Month: June 2020

• There are unfortunately no public camp sites along the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, other than in the Wilderness section. 
• Here are some more details about that: “While there are camping sites within Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park (which encompasses most of the Wilderness Section of the Ganaraska Trail), please be advised that QEIIWPP is a “non-operating” park, which means park users have free access but there is no reservation system and demand far exceeds supply, especially during the summer and weekends. Through hikers will need to spend a night at Loon Lake in the centre of the park, but at least that location should be okay for capacity. Anyone requiring further information should contact the Ontario Parks office at Balsam Lake.”
• Also note that the provincial parks along the Ganaraska Hiking Trail are day-use only, and the campground at New Lowell Conservation Area is for seasonal campers only, and is actually closed for walk through hiking during Covid-19 restrictions. Hikers will have to detour to Hoggback Road.

Frieda Baldwin
705-245-1005

I think our members may want to take a run with Chantal Demers along the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, in what is called the Fastest Known Time (FKT). She did the east west route of 387 kms in 5 days, 10 hours and 30 minutes, and was fully self-supported.

Ganaraska Self-Supported FKT


Chantal also did the Oro-Medonte and Midland sections (back and forth) on a different very windy day.

Oro-Midland Ganaraska Side Trail FKT (out & back)

What an unbelievable achievement!
Frieda Baldwin President, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.

On June 11 we announced that the Oro-Medonte trail has been moved off of Line 5N in Oro-Medonte between Peter Street and Vasey Road.

As of June 18 our Ondago mobile map app has been updated to reflect the ‘new and improved’ off road trail between these two points. If you have previously downloaded the Oro-Medonte trail you will see an update notice when you next open this trail in the app – simply click on the update icon and in a few seconds you be ready to go!

2019 turned out to be a very wet spring, and caused the northern part of the Oro Medonte section of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail to be closed due to flooding, and the trail was moved to roadside walking between Peter Street and Vasey Road on Line 5N. This past spring has been a lot drier and has allowed us to re-open the off-road section between Peter Street and Vasey Road, and trail maintenance has been done so that that section is now open again. 
Please note that currently that our Ondago mapping app still shows the detour along Oro-Medonte Line 5, but the app is currently being updated, and should show the corrected route shortly.

• 

Due to COVID-19, the Mad River Ganaraska Hiking Trail section through the New Lowell Conservation Area/campground is closed until further notice, at the request of the campground manager. Hikers will have to make their way south on Hogback Road and reconnect with the trail at the county forest.

Hi all, this is a temporary situation, and we will be allowed back on the campground as soon as social distancing and Covid 19 regulations are eased.
Frieda Baldwin
705-245-1005