Category: Trail Changes

Temporary Closure of Charlebois Parking Lot near Midland

Posted on by Campbell Britton

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

Posted on by John Sloan

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

Posted on by John Sloan

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

Posted on by John Sloan

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

Posted on by John Sloan

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.”  

Hiker’s Code & Trail Etiquette – A Reminder

Posted on by Campbell Britton

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

2026.02.17 – Mad River Trail Reroute in Glen Huron Area

Posted on by John Sloan

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.

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

Posted on by John Sloan

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.