ONTARIO'S HIKING TRAILS These trails, all affiliated with Hike Ontario, are developed and managed by local volunteer trail clubs. Trails often cross over private land and the exact landowner agreement depends on local conditions. Therefore commercial groups and large outside groups wishing to use the trails are asked to contact the local clubs, to minimize possible problems and impacts. Individual hikers are welcome to use these trails, but you should purchase the local guidebook to confirm the latest route. You may consider joining the trail clubs to give them your support. In all cases the trail may have been changed without notice: in case of divergence the blazes marking the trail take priority over the guidebook description. Trails that have a web site can be accessed from this page or our home page Membership and guidebook costs are correct as of September 2000. However, you should be aware that these may change. Shipping charges are extra unless stated otherwise. AVON TRAIL The Avon Trail runs close to Stratford with a side loop up the Avon River to the
Festival Theatre. 13 km of trail are within Wildwood Conservation Area; the rest follows
pleasant creek valleys through woods and agricultural land, including the farms of the
Mennonites near Waterloo. It links the Thames Valley Trail at St. Marys with the Grand
Valley Trail at Conestogo. The difficulty of the trail ranges from easy to moderate; no
camping is allowed on the trail. Length: 100 km. Avon Trail, BRUCE TRAIL The Bruce Trail, Ontario's oldest and best-known trail, follows the Niagara
Escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory. Geologically fascinating, the Escarpment also
provides endless scenic variety: lookouts, caves, meadows, forests and, for the history
buff, ruins of abandoned dams, kilns, and mill houses. About 100 km of the trail, mainly
in the Bruce Peninsula, offers a challenge to even experienced hikers, but there are
easy and moderate sections as well. There is camping only in designated campsites.
Length: 780 km. Bruce Trail Association, ELGIN HIKING TRAIL The Elgin Hiking Trail runs south to north from Port Stanley to St. Thomas, then in a north-westerly direction to Paynes Mills and from there north to the Elgin-Middlesex Line where it connects to the Thames Valley Trail. Many sections of the trail are rugged as the trail passes through the Kettle Creek Valley. Bicycles and motorized vehicles are not permitted. Camping is not permitted on the trail but is available at nearby Dalewood Conservation Area.Membership: $15, family $20, senior $10. Guidebook $10 to members, $13 to non-members. Elgin Hiking Trail Club c/o Kettle Creek Conservation Authority 44015 Ferguson Line, St. Thomas, ON N5P 3T3 Telephone: (519) 633-3064 Website: www.elginhikingtrail.org ELORA CATARACT TRAILWAY Owned by the Credit Valley and Grand River Conservation Authorities, the Elora
Cataract Trailway is a multi-use trailway. It is managed by the Conservation
Authorities and the Elora Cataract Trailway Association. The Trailway links two
watersheds (the Grand and the Credit), urban and rural communities, woodlot, meadow
valley and ridge, as well as three major park systems found in the Elora Gorge,
Belwood Lake and the Forks of the Credit at Cataract. Length : 47 km. Elora Cataract Trailway Association, GANARASKA TRAIL The Ganaraska Trail follows the Ganaraska River, crosses the Great Pine Ridge, and
traverses the drumlin fields west of Peterborough. It passes through the Kawartha Lakes
and skirts the Minesing Swamp where waterfowl, mink, muskrat, and beaver can be
observed. The trail also swings past historic Midland where Jesuit Missionaries settled
with the local Huron people in the early 1600s. The trail then connects with the Bruce
Trail near Collingwood. The wilderness section of the trail is very difficult: hikers
should consult with trail association members to learn current conditions. Otherwise the
trail is moderately difficult. No camping is allowed on the trail, but adjacent to it
are several provincial parks and commercial campgrounds. Length: 500 km. Ganaraska Trail Association, GRAND VALLEY TRAIL The Grand Valley Trail follows the Grand River north from Dunnville through the
Mennonite farms near Kitchener to the spectacular Elora Gorge. The easy-to-moderately-
difficult trail runs north to join the Bruce Trail near Alton and south to Lake Erie,
where it connects back to the Bruce Trail by a series of historic canal footpaths.
No camping is allowed on the trail, but the Grand River Conservation Authority operates
conservation areas which are close by. Length: 250 km. Grand Valley Trails Association, GUELPH HIKING TRAIL The Guelph Radial Trail runs northeast from Guelph along an abandoned electric
railway route to meet the Bruce Trail at Limehouse. The Speed River Trail follows the
river southwest to Cambridge: this trail becomes very wet after heavy rain. Many glacial
features, including eskers, drumlins, and moraines, add interest to these pleasant and
easy trails. There are three loop trails near Guelph for interesting afternoon outings.
Camping is not available along the trail, but the Rockwood Conservation Authority is
nearby on highway #7. Length: 65 km. Guelph Hiking Trail Club, HUMBER VALLEY HERITAGE TRAIL The hiking trail follows the Humber River, from Bolton to Palgrave, connecting to
the Caledon Trailway. Along the way you will traverse an interesting array of old
fields, meadows, lowland cedar groves and mature upland maple forests. Length : 15 km. Humber Valley Heritage Trail Association, MAITLAND TRAIL The Maitland Trail follows the Maitland River in Huron County from Goderich through the hamlet of Benmiller to the village of Auburn. Special features of the trail include a two-hundred year old Carolinian red oak tree; the Menesetung Bridge, an abandoned C.P.R. bridge which concerned local citizens saved from demolition and which connects Goderich with the Tiger Dunlop Trail; and passages through unique limestone formations and hardwood and pine forests. Length: 44.5 km. Guide to the Maitland Trail, 2000 edition, available for $8.00 postpaid from MTA or by calling 1-888-320-2323. Maitland Trail Association,Box 443, Goderich, Ontario N7A 4C7 Website: www.huron.org/hctg/mta/html OAK RIDGES TRAIL The Oak Ridges Moraine lies just north of Toronto, consisting of a series of
forest-covered hills containing the headwaters of over thirty rivers which
drain into either Lake Ontario or Lake Simcoe. The moraine is the product of
the last Ice Age when retreating glaciers left behind mounds of sand, silt
and gravel. This club is mapping and blazing a continuous trail along the
moraine, from the Niagara Escarpment in the Town of Caledon to
Northumberland Forest in the east. This east-west trail links with the Bruce
Trail via the Caledon Trailway, and to the Ganaraska Trail. Length: 200 km
now open. Oak Ridges Trail Association, RIDEAU TRAIL The Rideau Trail, Ontario's most easterly trail system, is named after the Rideau
River and Canal. It extends from Lake Ontario at Kingston to Richmond Landing on the
Ottawa River, passing through an area of early settlement, mining and lumbering, now
more often returned to its original wild forests amidst the granite rocks and numerous
lakes. The trail in some places is quite challenging. There is camping at some
primitive sites, at canal locks and in provincial parks and conservation areas.
Length: 300 km main trail with 85 km of loop trails. Rideau Trail Association, THAMES VALLEY TRAIL The Thames Valley Trail begins at the Elgin-Middlesex county line (Southdel Road),
about 1.4 km east of Southwold, where it joins the Elgin Hiking Trail. From there it
goes north to Delaware where it meets the Thames River, then mainly follows the river
through London to "The Forks", where it continues along the north branch of the river to
St Marys, there meeting the Avon Trail. An easy to moderately difficult trail, it
displays the contrast between neat farmlands and steep riverbanks, between historic
villages and the modern skyline of London. Though no camping is allowed on the trail,
the Fanshawe Conservation Authority has campsites at Wildwood and Fanshawe Parks;
Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority has camping at Sharon Creek Conservation
Area; Scouts Canada: Windemere Road; and River View Campground (private); all camping
areas require reservations and a fee. Length: 109 km and 26 km of side trails. THAMES VALLEY TRAIL ASSOCIATION INC., VOYAGEUR TRAIL The Voyageur Trail lies in one of the most scenic areas of the world, with access to
the forests north of Georgian Bay and the clear water of Lake Superior. This exciting
trail draws hikers from around the world to experience the untamed wilderness of
northern Ontario. The trail passes through Lake Superior Provincial Park and Pukaskwa
National Park, and sections are still under construction. The ruggedness and remoteness
of the terrain make it advisable to contact the Trail Association for the most
up-to-date information. Most sections of trail have wilderness campsites on lakes at
suitable intervals for the backpacker. Length: 550 km completed, 600+ km planned. Voyageur Trail Association, WATERFRONT TRAIL The Waterfront Trail runs from Stoney Creek to Trenton, 325 km along Lake Ontario. The trail is built and maintained by municipalities and conservation authorities, with the Waterfront Regeneration Trust providing overall coordination and promotion. Running in part through Ontario's most developed urban areas the trail nonetheless offers a surprising diversity of shoreline experiences - urban, rural and natural - that walkers, hikers and cyclists can enjoy along its length. Mapbook: $9.95 + tax from selected bookstores and office supply stores; published by MapArt. Waterfront Regeneration Trust, |