2015 AACC Guide

Pine River Trail
This new trail was unveiled in 2012. This trail starts
at the Nottawasaga Fishing Park and exits at LeClair
Soccer Park (Roth Street, Angus). Be sure to check out
this trail - it provides visitors of the site with a peaceful
setting that promotes a healthy community.
Location: Angus
Thornton-Cookstown Trans Canada Trail
This 14 kilometre trail runs between the villages
of Thornton and Cookstown and travels through
green pasture land and forest and cross the
Cookstown Creek. To view a map of the trail, visit
www.essatownship.on.ca
Location: Thornton & Cookstown
Devil’s Glen Provincial Park
Situated on the Niagara Escarpment 518 m above sea
level this park features rock outcrops, forested slopes
and wetlands, and protects a geologically significant
incised river valley. Meltwater from the last retreating
glacier carved the steep gorge of Devil’s Glen, where the
Mad River now winds its irregular route. The park is
gated and only accessible by foot. Camping and fires
are not allowed. Access off of Highway 124 south of
Duntroon, before Singhampton. This is an Ontario
Provincial Park. For more information visit www.
ontarioparks.com.
Located between Singhampton and Glen Huron, ON
Noisy River Provincial Nature Reserve
Noisy River’s largely forested landscape is interrupted
by a few meadows and a scenic portion of the Noisy
River. Typical Niagara Escarpment features include
cliffs, crevice caves, flat uplands, valley slopes and
wetlands. There are no visitor facilities, but the Bruce
Trail crosses this nature reserve. The park offers good
hiking and nature appreciation opportunities. Access
south of Dunedin off of County Rd 9. This is an
Ontario Provincial Park. For more information visit
www.ontarioparks.com.
Location: Southwest of Dunedin, ON
New Lowell Conservation Area
New Lowell is home to a beautifully kept seasonal
campground and a day-use park on Silver Birch Lake.
Managed privately, the day-use park comes complete
with a sandy beach, picnic areas and pavilion perfect for
any size function. The Ganaraska Hiking Trail connects
the park to Simcoe County’s forested area to the south.
Entrance to the park is by admission on the weekends.
More information on this park is available at www.nvca.
on.ca
Location: County Rd 9 to 2894 Hogback Rd in the village
of New Lowell, ON
Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area
With close to 400 acres of countryside vistas, hardwood
and coniferous forests, open meadows and a series
of caves, the Nottawasaga Bluffs offers a full day
of exploration and adventure. Connect with the
Bruce Trail as it makes its way through the property
or venture down one of its side trails to catch a
variety of unique features. Access 500 m left off of
Nottawasaga 17/18 Sideroad east of Singhampton.
Find more information on this park by visiting
www.nvca.on.ca.
Location: Nottawasaga 15/16 Sideroad south of
Singhampton, ON
Minesing Wetlands
Designated as a wetland of international significance and
spanning an area of more than 6,000 hectares (15,000
acres), the Minesing Wetland is home to a diverse array
of habitats. The unique assemblage of fens, marshes,
swamps and bogs supports a network of sensitive flora
and fauna, some rare or endangered. Willow Creek and
the Nottawasaga River offer wonderful opportunities
for short visits or longer trips by kayak or canoe, and a
chance to spot some of the many waterfowl species that
call this area home. A series of hiking trails are found in
and around the wetlands, all of them offering unique
glimpses into this wetland and its inhabitants. On foot,
snowshoe or cross-country ski explore the Ganaraska,
Trans Canada and McKinnon trails.
Location: From the City of Barrie, go west on Hwy. 90
(Dunlop St.) to George Johnston Rd. Travel north 8 km to
the parking lot and canoe access on your left
Bruce Trail
The Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest marked
footpath, provides the only continuous public access to
the magnificent Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World
Biosphere Reserve. Running along the Escarpment
from Niagara to Tobermory, it spans more than 890 km
of main Trail and over 400 km of associated side trails.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) 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. The
BTC is one of Ontario’s largest land trusts, preserving
over 8,000 acres of irreplaceable Niagara Escarpment
landscape. For more information on hiking the trail
please visit www.brucetrail.org
Location: The Trail’s optimum route follows the natural
edge of the Niagara Escarpment from Queenston in
Niagara Falls to Tobermory. Visit website for access points.
Ganaraska Trail
The trail begins at a boulder opposite the town hall in
Port Hope, located on the north shore of Lake Ontario.
Exploring
Angus & Area
The trail passes through a variety of scenery from
Lake Ontario, north through the Ganaraska Forest on
the sand hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine and past the
lakes and drumlin fields of the Kawarthas to the rugged
wilderness of the Canadian Shield. The Trail then
continues west through the rolling hills of Simcoe where
it meets the Bruce Trail at McKinney’s Hill, Glen Huron.
A cairn marks the end of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail.
The Trail continues from the Niagara Escarpment to a
terminus at Wasaga Beach. A second branch of the Trail
runs from north of Horseshoe Valley to Highway 32
near Port McNicol on Georgian Bay. From Springdale,
just west of Glen Huron in the Mad River section, a
branch of the Trail leads to Wasaga Beach. Another
branch extends from north of Horseshoe Valley in the
Oro-Medonte section to the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
in the Midland section. For more information visit
www.ganaraska-hiking-trail.ca
Location: Visit the website for all access points.
Tiffin Centre
Situated between Barrie and Angus, the Tiffin
Centre for Conservation is home to the NVCA’s
Administration Centre, and the 300+ acre property is
a four-season destination for environmental recreation
and education. The Tiffin Centre is a spectacular place
for a walk (leashed canine visitors welcome!) or to bring
your gear and bike, cross-country ski or snowshoe on 17
km of looped trails that meander through a mixture of
wetlands, forests, open meadows and ancient lake beds.
Visit our working sugarbush for a late winter treat!
Visit www.nvca.on.ca for more information.
Location: 8195 8th Line of Essa, Utopia
Utopia Conservation Area
This 100-acre area is used as passive green space. A
portion of the property where the 140-year-old Bell’s
Gristmill resides is leased to the Friends of Utopia
Gristmill & Park for purposes of conservation and
restoration. The Friends of Utopia Park & Gristmill
work to raise funds for the preservation and restoration
of Bell’s Gristmill. Learn more at utopiahall.ca.
Location: From the City of Barrie, go west on County Rd.
90 to the 6th Concession of Essa. Turn left (south) and
travel for 4 km to the entrance. ​
Glencairn Conservation Area
Located in the village of Glencairn, this pleasant area
offers a scenic getaway for an hour or the entire day.
The Mad River winds through offering opportunities
for fishing, short hikes and simple relaxation. The
Glencairn Conservation Area is maintained by the
Glencairn Park Committee. Visit www.nvca.on.ca for
more information.
Location: 8948 Webster Rd., Adjala-Tosorontio Township
18 - Angus & Area Community Guide 2015