More Happy Holidays, Trail Education And Membership Updates!

 

Ontario Trails is a charity, led by a volunteer board of directors that promotes the use, management, development, and preservation of trails and trail-based activities in Ontario.   We wish to remind you of the importance of our winter recreation activity sponsors as we head into winter!!     Upcoming Trails Education  JANUARY 5, 2022 - About the G2G Trail JANUARY 11-18, 2022 - A bundled session about trails risk management. FEBRUARY 22, 23, 2022. - A Virtual National Roundtable on Trail Risk Management   Trail Surveys The OTC is interested in what you think! We have written many types of surveys and are pleased to provide links to them on this page. From such important topics as Trail Trade Specialist to Member Services we want you to help us help you! Click the title below to be redirected to the survey of your choice. Recreational Trail Committees - tell us about your community advisory committee. Trail Maintenance - how do you maintain your trails? Help Us Help You - website improvement Upload Your Trail - add your trail to the website Upload Your Event - add your trail event to the website Trail Reform Now - legislative and insurance reform support Trail Trades Specialist- tell us what you'd like to see in a trail trades course Member Services - are you happy as an OTC member with the services you get? Strategic Planning 1: - tell us what you'd like the OTC to do Strategic Planning 2: Financial Sustainability - as a charity we can always use new ideas to sustain ourselves Strategic Planning 3: - Effectiveness - how effective are we? Customer Satisfaction - as a member of the public what do you think of the OTC? Economic Impact of Recreational Trail (ON) - for the Eco Dev/Tourism, Trail Planning office Insurance Issues - tell us about your ability to get coverage Trails of 1812 - is your community celebrating our bi-centennial On-Road Cycling Lane Petition - Norm Miller MPP - download the form here - (no web link available) Trail Priorities - what do you want OTC to do for Trails? Save the Prescott Russell Rail Trail - encourage the communities to save this trail! Voyageur Trail User Survey - if you've used this trail they'd like your feedback Trail Access for Horses - are you able to ride your horse where you want? Do you use trail Counters? - tell us how you count your trail traffic?   Ontario Trails - staying open in difficult times - if your membership is due we could use your renewal! We thank members for renewing or supporting the OTC through membership.  Township of Limerick Frontenac Arch Biosphere Town of Minto Over past months we have -  provided content to the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries, put time and effort into trail categorization for trail use, and the 'Trailability Tool' supported our partner Marmak and the RFAM tool, supported a University of Waterloo Outdoor Recreation Impacts, supported and distributed the Black Sheep Mountain Bike Club Rider Survey, updated a variety of COVID related pages on the OTC website, engaged members and the trail using public on etiquette, provided consulting advice to Avon Trail, Renfrew County, the OFSC, and others, been strong with groups on public safety, facilitated work on Hastings Destination Trails Inc., updated our about page, supported the St. Lawrence Parks Commission Recreational Trail Committee development hosted a series of webinars with our partners, and supported students with the University of Waterloo and the City of Waterloo to do trail work For all the latest on trails and trail news follow: Ontario Trails Ontario ATV Trails Ontario Hiking Trails Ontario Climbing Trails Ontario Cycling Trails Ontario Dirt Bike Trails Ontario Horse Trails Ontario Water Trails Toronto Trails Trailhead North Trails of 1812 Niagara Trails Committee Hamilton Burlington Trails Canadian Trails Federation To find your trail listing go to Ontario Trails To help trail users find trails on their mobile share Ontario Trails Map Standing by the public safety order is very difficult to do when you and your members are in the business of promoting the outdoors. Certainly being firm on Stay Home doesn't win you popularity contests with many users. And users affect our memberships. If people don't like your message membership suffers. This is what we are trying to do, the right thing overall, and we need you to look past the current messages to having OTC around in 6 months and then a year from now. We will be sending an email asking for your renewal. Based on our projections memberships should facilitate a 0 deficit, continuation of office supports and the type of education and advocacy that has seen the development of Ontario Trail Categorization, website maintenance, our response to COVID, our online training through Algonquin College, as well as our future plans for training, economic and tourism development committee, AND most importantly our Health Unit and Trails messaging process. OTC is interested in assuring that there is balance in trail use as we work to re-open full public access, with safe user practice, to the trails and trail activities you love. Support us today. Join ON-line Please renew. By electronic transfer, PayPal - select your membership rate and Go! or a call with your credit card. 613-484-1140 Thanks!

Ontario Trails - OFSC Permits On-Sale And More From Ontario Trails

 

Ontario Trails is a charity, led by a volunteer board of directors that promotes the use, management, development, and preservation of trails and trail-based activities in Ontario.   From the Ontario Trails Community  Ontario Trails supports all efforts at truth and reconciliation with our first nations peoples.     OFSC Snowmobile Permits are now for sale! Go Out and Enjoy the fall colours! Trail rules to know before bringing your dog on a hike Thanks to the Weather Network for producing this video!   Ontario Trails at Eagles Nest Trail Opening Grand reopening ceremony held at Eagles Nest September 29, 2021 By Mike Riley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Bancroft this Week The intermittent chance of rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of everyone who attended the grand reopening ceremony of 18 kilometres of non motorized trails at Eagles Nest on Sept 24 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Present at the ceremony were HDTI chair Dora Trimbee, HDTI board member Cathy Trimble, Hastings County Warden Rick Phillips, OTC CEO Patrick Connor, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health medical officer of health Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Limerick Township Mayor Carl Stefanski, Bancroft Councillor Wayne Wiggins, North Hastings Economic Development Designate Chair (and Mayor of Tudor and Cashel Township) Libby Clarke, Wollaston’s Deputy Mayor Darlene Coulton, the chair of the North Hastings Fund Development Committee Kim Bishop and representatives from the Algonquins of Ontario Ada Tinney, Diane Martin and Dora Yateman. After a closing prayer by Tinney, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony and an invitation to explore the rehabilitated trails. HDTI sent out a press release about this grand reopening of 18 kilometres of non-motorized trails throughout North Hastings on Sept. 7. The event celebrates the completion of a project made possible by a $145,800 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, so that residents and non-residents of all abilities can enjoy the outdoors via these trails. Trimbee welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming out to the ceremony that day. She then introduced Trimble, a board member with HDTI and the past chair. Trimble thanked everyone for coming, saying that COVID-19 stopped them last year but it was great to be here now. She also expressed gratitude for all stakeholders who had made the reopening of the 18 kilometres of non-motorized trails a reality in the Town of Bancroft, Limerick Township and Wollaston Township. She also mentioned the concurrent children’s program with the North Hastings Public Library running in Millenium Park. She also provided a land acknowledgment and thanked the contributions of the Algonquin nation in the whole process. Next up, Tinney, Martin and Yateman had a smudging ceremony, which is a cleansing ceremony done daily to get rid of any negative energies. They also played a song about the eagle, since the ceremony was happening at Eagles Nest. They explained that they honour the eagle because it can take prayers and messages up to the Creator because it can fly the highest of all the birds and above the clouds. Oglaza said that the HPEPH was proud to have been a partner in the development of these trails. “The investment in these trails came at an optimal time. Over the past year and a half, we’ve been taught the lesson about the value of outdoor spaces and the activities we can enjoy in them. These trails will contribute to the improved physical and mental health of our community now [continuing to deal with COVID-19] and well into the future,” he says. Connor spoke next, and said that over the past two decades, the OTC has supported about $4.5 million of the Ontario Trillium Foundation funding grants and they’ve worked on a couple of infrastructure grants with Infrastructure Canada through the National Trails Coalition. “At the bedrock of all this, we’ve worked hard to ensure that provincially and nationally, local groups like yours get the resources they need and it’s our pleasure to have developed 51 of these committees to our 220 member organizations, including HDTI and Hastings County and we’re grateful for your support,” he says. Trimble spoke again, outlining each trail system and the upgrades they had received including; new kiosks, new stones and bedrock placement, new signage, wayfinding and directional arrows, bear bins, accessible washrooms and upgrades to the trails themselves to make them more maintenance free. “Everything was upgraded with major improvements through the grant at this particular location. With the counters we’ll be able to have some statistics and we can apply to other grants and funders because we’ll have some actual statistics. So, these are some of the major improvements that were taking place at the different locations, so we hope you enjoy them,” she says. Wiggins, who attended for Mayor Paul Jenkins, who was otherwise engaged, was up next. He mentioned the town’s partnership with NHPL, who are going to be doing a backpack system for people to come and enjoy the trails and the nature around Bancroft. “It’s quite a little package put together. I know the backpack includes a lot of stuff like binoculars, etc,” he says. Stefanski spoke next and said that McGeachie Conservation Area boasts a myriad of outdoors activities for people to do and a trail system second to none. He also highlighted the rescue team at their municipal office that could respond in short order should an incident occur on the trails. “HDTI and Ontario Trillium Foundation have stepped up to make exercise on these trails viable and a truly outdoor experience for those who may not have another way to enjoy the outdoors and with that bring economic growth to North Hastings,” he says. Next up was Wollaston’s Deputy Mayor Darlene Colton, who remarked it had been quite a hike on the new trails. “So, it’s best to make sure you have a good pair of shoes/boots especially with all this rain the past week and don’t forget a camera. Wollaston invites all visitors to visit The Gut and all destination trails that bring economic development to the area,” she says. Clarke was next up and said that NHEDC was one of the first who thought of the idea of bringing non-motorized trails to fruition in the area. “Cathy Trimble and other board members formed the original trails subcommittee who procured the Trillium grant. Eventually this subcommittee became known as Hastings Trails and received the $145,800 in grant money from the Trillium foundation to rehabilitate the trails with extra funds from Hastings County and Carlow Mayo. NHEDC is thrilled to have been part of making these non-motorized trails a reality,” she says. READ FULL ARTICLE     Ottawa eyes rail corridor purchase     Ontario Announces Tourism Recovery Grant Program   Bear Hunting Season   Trail Surveys The OTC is interested in what you think! We have written many types of surveys and are pleased to provide links to them on this page. From such important topics as Trail Trade Specialist to Member Services we want you to help us help you! Click the title below to be redirected to the survey of your choice. Help Us Help You - website improvement Upload Your Trail - add your trail to the website Upload Your Event - add your trail event to the website Trail Reform Now - legislative and insurance reform support Trail Trades Specialist- tell us what you'd like to see in a trail trades course Member Services - are you happy as an OTC member with the services you get? Strategic Planning 1: - tell us what you'd like the OTC to do Strategic Planning 2: Financial Sustainability - as a charity we can always use new ideas to sustain ourselves Strategic Planning 3: - Effectiveness - how effective are we? Customer Satisfaction - as a member of the public what do you think of the OTC? Economic Impact of Recreational Trail (ON) - for the Eco Dev/Tourism, Trail Planning office Insurance Issues - tell us about your ability to get coverage Trails of 1812 - is your community celebrating our bi-centennial On-Road Cycling Lane Petition - Norm Miller MPP - download the form here - (no web link available) Trail Priorities - what do you want OTC to do for Trails? Save the Prescott Russell Rail Trail - encourage the communities to save this trail! Voyageur Trail User Survey - if you've used this trail they'd like your feedback   Hi - we are asking that folks complete a short survey on Trail Counters. Thanks. COMPLETE SURVEY Hi - we are asking that folks complete a short survey on trail access for horses. Thanks. COMPLETE SURVEY          Does anyone know of similar benches with a Canadian Distributor? Do you know of any park benches that are suitable for elders? Higher seats with armrests? Place for a walker? If you do please email execdir@ontariotrails.ca Ontario Trails - staying open in difficult times - if your membership is due we could use your renewal! New upcoming projects include: Web Path Mapping Project with RTO3 and City of Hamilton - confirmed and underway St. Lawrence Park Commission Trail Committee Development - September 21, 24, 29 and 30. Insurance Survey Results - November 3, 2021 Risk Management Committee - September 14, 2021 11am - 1pm Trails Education Committee Meeting - TBD Hastings Destination Trails Inc. - September 13, 2021 11am Hasting Destination Trails Inc. Trails Re-opening September 24, 2021, Bancroft Ontario. Trails Tourism Committee - September 16, 2021 1:30 pm OTC Board Meeting - September 16, 2021 7pm National Roundtable on Trail Risk Management - November 25, 2021 We thank members for renewing or supporting the OTC through membership.  Credit Valley Conservation Authority McMaster University Over past months we have -  provided content to the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries, supported a survey on Lyme Disease for Queen's University, put time and effort into trail categorization for trail use, supported our partner Marmak and the RFAM tool, supported a University of Waterloo Outdoor Recreation Impacts, supported and distributed the Black Sheep Mountain Bike Club Rider Survey, updated a variety of COVID related pages on the OTC website, engaged members and the trail using public on etiquette, provided consulting advice to Avon Trail, Renfrew County, the OFSC, and others, been strong with groups on public safety, facilitated work on Hastings Destination Trails Inc., added a signage page, produced a webinar video or two, and, hosted a series of webinars with our partners, and supported students with the University of Waterloo and the City of Waterloo to do trail work For all the latest on trails and trail news follow: Ontario Trails Ontario ATV Trails Ontario Hiking Trails Ontario Climbing Trails Ontario Cycling Trails Ontario Dirt Bike Trails Ontario Horse Trails Ontario Water Trails Toronto Trails Trailhead North Trails of 1812 Niagara Trails Committee Hamilton Burlington Trails Canadian Trails Federation To find your trail listing go to Ontario Trails To help trail users find trails on their mobile share Ontario Trails Map Standing by the public safety order is very difficult to do when you and your members are in the business of promoting the outdoors. Certainly being firm on Stay Home doesn't win you popularity contests with many users. And users affect our memberships. If people don't like your message membership suffers. This is what we are trying to do, the right thing overall, and we need you to look past the current messages to having OTC around in 6 months and then a year from now. We will be sending an email asking for your renewal. Based on our projections memberships should facilitate a 0 deficit, continuation of office supports and the type of education and advocacy that has seen the development of Ontario Trail Categorization, website maintenance, our response to COVID, our online training through Algonquin College, as well as our future plans for training, economic and tourism development committee, AND most importantly our Health Unit and Trails messaging process. OTC is interested in assuring that there is balance in trail use as we work to re-open full public access, with safe user practice, to the trails and trail activities you love. Support us today.  Please renew. By electronic transfer, PayPal - select your membership rate and Go! or a call with your credit card. 613-484-1140 Thanks!

Ontario Trails News - Trailwise - January 12, 2017

• Trail Management • Trailhead Events • Membership Drive    • Donate to Trails Today • Member News • Activity Updates

Ontario Trails Adds More Trails! The Ontario Trails Council is pleased to be continually updating its website with more trails, this week we are adding  Thanks to all the great folks that continue to add trails to our inventory for everybody to access! Colonel Smith Trail - TorontoThis park is located along a stretch of wooded shoreline in the Kipling and Lakeshore area. It is home to a variety of plants, trees, birds and other wildlife, as well as a network of paths and the city's first ice skating trail (in a figure-eight shape). The pleasure ice skating trail is located next to the Power House Recreation Centre (65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Road). The park also features a dog off-leash area. Special Features SCENIC VIEW - Great place to watch a sunrise. WILDLIFE - Designated Toronto Bird Sanctuary and listed as a top spot to see birds in the City's Birds of Toronto Biodiversity Series booklet. Also known as a good spot for fishing. 3145 Lake Shore Blvd W  http://www1.toronto.ca/parks/prd/facilities/complex/466/ Richmond Green Skate Trail Status: Now open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 905-771-5490 for ice conditions. The Richmond Green Skate Trail has a number of features including: Trail through 250 m of natural space Lights for evening skating Heated washroom and change room Parking Open for inline skating from April 1 to November 1 The trail is open for ice skating weather permitting from December to March. It is located at:1300 Elgin Mills Road East Richmond Hill, ON L4S 1M5 Information and photo provided by https://www.richmondhill.ca/en/things-to-do/Outdoor-Skating.aspx Valens Lake Skate Trail Valens Lake Conservation Area's skating trail opens Saturday at 9 a.m. and will remain open until February. The entrance fee is $10 per vehicle or admission is free for skaters with a Hamilton Conservation Authority membership pass. See the full article at CBC - http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/valens-lake-skating-trail-opens-1.3909572 Information from Hamilton Conservation Authority https://conservationhamilton.ca/winter-at-hca-plus-new-skating-loop-at-valens-lake/ Dresden Trillium Trail This 5.8km trail was constructed by the Dresden Horticulture Society as an exercise venue and a connecting link between the towns tourism, recreation, shopping, education and Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Explore Dresden’s early development and historic ties to the Great Lakes Marine History and the Underground Railroad. Click here to download the Chatham-Kent Trail Map, featuring maps of  44 unique trails located across Chatham-Kent. Pick up a paper copy at your nearest library or municipal centre. Pick up a paper copy at your nearest library or municipal centre. Click on the map below to view an interactive map of some of Chatham-Kent's most popular trails. Dow Canada Employee Trail This trail which follows Running Creek was sponsored by DOW Canada in recognition of their employees and retirees. It is a family-friendly trail suitable for everyone. Recently reconstructed by the municipality in 2016 The .72km long granular trail can be easily travelled. Click here to download the Chatham-Kent Trail Map, featuring maps of  44 unique trails located across Chatham-Kent. Pick up a paper copy at your nearest library or municipal centre. http://www.chatham-kent.ca/CommunityParks/Trails/Pages/Trails.aspx Penetanguishene Skate TrailThis is a brand new 2 km SKATE TRAIL through the historic site. Open from January 13th through to March 12th - Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 6pm - 9pm and on Saturday and Sunday through the day from 1pm - 4pm. Lots of activities for everyone. Join us. WEATHER PERMITTING. Admission is $8 per person Children 5 & under FREE. All visitors must sign a waiver to skate on the trail. Helmets are recommended for children under 12 years of age. We recommend helmets for all of our visitors though. http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails/view/penentanguishene-discovery-harbour-skate-trail Algonquin College Trail Education Program - Trail Planning Module Begins ! Trailhead Hastings! Join us at Trailhead Hastings to ask and get answers to questions such as: What’s the capitalization on value of Hastings Trails? Is Hastings generating its portion of the trails economy relative to the rest of the province? Are we keeping pace with other places? Are we ahead or behind?, are we generating our fair share of investment? Where is the trail travel dollar going? – Belleville, Centre Hastings, North Hastings, Bancroft -or out of the county? How are we, and who is, measuring and supporting this economy? Ontario Trails Council leads the way in Ontario and Nationally in making communities work though trails. We’ve led the way in communities learning and understanding the benefit of building complete trail systems. In Ontario there are roughly 108 projects each year, worth $21M of capital investment, improvement and trail revitalization. What amount of this economy happens in Hastings? Wellington County RTC Underway! A collaborative trails initiative in Wellington CountyThe Wellington Trails Committee was first conceived in the summer of 2016 with the ground-swell of demand for trail information. Potential users, both locals and visitors, are increasingly requesting trail maps from local shops and tourism information centres, but a lack of organized trail-related data means it is difficult for these front-line businesses and agencies to service their clients. While surveying local trail organizations to see what data was available, it quickly became evident that there is no central resource for trail information, but there is a strong desire to increase communication, pool resources and work together to further what has become our common trail-related goals and objectives. In its current form, the committee is an ad-hoc group of stakeholders meeting monthly to share resources, help bring key organizations and individuals into the fold, and guide the growth and development of the committee to best serve what we have identified as the group’s Mission, goals and objectives. Mission To serve as a communication, information and resource hub dedicated to promoting, developing and sustaining the region’s recreational trails in order to spur economic growth, conserve our ecological resources, and promote public health. Goals and Objectives Create a cohesive regional trail strategy to develop trails/routes and gather resources for all user groups Form a unified voice for trails in the region capable of advocating for the largest possible population/user/voter base to funding agencies and policy makers Facilitate communication, data/information and resource sharing between regional trail stakeholders Promote responsible and sustainable trail-based outdoor recreation as forms of regional tourism, economic development, and public health initiatives Support active transportation planning, connectivity and development initiatives Aid in new both local and regional trail/route planning and development Bring to the forefront and address common issues from trail groups in the region If you are interested in becoming involved, please visit the following link and let us know a little more about you: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeb-yceO2H_AJcOJ5fPdmAHtzUabiFnlO56NsHcVlEgvTpMEw/viewform MTCS Community Recreation Grant FundingOntario is now accepting applications for the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund (OSRCF) 2017–18. OSRCF is a grant program that supports the government’s vision to enable people in communities across Ontario to lead healthy, active lives. The fund increases opportunities for participation in sport and recreation, supports implementation of physical literacy as a foundation for lifelong physical activity and strengthens the community sport and recreation sector. The deadline to apply for the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund 2017–18 is February 1, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Full details, including who’s eligible and how to apply, are available through Grants Ontario, the providers in your area. Federal Student Experience Grant FundingThe 2017 Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) application period for employers is now open. Apply before January 20, 2017! Canada Summer Jobs is a Government of Canada initiative. It provides funding for not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees to create summer jobs for students between the ages of 15 and 30. The application form as well as the applicant guide is currently available at www.canada.ca/canada-summer-jobs. You can submit your application online, by mail or in person at any Service Canada Centre. For a better understanding of the Canada Summer Jobs program including key tips to apply, please watch this YouTube video: https://youtube/SfMoLhkgjU8 We encourage you to submit your 2017 application online. By doing so, you will benefit from a fast, easy-to-use, and secure way of applying as you will: have access to the Canada Summer Jobs application 24/7, from any location, allowing you to complete it at your convenience; ensure your application is received immediately by Service Canada; receive an instant acknowledgement confirming that your application has been received; and, avoid postal delays.  There are two systems available to enable you to apply online: Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS): If you already have a GCOS account, please use this online platform to submit an online application; or CSJ online application form. For more information: Click: www.canada.ca/canada-summer-jobs Call: 1-800-935-5555 (ATS: 1-800-926-9105) Visit: a Service Canada Centre CSJ presentation: https://youtube/SfMoLhkgjU8 Use the OFSC Trail Guide this season! Use the trail guide for the best accuracy in open and closed trails this season. Trailhead Canada - Save the date! Trails Tourism Integration Underway Based on your feedback we are making improvments, areas include such things as: having an event map self directed trail or event edits mapping and maps guided services listings improved weather reporting improved trip planning with printout adding trails for folks with pets to cater to the traveler with pets add trekking and other unique experiences re-brand off-road cycling as mountain biking, add fat-biking as a specialty space for local content improved site search functionality more links across RTO's improved forms with additional categories more support route content like Wine or Arts Routes event to trail linkages on trail content pages cms capability to red flag broken links more! trails! We appreciate the feedback from all the marketing and branding staffs we have worked with and all the suggestions for improvement. Thank- you Membership Renewals - Thank-you for your Support!We wish to thank the following organizations that have already completed their membership for 2017. We couldn't do our work without your continued support. Many thanks! Renew Today! Ontario Equestrian Federation Penetanguishene Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs Hamilton Region Conservation AuthorityHamilton Conservation Authority, located at the western end of Lake Ontario, is the area's largest environmental management agency, and is dedicated to the conservation and enjoyment of watershed lands and water resources. Get outdoors and explore the many great trails in the City of Hamilton. These pathways provide important links to natural areas, valley lands, the Niagara Escarpment, Lake Ontario, and neighboring municipalities. They also offer some of the best opportunities for recreation and nature appreciation - key components in the campaign to secure a healthy, sustainable community for future generations. Membership Benefits INFORMATION AND FUNDING OTC Trails and Event page representation Representation on OTC trails maps Social Media represents you to 60,000+ people Fund Development through grant writing, grant support ACCESS AND INFLUENCE Connectivity to the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport Leadership at the Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee Office services and networking support BEST PRACTICES Partnership Support and Knowledge exchange Access to Professional Development sessions Tourism Practices, Trails Tort Reform, Trail Workshops TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS Access to Trail Insurance Broker Option on registration in Trillium Trail Network Local, regional or provincial User conflict resolution 2017 MEMBERSHIP FORM - PDF     2017 MEMBERSHIP FORM - WORD DOC CATEGORIES Become a "Friend of Trails" Savings on conference/seminar registration Monthly e-bulletins Access to OTC trails database Great gift price! Savings on trail literature/maps $26.52 + $3.45 = $29.97 (includes 13% HST) Benefits to Student Editions of the OTC newsletter Trailwise Access to OTC trails information Conference and selected literature savings * must provide student verification $21.21 + $2.75 = $23.96 (includes 13% HST) Our members include municipalities, conservation authorities, parks, trail management groups, trail clubs, trail user groups, health units and other trail-related supporting organizations. Base HST Total Small Non-profit, Small Organizations $109.27 $14.20 $123.47 Conservation Authorities, Medium Municipalities, Counties, Regional Tourism Organizations $273.18 $35.51 $308.69 Municipalities, Provincial Level Organizations >5000 users $819.54 $106.54 $926.0

Ontario Trails News - we keep adding trails, Talbot Land Trust, Ontario Nature, BORCA Trails and more Ontario Trails activity and information!

ADD YOUR TRAIL

Ontario Trails - We Keep Adding Trails!!
On a regular basis the trail community sends us more trails to add to our website! Add yours today.

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Joany's Woods

The 367 acre property located in the Ausable River Valley (east side - just north of the bridge on County Rd #7) has a difficult 4.8 km and an easy 3.2 km trail loop through mixed Carolinian-Great Lakes Hardwood Swamp Forest, and a 2.2 km trail along the river -

The Thames Talbot Land Trust currently owns 14 properties and holds one conservation easement, protecting over 1000 acres. 

Some of our properties are closed conservation areas; others have trail systems and interpretive signage to welcome the public.

In general, passive recreation such as hiking is encouraged, while motorized vehicles, mountain biking, off-leash dogs, horseback riding, camping, and the removal of vegetation are not allowed.

Each property is under the active care of TTLT volunteers, who visit regularly to look out for invasive species, maintain signage and fences, remove litter, maintain any trails, and remove hazards.

Visit www.thamestalbotlandtrust.ca

http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/joanys-woods

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Mesa Trail

The largest nature reserve in Ontario Nature’s reserve system, the Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Reserve encompasses 470 hectares of central Ontario woodland and wetland.

The reserve straddles the contact between the granitic rocks of the Canadian Shield and the limestone of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence forest. The Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Reserve provides habitat for numerous species that depend on large tracts of contiguous natural cover.

Red-shouldered hawks are frequently seen and have been known to nest on the property. In the summer, the forest and forest edges reverberate with the songs of breeding birds such as the hermit thrush, veery, least flycatcher, ovenbird, and a wealth of other warblers: black-and-white, yellow-rumped, black-throated green, black-throated blue, and chestnut-sided warbler.

Golden-winged warblers, field sparrows and ruby-throated hummingbirds frequent more open habitats. Signs of deer, moose, beaver, and other mammals await the observant naturalist. Moccasin flower, showy lady's slipper, and northern beech fern are amongst the many interesting plants.

For more information, including maps, please visit our Web site at http://www.ontarionature.org

http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/mesa-trail

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River Corridor Trails
BORCA builds and maintains trails in Ontario's Whitewater Region through partnerships with Renfrew County, local businesses and private landowners.  Our network of double and single track trails are designed for cycling and other self-propelled recreational activities.

We ask horse and riders to stay on Green trails only.

River Corridor Trails exist along the Ottawa River.

Thanks to local land owners/rafting companies. County Forest Trails by BORCA exist through permission by Renfrew County. Many Thanks.

For more information, including maps, please visit our Web site at http://www.borcatrails.com 

http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails/view/river-corridor-trails

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Save the Prescott-Russell Rail Trail

SIGN OUR PETITION TO SAVE THE TRAIL! COUNCIL MEETS IN OCTOBER SIGN SOON!

Save the Prescott Russell Trail. Many people use and love this trail.

The trail is 72 kilometers long and it runs through 8 townships and many towns in eastern Ontario.

The Prescott-Russell Rail Trail is the only outdoor recreational facility of its type in the area. The trail enables healthy hiking, active walking, dog walking, safe cycling off-road and winter snowmobiling.

Suddenly and without notice there is discussion of closing the trail. Many people love and rely on the Prescott-Russell Rail Trail. This trail is beautiful and a main corridor of travel and recreation for many people.

There have been no trespass complaints from landowners. Many local community members have fought for this trail and regularly work to maintain it.

The Ontario Trails Council asks you to sign this petition because we do not believe leaders fully understand the benefits of the Prescott-Russell Rail Trail to people's health, to tourism and to the environment.

Watch a video about this trail

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Hike Ontario Annual Summit

"Hike Ontario Summit 2016" (Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2016)

The Hike Ontario Summit is THE EVENT to celebrate trails and hiking across the province of Ontario. Held in Perth this year to celebrate the 200th anniversary of that scenic and historic town, we will also be celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Rideau Trail, one of Ontario’s oldest and most scenic trails.

Come to Canada’s oldest golf course Links O’Tay for a Friday Hiker’s Pub.

Topics will explore: Lyme disease, Bill 100 and landowners, Hike Leadership, Young Hikers’ Program, Urban Poling, Mood Walks, Using Digital Media Technology, Starting an Emergency Fire, Historical Walks, Hiking Trail Associations: Successes and Challenges.

Dinner will celebrate the Rideau Trail, with its founder Doug Knapp presenting, Volunteer Awards will be presented. Breakfast on Sunday will be available as a chance to celebrate Ontario’s Trails and our successes.

Public Hikes will be offered on Sunday morning. Come and celebrate Ontario’s Trails with us!

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Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Cubs Annual Summit

We appreciate the ongoing support of OFSC, and welcome their recognition of our work in support of their trails on their website. Be sure to add a link to Ontario Trails on your site.Their summit was held September 15-17, 2016. For more information contact OFSC.