History


   History

   Recent Accomplishments

 


ABOUT US

HISTORY

Hike Ontario, founded in 1974, is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of all hikers and walkers in the Province of Ontario . The membership of Hike Ontario consists of 24 long distance trail associations and hiking clubs with memberships totalling over 13,000 people across Ontario . Hike Ontario also welcomes individual memberships.

Hike Ontario does not make or maintain trails, nor does it offer organized hiking/walking events, except through its member associations. Hike Ontario is the umbrella organization that provides these province wide associations with resources and services to build on these long established local and regional initiatives in a way which compliments and enhances them.

 

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • The publication of two books on hiking trails within Southern Ontario with over 14,000 copies sold. The Hike Ontario Guide to Walks Around Toronto and the Hike Ontario Guide to Walks in Carolinian Canada ( Boston Mills)
  • The development of a provincially recognized Hike Leader Training Program

  • The development of a comprehensive Young Hikers Program

  • The provision of volunteer labour in the construction and maintenance of over 3,000 km of private/public trail systems

  • The introduction of a Long Distance Hikers Award Program

  • The coordination of a liability insurance program for most of the hiking trails in Ontario

  • Acting as a liaison with provincial government in the areas of health, recreation, tourism and natural resources while providing policy, advocacy and issue research

  • Hike Ontario also represents Ontario 's hiking community on the Ontario Trails Council, Hike Canada En Marche , the Trans-Canada Trail and the Ontario Trails Strategy.