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: Club News
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.
Oro-Medonte Club Dissolved
Unfortunately, we received an email yesterday from the Oro-Medonte club president that the club leadership decided to dissolve the club. The club no longer has sufficient support to organize a hiking program and/or continue to maintain the 18 km of Ganaraska Hiking Trail that the club looks after.
The good news is that the Line 4/5 trail and the Vasey Rd/Peter St sections are in good shape. Both have been maintained twice, and the growth of the spring has been cut down. The blue blazes of the side trail in Copeland Forest have been refreshed, and a few have been added as well.
While we are looking to find a solution for the ongoing and future maintenance of the trail, current Oro-Medonte club members can choose to move to another club. The Orillia, Barrie, Midland, and Mad River clubs are all close by and have great hiking schedules.
We also would like to thank the outgoing leadership members of the Oro-Medonte club, and all volunteers who in the past have led hikes, helped at trail maintenance work parties, or took on a leadership role, for their commitment to the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. and the local Oro-Medonte GHTA club.
Frieda Baldwin
President, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.
705-245-1005
2026.07.21 – Wilderness Trail Affected By Bridge Work on Chisholm Trail
Chisholm Trail, the road between the community of Sadowa and Black River Road, is closed until December 11 for bridge work. The Chisholm Trail road section is the western end of the Wilderness Club trail. Hikers should avoid this area until we have notification that the work has been completed.
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.
2026.04.30 – 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.
2026.05.22 – Pine Ridge Trail Detour at Hwy #401 Affecting Trail For Longer Time Than First Expected
A NEWS post on August 8, 2025 described a detour on the Pine Ridge trail at Hwy #401 that was expected to last a few months. The detour is where Choate Road crosses under Hw #401 (km 2.7 on Map 1 of the Trail Guide Map series). It appears now that the detour will be in place for a much longer time than originally expected. A reminder of the description of the reroute follows and a map has been included to help explain the reroute.
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).
Midland Club – Trail Sharing Announcement
For many years, the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association has benefited from a property use permit for the Georgian Bay Snowriders (GBSR) trail between just west of Newton Road to Hole in the Wall (Hwy #12). Hikers are hereby notified that the Baxter ATV club now also has a property use permit with the GBSR for the trail between Reeves Road and hwy 400. Hikers should therefore expect and respect the presence of ATV’s on that trail.
We thank the GBSR club for their ongoing support for our Midland hiking club, such as letting us use their parking lot and some of their tools. We can also use their meeting room if needed. Thank you Georgian Bay Snowriders! https://snowriders.ca/
2026 Volunteer of the Year Awards
2025 was a unique year for volunteer activity due to the ice storm. The Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. executive, therefore decided to recognize three people for their contribution to the re-opening of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail in 2025.
While there are many people to thank for our remarkable recovery from the devastation of the storm in March of 2025, we want to extend a special thank you and present our Volunteer of the Year Award to the following:
George Boyd from the Kawartha Club – George spent considerable time providing information to make our maps of the Kawartha section more accurate while also taking a leadership role with the club’s hiking calendar.
Dale Hannah of the Barrie Club – Dale also led the activity to build three new water crossings on the Barrie section between Old Second South and Gill Road.
Bob Wilson of the Orillia Club – Bob made each trail maintenance outing enjoyable, safe and productive and there were many! He even brought snacks and refreshments along each time.
The above three sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail were especially hit hard by the ice storm. Dale, George and Bob’s leadership, their energy and the many long hours they spent on the trail were critical in getting our trails back in great shape.
The contribution of these three individuals shows how a volunteer-based organization such as the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. can remain sustainable and keep on thriving.
Thank You!
Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.
April 2026