The Orillia Club hiking trail was recently changed in Simcoe County Forest Breedon Tract to take advantage of the newly expanded parking lot on Line 9N in Oro-Medonte. The change also moves our trail away from a large patch of poison ivy that affected the previous route. The access point into SCF Breedon Tract from Line 9N is now a bit further north than before (at the newly expanded parking lot). Ondago has been updated and the update to our Trail Guide Map and Description will be completed in the near future. Enjoy the trails and stay safe!
Category: Trail Changes
2026.10.06 – Barrie Trail Affected by Construction Project at Simcoe County Museum
2026.10.16 Update – Trail closed signs at the Simcoe County Museum have been removed and the trail is open for use. Enjoy!
The following was posted on the Simcoe County website on September 21. Barrie Club members have confirmed that this affects access to the Barrie trail between Simcoe County Museum and Springwater Provincial Park. Please avoid hiking in this area until we have received notification that the work is completed.
Simcoe County Website Posting:
Please be advised that beginning September 21 the Warbler Way Interpretive Trail, located adjacent to the Simcoe County Museum in Midhurst, will be temporarily closed to allow for concrete pouring as part of an accessibility improvement project. The closure is necessary to support the installation of seven accessible benches along the 2.6-kilometre multi-use trail.
The bench installation is being funded through a $57,935 grant received under the Province of Ontario’s 2025-26 Enhancing Access to Spaces for Everyone (EASE) program. The funding, approved by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, will support the launch of the County of Simcoe’s bench seating program, an initiative identified through the County’s Positive Aging Strategy to improve accessibility and encourage outdoor recreation for residents of all ages and abilities.
Trail users are asked to respect all posted signage and barriers during the closure period. The trail will reopen as soon as construction activities have been safely completed.
We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as these improvements are made to enhance accessibility and enjoyment of the trail for all visitors.
2026.09.15 – Barrie Trail Affected by Logging Operations in SCF Orrock Creek South Tract
We have received notice that logging operations are starting immediately in Simcoe County Forest ‘Orrock Creek South’ tract. Due to the extent of this operation, including landing and hauling locations, SCF will be closing the full Tract for the duration of this cut. Orrock Creek N., Orrock Creek N.E. and Williams will remain open and signs will be positioned to ensure trail users are aware that they can still use these tracts. This affected tract is in between Old Second South and Gill Road on the Barrie trail, closest to Gill Road.
Please avoid hiking in Orrock Creek South tract until the logging operation is completed and this posting is updated to announce the trails are once again available. If hiking near the area please obey all posted signs.
Temporary Closure of Charlebois Parking Lot near Midland
The County of Simcoe – Forestry has advised that an operator started today (Aug 28) along the property line of the Charlebois Tract on Overhead Bridge Road.
Breen’s Lumber will be collecting the wood cut by Hydro and piling it in the Charlebois parking lot temporarily. As such, the parking lot will be closed, as well as any trail entrances along the cut area.
Trails do not have to be closed, we just ask that all visitors use other access points and the large parking lot on Wilson Road for access until the operations have been completed. This clean up should not take long, and Breen’s Lumber has provided that they should be done early next week. “No Entry” signs have been placed at both ends of the parking lot, as well as the trail access points between the parking lot and Kingfisher Crescent. The stands in the area have been changed to “active” on our mapping, but do cover a greater area then were the operations will actually be taking place.
2026.06.20 – Mad River Trail Affected by Logging Operations in SCF Brentwood Tract
2026.08.13 Update – Logging operations are complete and the trail is once again available. Trail clean-up is just starting however so hike with caution.
Please note that on Tuesday, June 23 harvest operations will begin in SCF Brentwood Tract. Signs will be posted on Tuesday morning. The eastern half of Brentwood will be closed for the duration of the operation, approximately 2-4 weeks. The wood will be coming out 6000 Sunnidale-Tosorontio Townline.
The Ganaraska Mad River trail goes through the Brentwood Tract and will be affected by this logging operation. Please avoid this area while logging is active and obey all signage in the area.
An update will be provided when we are told the logging operation is complete.
2026.06.10 – Barrie Trail Affected by No Trespassing Signs
A new landowner has posted No Trespassing on the Barrie trail about 1.5 km north of where the Barrie and Mad River trails meet at County Road 90. The Barrie Club leadership is trying to contact the landowner to clarify if this means all use is prohibited or would hiking be allowed and ATV traffic prohibited (there has been a lot in this area). Until the landowners intentions are fully understood we advise avoiding the area and hiking on some other stretch of our 500 km trail.
The attached Ondago screen shot shows the approximate location of the No Trespassing signs.
2026.04.30 – Barrie Collingwood Railway (BCRY) Active Transportation Trail Opened
The Mad River leadership team is pleased to announce that the official opening of the Simcoe’s Barrie-Collingwood Railway (BCRY) Active Transportation Trail between Stayner and Angus took place on April 30th, 2026. There is no longer any restriction on using this multi-use trail that forms part of the Mad River trail section. Hikers are encouraged to exercise caution at intersecting roads and obey all posted trail signage. Please stay alert for cyclists coming from behind you; be courteous and leave enough room for them to pass.
From the Simcoe County website announcement – “The full extension, spanning approximately 23 kilometres along the former Barrie Collingwood Railway corridor, has been transformed into a multi-use active transportation trail connecting the communities of Collingwood, Stayner, New Lowell and Angus, while passing through several other small villages and towns along the way. With this expansion, the Rail Trail now extends nearly 34 kilometres from Collingwood to Angus. The trail provides residents and visitors with a safe, accessible route for walking, cycling and other non-motorized uses, while preserving a historic transportation corridor.”
Completing this section of the Mad River trail is now necessary for end-to-end badge recognition (it had previously been excluded due to the trail conditions).
Please check out this newly transformed section of the Mad River trail in the near future.
2026.04.06 – Midland Trail Detour Around Closed Bridge at Wye River
2026.05.21 Update – Work is completed. Trail and bridge now open for use.
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.”
2026.04.04 – Bridge Construction Affects Midland Trail
The pedestrian bridge over the Wye River in Midland is closed for construction until end of May (W3W = contracting.sprees.segment / coordinates = 44.73554, -79.84553). A reroute will be posted in the next few days.
Hiker’s Code & Trail Etiquette – A Reminder
The Ganaraska Hiking Trail exists thanks to the generosity of landowners. We therefore consider access to private land a privilege, not a right, and trail users are expected to adhere to the Hiker’s Code. This includes not trespassing onto private property (other than on the blazed trail) and keeping dogs on a leash. The recent loss of a private property trail section on the Mad River trail near Glen Huron is an example of the consequences of abusing the privilege on having permission to hike on private property.
A reminder about the Hiker’s Code:
- Respect private property
- Stay on the trail
- Cross fences using stiles
- Carry out all garbage
- Walk around the edge of fields
- Protect wildlife, trees and shrubs
- Never strip bark from trees
- Keep dogs on a leash near farms and where required by law
- Dogs are not allowed on group hikes
Please familiarize yourself with the widely used blazing system used by many long distance hiking trails in North America, so you don’t stray off the Ganaraska Hiking Trail. About the Trail
Thanks
Frieda Baldwin
President, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.
Email: president@ghta.ca