Category: Trail Changes

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.

Detour on Pine Ridge Section in Port Hope

Posted on by Campbell Britton

Due to Hwy. 401 construction at Port Hope there is a detour where Choate Rd. crosses under the 401 (km 2.7 of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail (Map 1)).

Hikers travelling north must now proceed straight at the Jocelyn St. /Cavan Rd. intersection (km 2.3) to Victoria St. N. (approximately 1.0 km). Turn right (north) at Victoria St. for 1.5 km to the intersection with Choate Rd. Turn right on Choate Rd. for 0.5 km to the intersection with the unmaintained section of Hawkins Rd.(km 4.3) where you will rejoin the GHT.

Hikers travelling south must turn right (west) at the Hawkins Rd./Choate Rd. intersection (km 4.3) to the Choate Rd. / Cranberry Rd. intersection (0.5 km). Turn left on Cranberry Rd. and travel south to the intersection with Jocelyn Rd. (approximately 1.5 km). Take a left on Jocelyn St. to the intersection where the GHT meets Molson St. (approximately 1.0 km). Turn right (south).

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.

2025.06.27 – 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!

2025.05.29 – Simcoe County Forest Salvage Operations Affecting Ganaraska Hiking Trail

Posted on by John Sloan

The extensive damage to many of the Simcoe County Forest tracts means that the Simcoe County Forestry team is proceeding as quickly as they can with logging operations to salvage downed trees and harvest what they can while they are in the forest. Today we received the following message from SCF.

“Just wanted to send a note regarding the ongoing salvage operations within the County Forest. Our storm impact map has been updated to reflect tracts that are currently, or soon to be, conducting salvage operations.

As a reminder these tracts are not safe in current state even if some trails have been cleared, our forest access roads remain inaccessible for EMS if they were ever needed.

Up to date mapping can be found here: Impacted County Forest Tracts

As usual once an operation starts we will post “No Entry” signs at the entrances and send communications as well as update our public mapping to show “Active Operations”.

The map accessed through the link above shows all forest tracts that are affected. The listed tracts that affect the Ganaraska hiking trail specifically are as follows:
Arbour Tract – Orillia Club trail (Trail Guide Map #21)
Oro Tract – Orillia Club trail (Trail Guide Map #21
Strachan Tract – Orillia Club trail (Trail Guide Map #20)
Rathburn Tract – Orillia Club trail (Trail Guide Map #17)
North Barr – Barrie Club trail (Trail Guide Map #21)

2025.05.29 – Wasaga Beach Club Trail Ice Storm Status Update

Posted on by John Sloan

Wasaga Beach Club leadership has informed that ice storm damage on the Wasaga Beach Club trail was minimal and the trails remain open.

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, especially if there is a strong wind or wind gusts. All trail users must accept personal responsibility for their own safety.

2025.05.29 – Mad River Club Ice Storm Status Update

Posted on by John Sloan

The Mad River Club leadership has declared that clean-up from the ice storm is complete and the trail is considered to be open (Trail Guide Maps #24, #25 & #26). Note that there is 11 km of trail running east from Angus that remains closed for reasons other than the ice storm (rail trail conversion work by the county). Be aware that sections of the Mad River trail go through wet sections.

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, especially if there is a strong wind or wind gusts. All trail users must accept personal responsibility for their own safety.