot/parsley family, and like giant hogweed, produces sap containing chemicals that can irritate human skin.

Further information on this plant can be found on the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) webpage.

Wild Parsnip Fact Sheet. www.nvca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Wild%20Parsnip%20Factsheet.pdf

Another step forward in closing the gap!

Posted on by Heather Briant

Big surprise this morning on our Wednesday morning hike, when Midland Ganaraska Hiking Club president Larry Piitz had the notion that we should hike in the Thompson Forest leading to the Tiny Trail (also called Bridges Trail and part of the Trans Canada Trail). Good thing we did as we discovered the beautiful set of stairs built by Tiny Township at our request and leading from the top of the cliff down to the Tiny Trail. 39 steps!!! 

This will become part of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, as we close the gap between the Midland and Tiny sections of the trail…. hopefully before year end. Just some minor loose ends still to get approved. 

This will add another 16 km approximately to the Midland section of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail.  

Couchiching Conservacy

Posted on by Heather Briant

The Couchiching Conservancy is offering a number of self-guided events that can be downloaded at any time throughout the year – mostly related to hiking, birding, and nature. They are free to download, you just need to register at the links on the conservancy website. 

– Conservancy Trails 101: Download this digital download from The Couchiching Conservancy to get all the details on some of the trails that the Conservancy manages (in Orillia, Severn, Carden, and more!). https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/523888042237.

– Experience Carden Road Trip: Discover a globally rare landscape, just outside of Orillia, home to over 250 species.https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/615215916367.

– Experience the Wildlands Road Trip: Did you see that? Was it a Great Blue Heron? Or maybe it was a Belted Kingfisher!? You never know what you will discover in the Black River Wildlands, just outside of Orillia. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/615212927427

– Birding by Ear: A big part of being able to identify birds is your ability to ID by song! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/523870158747.

First Badge Awarded – 50 Hikes in One Year

Posted on by Heather Briant

Kudos to Diane Reid McConkey for being the first recipient of the new “50 Hikes in 1 Year” badge. Diane is a new hiker, who joined the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. in December 2022, and set herself a goal of doing 50 hikes in 2023… but she already surpassed this goal, and is well on her way to reaching 100 hikes in 1 calendar year. Today, she mentioned that her newfound love for snowshoeing sped up her attempt to reach 50… and 100 hikes in 2023. Well done, Diane! Kudos also to all the other hikers who have already done 50 or 100 hikes this year.