OTF Grant for Huronia Trails & Greenways

Thanks to a two year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Huronia Trails & Greenways plans to increase recreational opportunities for people of every age & ability, across all of Simcoe County. Taking the Huronia Trails and Greenways Map Book to an interactive online trail planning capability will increase accessibility, and appeal to a new generation of trail users. Thank you, Ontario Trillium Foundation for the support of our vision!'

2012 Map Book

Thanks to the support of Tourism Simcoe County, our 2012 map book will be out at tourism and municipal offices, bike shops, on library shelves, in April 2012.

Check out the NEW loop trails:

• Sturgeon River Forest Loop Trail
• Thompson Forest Loop Trail
• Nottawasaga Bluffs Loop Trail
• Ardagh Bluffs Loop Trails
• And the new Clearview Train Trail map

Or look under Loop Trails or Linear Trails on this website for individual maps.  Links to all our trails can be found on our Trails page..

Tay Shore Trail Closure – advance notice

Please be advised that the Tay Shore Trail will be closed between Old Fort Road and Triple Bay Road from August 7th 2012 to November 2012.

This closure is due to the MTO replacing the bridge located on Highway 12 near the OSPCA.

At this time the Municipality has been unable to find a safe alternate route for users of the trail.

TRANS CANADA TRAIL: Waubaushene to Coldwater

The Township of Severn has started trail construction on the abandoned railway line between Waubaushene and Coldwater. Funding permitted, the trail should be ready by the fall of 2012, and will provide trail users a continuous Trans Canada Trail route around Simcoe County.

Trails training

The Ontario Trails Council, in partnership with Algonquin College and Parks & Recreation Ontario is offering trail specific training modules, both on-line as in class.

Courses include Introduction to Trail Building & Design, Trail User Management, Trail Legislation, Trail Business Planning, Emergency First Aid, Volunteer  Management, Ecosystem and Natural Heritage and more! See www.ontariotrails.on.ca/courses

OFTR Message for Off-road Motorbikes

Designated Off Road Motorcycle (ORM) Trails in Simcoe County Forests are now open. Volunteers have been working to clear trails however some may still be obstructed by deadfall or the remnants of logging operations so as always proceed carefully. County Forest trails are shared use so expect and respect other trail users and remember that to ride an ORM on Designated Simcoe County Forest Trails you must be an OFTR member, and your bike must be plated, insured, and QUIET (max. 94db)

For more information visit www.scorra.ca or flag down one of our orange vested trail stewards out on the trails.

LYME DISEASE

Lyme disease is an infection caused by the corkscrew-shaped bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. In Ontario, these bacteria are spread by the bite of blacklegged ticks (formerly called deer ticks), Ixodes scapularis. The blacklegged tick can be found sporadically throughout the province.

Trail users may want to read up on what to do with a tick if they find one, how to remove it and what to do if they suspect they may have lyme disease. The Lyme Disease fact sheet of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care website is very informational. www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/disease/lyme.aspx

Or check the health unit’s information at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.

VEHICLE RECYCLING HELP TRAILS GROW!!

Do you have an old car, motorcycle, RV, truck, snowmobile?

Consider donating it to Huronia Trails and Greenways’ vehicle recycling program, which helps build trails in the municipality where the vehicle is picked up. Free pick up and a tax receipt are available. For more information check  http://simcoecountytrails.net/about/recycling_program.htm

Happy Trails!!

Trailhead Ontario conference

The Ontario Trails Council is hosting its annual conference and training on June 17-19, 2012 in Ingersoll, ON. For more information, go to www.trailheadontario.com.

COPELAND FOREST

The Couchiching Conservancy is studying appropriate uses for the Copeland Forest in Oro Township. Trail user meetings continue to take place and Huronia Trails and Greenways is represented as the “voice of many trail users” at these meetings.