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.