News

The Mad River trail section is now available on Ondago! With the release of this section the entire Ganaraska trail system is available on Ondago. Give it a try (it is free!). Download Ondago and then find the Ganaraska trails in the Hiking section or do a search for Ganaraska. It not only let’s you know where you are on the trail but also provides lots of information about points of interest along the trail.

The Mad River trail now has a new route heading east of Concession 8 in Glen Huron. The new reroute takes the trail from the middle of the cultivated field to the edge. The provides benefits for hikers (easier to find and navigate the trail) and the landowner (less risk of damage to crops). The reroute is described in the attached picture. The new route is blazed and ready for use.

The link between our membership form and PayPal has not been working recently. However, we believe the problem is solved. If anyone experiences difficulty with the link, please contact our Membership officer, Christine Cornu at Membership@ganaraska-hiking-trail.org.

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Club Links
https://www.facebook.com/Ganaraska-Hiking-Trail-Association-Orillia-Club-2011856195778486

https://www.facebook.com/Ganaraska-Hiking-Trail-Wasaga-Beach-103981801339846

https://www.facebook.com/Ganaraska-Trail-Hiking-Association-Midland-Ontario-114604180259680

https://www.facebook.com/GHTAwilderness/

https://www.facebook.com/pineridgehikingclub

https://www.facebook.com/mrht18

https://www.facebook.com/groups/GanaraskaHikingTrailAssociationBarrieClub

• 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

All property owners for the Barrie trail running south of Baldwick Lane to County Road 90 are now saying their property is once again open for use. Enjoy! (If only we could social distance from black flies and mosquitos).