Trails
Grey County is a great place to bring your hiking boots and camera. Premier scenic lookouts offer panoramic views atop the Niagara Escarpment, while rolling hills provide pristine natural scenery and solitude among our treed forests. Many of our trails are listed below. For a complete inventory and searchable list of trails, check out the Bruce Grey Trail Network.
The Bruce Trail is Canada’s oldest and longest footpath, stretching from Queenston in the Niagara region to Tobermory at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula . Following the magnificent Niagara Escarpment, The Bruce Trail provides public access to this special area, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and one of only twelve such reserves in all of Canada. The Bruce Trail Conservancy is a charitable organization committed to establishing a conservation corridor containing a public footpath along the Niagara Escarpment, in order to protect its natural ecosystems and to promote environmentally responsible public access to this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
Over 250 kms of the Bruce Trail, more than 1/3 its total length, follow the Niagara Escarpment across Grey County. Three member clubs maintain this incredible trail in Grey County, and are passionate volunteers. Join them for an introductory hike or consider becoming a member to support the continued protection of the Bruce Trail.
The Blue Mountains Club maintains the trail from Lavender to Craigleath, including the highest elevation on the Bruce Trail (540 m) at Osler Bluff Lookout. The Beaver Valley Club looks after the trail from Craigleath to Blantyre, through forests like Loree and Kolapore and includes many spectacular look-outs across the Beaver Valley, including “Old Baldy." This club has just added a 30 km extension, the Falling Water Trail from Eugenia Falls to Hoggs Falls and back up the west side of the Beaver Valley. To download a pdf. map of the trail Click Here. From Blantyre to Wiarton, the trail is under the stewardship of The Sydenham Club, which has also recently completed a major re-route of the trail, the Bayview Extension. To download a pdf. map of the trail, Click Here. The trail leads west through hardwood forests and farms, past wetlands, several waterfalls including Walters Falls and Inglis Falls, through Owen Sound and on towards Wiarton, including one of the best scenic views over Georgian Bay at Skinners Bluff.
The County itself owns more than 8 thousand acres of forest. Hiking is one of the most popular pastimes, and a large number of the forests are open to hikers and have marked trails. Most of these properties also permit snowshoeing, and a few support cross-country skiing. A wide range of County Forests also permit mountain biking, among them Copper Kettle; Kolapore Uplands; the Fish Hatchery and the Rocky Saugeen property. For a complete list of County Forests, please check the County of Grey website. www.greycounty.ca
Conservation Lands
Grey Sauble Conservation Authority and Saugeen Conservation Authority own and manage large areas comprised of important wetland complexes, managed forests and recreation parks throughout Grey & Bruce. Conservation Areas provide a variety of hiking, walking, mountain biking, and nature interpretation activities. Here are a few of our favourite trails:
Inglis Falls Conservation Area, near Owen Sound
Indian Falls CA Owen Sound
Eugenia Falls CA
Pottawatomi Conservation Area (Owen Sound)
Bruces Caves CA (Wiarton)
Feversham Gorge CA
Old Baldy CA (Kimberley)
Saugeen Valley CA Headquarters (Hanover)
Allan Park (between Hanover & Duham)
Kinghurst (near Dornoch)
Community Trails
Georgian Trail
This trail stretches 32km from Meaford to Collingwood. It is accessed along Highway 26 and is used by hikers, cyclists, snowshoers and cross country skiers.
Flesherton Hills
An area of abandonned farmland and orchards, woods, and beaver ponds, which has been designated for outdoor studies, and has an extensive network of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. Go down Campbell Street (west off Toronto St - Hwy 10, 2nd street south of the lights) past MacPhail School. All the trails are clearly marked and you can simply wander and explore.
Georgian Bluffs Trail
This trail can be accessed at Kelso Beach follows the Niagara Escarpment offering magnificent panoramic vistas of Owen Sound and Georgian Bay. It is utilized by horseback riders, cyclists, hikers and cross country skiers.
Hanover Trail System
The Hanover trail is in the heart of the community provides 11 km of trail system used throughout all 4 seasons. It is accessible from 7th Avenue North, in Hanover. This trail is used by hikers, cyclists, snowshoers and cross country skiers.
Trout Hollow Trail
Trout Hollow trail is 14km in length and is located in Meaford along the Big Head River. The trailway can be accessed from Beautiful Joe Park. Hikers are permitted.
Related Links :
www.brucegreytrails.com
www.brucetrail.org/
www.greysauble.on.ca
www.svca.on.ca
www.trailsofgeorgianbay.com/index.html
