Category: Association News

The Board of Directors of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association recently successfully secured two vital grants to promote the Ganaraska Hiking Trail.

First, the County of Simcoe’s “Experience Simcoe” grant awarded the association $10,000 to install trailhead signage at county forests and along other trail sections in Simcoe County. This signage will guide hikers across all 500 kilometers of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail and encourage newcomers to join local hiking clubs. Because this is a matching “50/50” grant covering half of the total costs, the association must raise the remaining half. To help meet this requirement, the GHTA secured a second grant from the Rotary Club of Midland, which will fund pedestal signs specifically across the North Simcoe portion of the trail.

Currently, GHTA board members are finalizing exact locations and obtaining necessary agency approvals to begin installing the trailhead signs and are discussing graphics for the signs.

In addition to infrastructure updates, trail expansion continues on the ground. Recently, the Midland chapter of the GHTA successfully blazed a new loop off of the main Ganaraska Hiking Trail in the Charlebois/Martin’s Valley/Thompson County Forests located in between Midland, Penetanguishene and Tiny. As shown on the provided map, the main Ganaraska Hiking Trail is blazed in white, while the blue side trails form a triangular loop that takes about 1 hour to hike. This new trail section can be accessed directly from the parking lot located on Overhead Bridge Road in Penetanguishene.

About the Ganaraska Trail Hiking Association (GHTA):
The GHTA is a volunteer-led, registered Canadian charity made up of nine member clubs. Together, these clubs maintain the 500-kilometer Ganaraska Hiking Trail, a premier recreational corridor extending from the shores of Lake Ontario at Port Hope to the edge of the Bruce Trail near Collingwood. The registered charity provides vital opportunities for community friendship, nature appreciation, volunteerism, outdoor physical fitness and mental well-being.

The Ganaraska Trail Hiking Association (GHTA) was formed in the late 1960s by like-minded individuals sharing three core objectives:

• Establish and maintain a public hiking trail from Port Hope to the Bruce Trail.
• Develop side and loop trails to access scenic viewpoints and connect with neighboring trail networks.
• Promote the conservation and appreciation of nature.

To meet these objectives, the members work hard; physically, fiscally and strategically and we highly appreciate their efforts.

We have been advised by the local Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters about the spring hunting season in Simcoe County Forest.

Wild Turkey – Open Season – April 25, 2026 to May 31, 2026 inclusive.
Black Bear – Open Season – May 01, 2026 to June 15, 2026 Inclusive.

The Ganaraska Hiking Trail goes through 23 different Simcoe County Forest tracts, and hunting is allowed in 18 of the 23. The tracts where hunting is not allowed are Charlebois, Martin’s Valley, Miller, Museum and Thompson. In all other tracts please be sure to wear bright colour clothing / hats / vests / etc. if hiking during the time periods mentioned above.

Our thanks to the OFAH for this information.

The Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc (GHTA) is pleased to announce that in partnership with Hike Ontario, a 1 day chainsaw course for GHTA members is being offered on May 2 and May 3, 2026, at a Midland GHTA club member’s property near Midland, Ontario. The course is being delivered by Bernie Stockermans of Logging & Sawmill Safety, who last year provided this same course to some GHTA volunteers, when the County of Simcoe Forestry hosted the course in Midhurst. 

The course will consist of an indoor session in the morning to discuss safety, chainsaw maintenance, etc. and the afternoon session will be a field practice and observation session. Course participants will have to bring a chainsaw, as well as proper safety equipment such as chaps, helmet, ear protection, safety glasses. Chaps that tie around the leg are recommended.  Some of our clubs have bought this PPE safety equipment last fall and club members should be able to borrow it. 

The course fee will be $150 + HST. Details about how to register will follow in the next few days. 

Any Ganaraska Hiking Trail member who participates in the course, will be reimbursed 50% of the course fee immediately upon completion of the course, and the other 50% after contributing to at least one work party as a  chainsawer. 

For more information, contact president@ghta.ca or call Frieda Baldwin 705-245-1005. The Hike Ontario announcement for the course can be seen at https://hikeontario.com/chainsaw-course-may-2026/ .

To all Ganaraska Hiking Trail users – our trail inspection and maintenance activity for many sections of the overall trail is still focused on recovery from the ice storm earlier this year. This means hikers may find parts of trail where normal trail maintenance activities such as weed control or trimming or minor debris clearing are not yet done. We ask for your patience for getting the entire trail back to our normal standards, and also ask you to be extra careful on the trail – especially be sure to check for ticks if you find yourself hiking through tall grass.