The Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. (GHTA) offers several badges recognizing hikers who complete sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail or achieve significant hiking milestones. Badges may be displayed on your backpack, collected on a poster board, or framed after completing multiple trail challenges. Badges can be ordered using the Merchandise Order Form. Prices include shipping.
How to Claim Your Badge
- Complete the challenge requirements. (See below.)
- Keep a record of your hikes where required.
- Complete the Merchandise Order Form.
- Submit your order form and hike log (if required) to the Badge Officer.
Badge purchases are optional and prices include shipping.
Trail and Section Badges
The Ganaraska Hiking Trail consists of 10 sections, each maintained by a local GHTA club. Completing an entire section of the trail is a significant achievement and qualifies hikers for a section badge.
Section Badge Cost: $7
Section Badge Requirements
To qualify for a section badge, hikers must complete the section as it exists on the day of the hike, including:
- trail reroutes
- trail extensions
- trail closures are excluded.
Participants should keep a record of their hikes and submit their hike log and completed Merchandise Order Form to the Badge Officer. Purchase of badges is optional.
Wilderness Section Badge
The Wilderness Section offers two options for earning a badge
Option 1 — Complete the Main Trail (Wilderness Crossover)
This option follows the main White Trail across the Wilderness section and includes the Wilderness Crossover, typically completed over two consecutive days with overnight camping.
Route:
- Moore Falls → Petticoat Junction
(via Scrabble Mountain): 12 km - Petticoat Junction → Victoria Bridge
(via the northeast arm of the Montgomery Creek Loop – Wilderness Crossover): 28 km - Victoria Bridge → Sadowa
(via Black River Road and Chisholm Trail): 17 km
Hikers completing this route qualify for the round Wilderness badge.
Badge Cost: $10
For additional information, see the End-to-End Challenge page.
Option 2 — Equivalent Distance (No Crossover Required)
Hikers may complete an equivalent distance in four separate hikes.
Route:
- Moore Falls → Black Creek Junction → Moore Falls: 11 km
(5.5 km each way) - Sheldon Lake Circuit: 19 km
(Start and finish at Devil’s Lake Trailhead) - Ragged Rapids Loop: 16 km
(Includes Victoria Bridge to the start of the loop) - Victoria Bridge → Sadowa: 17 km
(via Black River Road and Chisholm Trail)
Completion of these four hikes qualifies hikers for the rectangular Wilderness badge.
Badge Cost: $7
End-to-End Challenge
Hikers who complete the entire Ganaraska Hiking Trail (approximately 500 km) qualify for:
- Special End-to-End Badge
- Certificate of Completion
Members: Complimentary
Non-members: $30 (includes a one-year membership)
Participants must keep a record of their hikes and submit their E2E log to the Badge Officer. Badges may be ordered using the Merchandise Order Form or by contacting the Badge Officer.
Additional details are available on the End-to-End Challenge page.
Annual Hike Challenge
50/100/200 and 250 Hikes in One Year Badges
The Annual Hike Challenge, introduced in 2022, encourages hikers to support their physical and mental well-being through time spent outdoors.
Participants may earn badges for completing:
- 50 hikes
- 100 hikes
- 200 hikes
- 250 hikes
All hikes must be completed within a single calendar year.
The 250-hike badge is custom made and typically displays the actual number of hikes completed.
Rules
- Each hike must be at least 1 hour in duration.
- Longer hikes may count as multiple hikes:
- 4+ hours = 2 hikes
- 6+ hours = 3 hikes
- No hike log required, but participants are encouraged to share some hikes (location and photos) in the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Facebook group.
Participation
- Open to everyone.
- Membership is not required, but a $30 annual family membership is encouraged.
Ordering
Badges can be ordered using the Merchandise Order Form.
Gap Badge
In 2024, the Midland Club of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association closed the 18 km gap between the Midland and Tiny sections of the trail. The route follows the Midland Rotary Waterfront Trail along Georgian Bay and continues through several forested areas.
Hikers who complete the 18 km section between the Wye River (Midland) and Overhead Bridge Road (Tiny Township) qualify for the Gap Badge.
Badge Cost: $7
Over-80 Badge
The Over-80 Badge recognizes members of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. who continue hiking after the age of 80. This badge is complimentary.
Requests may be sent to the GHTA President
