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!
Category: Barrie Club
Blog Posts for Barrie Club News & Events
Ice Storm Restoration Update
As per our announcement of April 3, 2025, following the ice storm of March 29/30, the entire 500 km long Ganaraska Hiking Trail was officially closed. Meanwhile, our club volunteers have been busy assessing and restoring their sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail and as a result of their hard work, we hope to be able to “open” up some sections very soon. Stay tuned for further announcements, hopefully by this coming weekend.
Our volunteers have already cleared a lot of the fallen debris, put caution tape around some dangerous hazards and/or created a small reroute, all this in an effort to make the trail “passable”. Trail Closed signs are being installed on those sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, which are still considered impassable, or where we have not been able to even start or complete any restoration. In the most affected areas, such as many of the Simcoe County Forests in Oro Medonte, salvage efforts are scheduled by the landowner. These logging operations may last well into the summer, but will open up the forest access roads, and make it easier for our volunteers to access the trail for restoration efforts.
As we cannot enforce physical closure of trail access, we ask that persons traversing the trail be guided by the following principles:
- As is always the case, even under normal circumstances, HIKE AT YOUR OWN RISK. It remains the individual’s own responsibility to decide what their own risk tolerance is.
- There are still a lot of overhead hazards such as tree branches hanging above the trail, or leaning trees near the trail, which we plan to deal with in due time. Several of our volunteers have taken chainsaw training to help tackle the situation.
- Consider the wind. Higher wind speeds and gusts can dislodge the overhead hazards or topple leaning trees.
- Leave a hike plan with someone (i.e. where you plan to hike, when expected back, etc.)
- Hike with a buddy
Enjoy the hiking season, but stay safe out there!
Frieda Baldwin
President, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.
2025.05.15 – SCF Logging Operations Affects the Barrie trail in North Barr Tract
2025.05.29 Update – Notification has been received that logging operations in North Barr have been completed but it may be a few days before the No Entry signs are removed to allow complete removal of the harvested logs and to give the County some time to clear up the trails. Please continue to comply with the direction on all posted signage.
We have received notification from Simcoe County Forestry that logging operations will start immediately in SCF North Barr Tract. The Barrie Ganaraska trail runs along the north edge of this tract along Horseshoe Valley Road and remains available, but there are many hiking trails inside the tract that will be unavailable while logging operations are active. Please comply with all signage about area closure and logging operations. An update will be provided when notice is received that logging operations are complete.
Safe Hiker Course April 26 at Tiffin Centre for Conservation
On Saturday April 26, 2025 Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association will be offering a Safe Hiker course for members and non-members. The course is built on the Hike Ontario Safe Hiker course, but will include other topics such as information about safe hiking after the ice storm, protecting from ticks, carpool etiquette, planning for a hike, navigation tools, What3Words, what if you get lost/injured, weather, etc.
Following the course, there will be a 1 to 1.5 hour hike on the beautiful Tiffin CA property. Both the course and parking are free on April 26.
Address: Tiffin Centre, 8195 8th Line of Essa, Utopia, Ontario on Saturday April 26 at 12:30.
Park in the large parking lot by the green Administration building and proceed past that building via the covered boardwalk to the Learning Centre.
To sign up for the free course, enter your name and email on the following link. Your email will only be visible to the instructors and will be used in case of a change or cancellation.
Safe Hiker Course Registration
Additional Logging Map -Barrie Section
Logging in the Barrie Section
Current logging operations are affecting the Ganaraska Hiking Trail going east from Gill Road on the Barrie section. As always, kindly refrain from trespassing, as the area has been posted with No Entry signs.
2024.12.07 – Temporary closure of section of Barrie Trail through Springwater Provincial Park
2025.06.05 Update – Trail has been re-opened.
The following has recently been posted on the Springwater Provincial Park website – “Significant Conifer Plantation Management is occurring at Springwater Provincial Park from December 2024 through March 2025. As a result, park roads and trails will be closed to pedestrian access during this time.” This announcement means the Barrie trail between Anne Street and Wilson Drive is closed until work in the park is completed.
2024.09.01 Update – SCF Logging Affecting Barrie Trail Complete / Trail Open For Use
Original Posting Dated 2024.08.04 – SCF Logging Affects Barrie Trail.
Logging in SCF Smith Tract has resulted in the temporary closure of the Barrie Club Bear’s Creek Sidetrail, located just north of Midhurst where Gill Road crosses the railway tracks (KM 24.9 on the Barrie trail). The main Barrie trail is unaffected and remains open. Please obey all posted signs in the area and avoid hiking this side trail until further notice.
2024.07.01 – Temporary Detour on Barrie Club Trail in Midhurst
For those that hike in the Midhurst area please note that access to the Ganaraska hiking trail at the Belmont\Doran Rd. intersection is temporarily closed due to severe washout. A map to an alternate route (Belmont Rd to Finlay Mill Rd. to Willow Creek) along the Hunter Russell Nature trail to meet up with the GHT is posted at the closure site. From the Midhurst Community Centre one can also walk along Finlay Mill Rd. to Willow Creek where the detour begins.
2023.10.26 – Trail Blocked on Heather Dalton Memorial Side Trail Loop (Barrie Section)
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.
