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.
As per our announcement of April 3, 2025, following the ice storm of March 29/30, the entire 500 km long Ganaraska Hiking Trail was officially closed. Meanwhile, our club volunteers have been busy assessing and restoring their sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail and as a result of their hard work, we hope to be able to “open” up some sections very soon. Stay tuned for further announcements, hopefully by this coming weekend.
Our volunteers have already cleared a lot of the fallen debris, put caution tape around some dangerous hazards and/or created a small reroute, all this in an effort to make the trail “passable”. Trail Closed signs are being installed on those sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, which are still considered impassable, or where we have not been able to even start or complete any restoration. In the most affected areas, such as many of the Simcoe County Forests in Oro Medonte, salvage efforts are scheduled by the landowner. These logging operations may last well into the summer, but will open up the forest access roads, and make it easier for our volunteers to access the trail for restoration efforts.
As we cannot enforce physical closure of trail access, we ask that persons traversing the trail be guided by the following principles:
As is always the case, even under normal circumstances, HIKE AT YOUR OWN RISK. It remains the individual’s own responsibility to decide what their own risk tolerance is.
There are still a lot of overhead hazards such as tree branches hanging above the trail, or leaning trees near the trail, which we plan to deal with in due time. Several of our volunteers have taken chainsaw training to help tackle the situation.
Consider the wind. Higher wind speeds and gusts can dislodge the overhead hazards or topple leaning trees.
Leave a hike plan with someone (i.e. where you plan to hike, when expected back, etc.)
Hike with a buddy
Enjoy the hiking season, but stay safe out there!
Frieda Baldwin
President, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.
We are highly appreciative of the contributions Simone Latham has made to the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. as our Treasurer since 2018, a valued member of our GHTA Executive, as a Certified Hike Leader for the Midland club, and as a great friend.
Simone joined the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. in 2011, and in 2012 soon after encouraged a team of 4 GHTA members to walk the 100 km Oxfam event in 48 hours. It was a very hot weekend, but we all made it in 42 hours, and only lost several toe nails in the process. However, she really enjoyed hiking and became a great hike leader.
As a member of the GHTA Executive, her skills and past experience with other not for profit and charitable boards, as well as with procedures and policies, helped us streamline & automate our GHTA processing for payments, bookkeeping, expense reimbursements, etransfers and many other administrative changes. We also thank her for the amount of time she gave us to find a suitable replacement, and get our processes documented and streamlined to pass on to our new Treasurer.
Simone Latham receiving 2025 Volunteer of the Year
We wish her all the best in her retirement as treasurer from the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc, and will miss her as a great team player and friend.
On Saturday April 26, 2025 Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association will be offering a Safe Hiker course for members and non-members. The course is built on the Hike Ontario Safe Hiker course, but will include other topics such as information about safe hiking after the ice storm, protecting from ticks, carpool etiquette, planning for a hike, navigation tools, What3Words, what if you get lost/injured, weather, etc.
Following the course, there will be a 1 to 1.5 hour hike on the beautiful Tiffin CA property. Both the course and parking are free on April 26.
Address: Tiffin Centre, 8195 8th Line of Essa, Utopia, Ontario on Saturday April 26 at 12:30. Park in the large parking lot by the green Administration building and proceed past that building via the covered boardwalk to the Learning Centre.
To sign up for the free course, enter your name and email on the following link. Your email will only be visible to the instructors and will be used in case of a change or cancellation. Safe Hiker Course Registration
Because of the bad sight lines coming out of this parking lot, where the Tiny and Midland sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail meet, the County of Simcoe has closed the parking lot on the east side of Overheadbridge Road opposite Kingfischer Road. A large new parking lot has been built just 500 m further south, but it is not plowed (as yet). We are currently investigating a new route for the very last 200 m of the Midland section, and perhaps a blue side trail to the new parking lot. Meanwhile, park on Kingfischer Road and cross Overheadbridge Road if you want to hike east towards Midland.
Although it was a hot and humid day on July 13, eighteen hikers registered for the make up date for the 18 km GAP hike, i.e. the new trail that connects the Midland and Tiny sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail. The trail follows the beautiful valley of the Tiny Trail for a bit, then goes through the Thompson Forest, and down the Mid Pen Link to come out on the Midland Rotary Waterfront Trail (with some short road sections in between). Although we had one drop out due to the humidity, the other 17 hikers seemed to really enjoy the walk and were presented with a GAP badge.
Following the historic “closing of the gap” event on May 11, 2024, between the Midland and Tiny sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, we now have a continuous loop of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail in Simcoe County.
The 18 km Gap trail, includes 2 kms along the beautiful Tiny Rail Trail and passes by a wetland, several creek crossings, etc. The trail then ascends to the Thompson Forest. In Penetanguishene there is about 2 km sidewalk/road walking, before the trail descends to the Midland waterfront via the forested Mid Pen Link trail. The final 6 km is along the shore of Georgian Bay and the Wye River. You can do the 18 km at your own pace, and even in sections. Updated maps are posted here.
I Hiked the Gap Badge
As a consequence, anyone wishing to obtain the Midland and Tiny end-to-end section badges, now have to complete the new distances: 28.2 km for the Midland badge and 30 km for the Tiny badge.
As well, the beautiful “I Hiked the Gap” badge is now available for sale ($7) to anyone who hikes the 18 km Gap trail. To obtain the badge, we do not need a log, but ask that you post a selfie or photo taken on your hike on the Gap trail, and post it in the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Group on Facebook, and order the badge using the Merchandise Order Form.
On Saturday May 11, 2024, a historic hiking event occurred along the Ganaraska Hiking Trail which has been over ten years in the making. It took that long to close the gap that existed between the Midland and Tiny sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail.
The day began at Sainte Marie Among the Hurons, where an official ceremony took place, which was attended by municipal officials from Tay Township, Tiny Township and the Town of Midland, who along with Midland’s past club president Larry Piitz, recognized the benefits associated with creating new trails and hiking in general. They also applauded the amazing contributions of countless volunteers who made both the trail and the event possible. Following the land acknowledgement read by Midland council member and club member Jaz Patel, a very touching blessing was delivered by Father O’Brien, a Jesuit priest from the Martyrs’ Shrine. Following this, Frieda Baldwin, president of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association, did the honours of cutting the ribbon, thereby signifying the realization of a continuous trail between the Midland and Tiny sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail.
Now that the 18 km “gap” in the route has been closed, the Midland section of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail now measures 28.2 km. An additional 3.3 kms were added to the Tiny section, making it 30 km long before it meets the Wasaga Beach section.
Starting at the 12th Concession in Tiny Township, the new trail winds its way along the Tiny Railtrail to the Thompson Forest. The trail then goes through the Bellisle subdivision in the Town of Penetanguishene and along the Midland waterfront, ending at the Wye River near Sainte Marie Among the Hurons. This represents a varied terrain including a beautiful section of the Tiny Railtrail, a mainly deciduous forest, a residential area, a waterfront trail along Georgian Bay and finally, a path along the Wye River on property owned by Parks Canada. Special thanks are given to Tiny Township for their creation of a set of stairs and a bridge which have made the trail more accessible.
On the day of the “I Closed the Gap” hike, 45 hikers undertook the 18 km hike challenge. They were bused to the start of the hike at Tiny Conc. 12 and walked back to their cars. Many volunteers were stationed along the route, ensuring the safety of hikers at critical junctures, along with providing a delightful rest station at Pete Petterson Park. Participants were treated to the music of guitar and steel pan as well as a myriad of healthy snacks and energy yielding treats, a water filling station and a first aid station. At the end of the journey, hikers were rewarded with a free commemorative badge signifying completion of the hike.
In conclusion, thank you to all who were instrumental in helping achieve the dream of a connected trail. And thanks to Mother Nature who presented us all with such a perfect day for hiking after being so very uncooperative on the originally scheduled date!
Happy hiking!
At the Annual General Meeting held on April 27, the Volunteer of the Year and Trail Maintenance Awards were announced and presented by Frieda Baldwin, President.
Volunteer of the Year – Christine Cornu
This year we recognize Christine Cornu for her contribution to the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.
Christine has been the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. membership secretary since May 2020 when GHTA was in a pinch when our previous Membership Director Lois Kowal unexpectedly passed away.
As the membership director, Christine has shown great attention to detail which is so important in this volunteer role. She is always helpful and approachable in assisting members with their registration questions and follows up on double payments and other scenarios that members present her with. We appreciate the consistency in her work – always on top of the membership process.
Christine was recently encouraged to adopt the GHTA’s migration to the Microsoft platform. As a Mac user, we recognize that it can be challenging to convert to working in the Microsoft world. However, Christine demonstrated an eagerness to learn the new platform in a very patient fashion.
Christine was also a wonderful President of the Oro Medonte club from 2016 to 2023. She was well organized, decisive in her decisions and creative. The executive would meet twice a year to come together socially and Christine always came up with an event that was fun and entertaining. Christine is also a dedicated Hike Ontario certified Hike Leader.
Her friendliness and quiet humour went a long way to welcome members on club hikes. Her enthusiasm for nature and hiking was catching and she would throw herself into tasks like Trail Maintenance or finding new trails. During the pandemic she showed her leadership by creating bi-weekly hikes which were popular with all.
Christine, your contributions and commitment to the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. are very much appreciated.
Trail Maintenance Club Award – MIDLAND
After many years of planning, negotiating with landowners, mapping the route and the hard work of blazing a new trail, it is a pleasure to be able to say congratulations to the Midland Club for closing the gap between the Midland and Tiny trail sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail.
The 18 KM of new trail provides an interesting and pleasant hike along the Tiny Trail, through the Thompson tract of Simcoe County Forests and through Penetanguishene as well as along Midland’s beautiful waterfront, overlooking Georgian Bay.
Closing this gap also creates a Ganaraska Hiking Trail loop in Simcoe County consisting of the Mad River, Wasaga Beach, Tiny, Midland and Oro-Medonte sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, as well as part of the Barrie section. This significant achievement and addition to the Ganaraska Hiking Trail system makes the Midland Club our choice for the 2023 Trail Maintenance Award – well done!”.
On May 11, 2024 (new date) lace up those hiking boots and join us for the historic “I Closed the Gap” Hike along the beautiful Ganaraska Hiking Trail through Midland, Penetanguishene and Tiny. This project has been over 10 years in the making. Get ready to explore the beautiful Georgian Bay shoreline and various forest trails, breathe in the fresh air, and challenge yourself on this scenic trail. For more details and to register click here.
