see the colours change
19 Sep

Looking for the best views of wonderful fall foliage in town?

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People travel far and wide to see the colours change on the trees every fall, but not the lucky residents of Simcoe County…we can just take a short drive.  If you’d rather have a closer look, pick a spot to hike to, strap on your hiking shoes, and get out there to explore some of the most beautiful scenery right in your own backyard.

Wondering where to go in Simcoe County for the best views of the leaves changing colour?

SEE THE FALL COLOURS ON THIS SCENIC DRIVE

Scenic Drive Route

VISIT A LOCAL FARM

2935 Barrie Hill Road Springwater, Ontario L9X 1S8 Tel: (705) 728-0571
6635 Simcoe Rd. # 56, RR#1 Egbert, Ontario L0L 1N0  Tel: (705) 424-9719
617 Penetanguishene Rd. Barrie, Ontario L4M 4Y8 Tel: (705) 721-1547
 1922 County Road 92 RR#2, Elmvale, Ontario L0L 1P0 Tel: (705) 322-6293
3088 Horseshoe Valley Rd. W. Phelpston, Ontario L0L 2K0 Tel: (705) 737-4498

SEE THE CHANGING LEAVES UP CLOSE ON THESE TRAILS

Easy Trails

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Collingwood Trail

Where: Collingwood
Length: 6.2 km
Difficulty: Easy with a large portion of the trail through the community

Features: This trail runs alongside an inhabited community featuring some concrete paved stretches ideal for rollerblading. Your walk will take you past the water filtration plant and the enviro-park where kids can play. Stop to admire Collingwood’s well known Inukshuk. Washrooms are available at the Station/Museum at the start and end of your hike.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=CollingwoodLoopTrail

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Earl Rowe

Where: Adjala-Tosorontio
Length: 8 km
Difficulty: Easy with a steep hill to the lookout point. Detour shortcuts at 4 and 6 km.

Features: This trail is perfect for those who want to spend the day with a leisurely walk, challenging hike or just some rest and relaxation. Winding through a red pine forest, this trail features some challenging steep hill sections to viewing sites but does offer a bypass shortcut also. Enjoy breathtaking views over Alliston, a Boyne river walk and a bridge crossing over two in-park lakes. Soak up the sun at the beach inside the park.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=EarlRoweLoopTrail

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Grants Woods

Where: Orillia
Length: 1.6 km
Difficulty: Easy. A relatively flat trail.

Features: This trail is a perfect short walk with lots to explore. The forest of beech trees can grow to 200 years old with a diameter of more than 100 cm. Cross over a bridge built from an old television tower, view uprooted tree pit mounds or take a peek into the salamander observation station. Climbing bittersweet vines wrap around mature maple trees and keep an eye out for the three sisters, three of the largest trees in forest grouped in an observation area.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=GrantsWoodsLoopTrail

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Innisfil Beach Park

Where: Innisfil
Length: 2 km
Difficulty: Easy. Flatland trail.

Features: Located inside Innisfil Beach Park, this trail winds through numerous picnic and play areas leading to the beach where you can stop for a swim.
Map: http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=InnisfilBeachParkLoopTrail

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Matchedash Bay

Where: Coldwater
Length: 2 km
Difficulty: Easy with a longer route option that detours back to the start.

Features: A picnic area is the starting point for your adventure on this trail. View the site where a pioneer home once stood, a geological area where the Canadian Shields ends and a beaver lodge and beaver pond with a dam. Enjoy a lookout view over wetlands, hawthorn trees and a viewing platform where you can view wildlife and vegetation. End your hike travelling through a dense forest.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=MatchedashBayLoopTrail

 


Moderate-Difficult Trails

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Ardagh Bluffs

Where: Barrie
Length: 5.5 km
Difficulty: Moderate with some sandy sections and hills. A steep hill to finish the route.

Features: This popular woodland site is one of Barrie’s most well-known nature features. Access the bluffs through multiple entry points with the main entrance at Cumming Park. Enjoy acres of red pine trees, cedar forests and open fields of sumacs. View a water retention pond and traverse across the creek. Washrooms are available at the Holly Community Centre.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=ArdaghBluffsLoopTrail

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Blueberry Plains

Where: Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
Length: 6.2 km
Difficulty: Moderate with some slight hills

Features: Start your trek from the Nordic Trail Centre located off Blueberry Trail and follow along the snowshoe path to enjoy sights of various tree species and wildlife.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=BlueberryPlainsLoopTrail

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Museum Trail

Where: Midhurst
Length: 2.8 km
Difficulty: Moderate with some steep slopes and uneven terrain.

Features: Traverse through a forest of red pines viewing various plantations, mushrooms and lichen. Have your hiking shoes on as this trail features some steep slopes, a ballast pit and active sand blowout all in a site next to the railway.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=MuseumForestLoopTrail

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Nottawasaga Bluffs

Where: Singhampton and Collingwood
Length: 3.5km
Difficulty: Moderate with slight hills and a section of rocky terrain.

Features: Start your trek at the Ian Lang memorial and gather information at the Bruce Trail kiosk mid-route. The Bruce Trail features a campsite for registered visitors. View kilns, lichen, a limestone shale and native flora and fauna.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=NottawasagaBluffsLoopTrail

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Scanlon Creek

Where: Bradford
Length: 3.5 km
Difficulty: Moderate with some hills.

Features: Scanlon Creek is a well-known conservation park popular for those visiting from York Region to the south. A picnic area, park, play garden and washrooms invite you to stay for the day. Traverse hills and wetland, walk the long marsh boardwalk and pass over a bridge atop the creek.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=ScanlonCreekCALoopTrail

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Schooner Town

Where: Wasaga Beach
Length: 5.8 km
Difficulty: Easy. Relatively flat old commuting trail.

Features: The Schooner Town heritage site is a perfect spot to begin your journey along this old logging road to the Oxbow. Travel along a limestone trail to view 3,000-year-old sand dunes, a 200-year-old oak tree, bank swallows nest in the sandbanks of the Oxbow and an old three-mile portage route that was used in the war of 1812.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=SchoonerTownLoopTrail 

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Scout Valley

Where: Orillia
Length: 2 km
Difficulty: Moderate with some slight hills and multiple detour options.

Features: Start at the south-east parking lot off old Barrie Rd to travel along woodland trails that meet up with the Algonquin trail. Travel over some slight hills and a bridge over Mill creek viewing sugar bush trails and the remains of an old log building along the way.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=ScoutValleyLoopTrail

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Spring Creek

Where: Alliston
Length: 2 km
Difficulty: Easy with two shortcut detours and a steep hill ending the route.

Features: This nature trail spans along Spring Creek but covers just a narrow section of land starting at a specially created trail sculpture. Tree varieties along this route include beech trees, hard sugar maples, Manitoba maple, red pine, red dogwood, hemlock, cedar and white ash.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=SpringCreekLoopTrail

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Sturgeon River Forest

Where: Victoria Harbour
Length: 2.6 km
Difficulty: Easy but watch for steep and slippery slopes trailside.

Features: Following alongside the Sturgeon River with some steep and challenging slopes, this trail features a variety of natural growth including white pines and maples, ferns, snake grass, berries and wild grapes.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=SturgeonRiverForestLoopTrail

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Tecumseh Pines

Where: Tottenham
Length: 4 km
Difficulty: Easy with a couple of steep hills.

Features: This trail is perfect for the moderate hiker featuring a couple of steep hills. The sandy soils and embankments transform a portion of this trail into a river after a heavy rain. Pass along the rail line, behind the Tecumseh pines adult living community, view a variety of tree species and a stream with crayfish.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=TecumsethPinesLoopTrail

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Thompson Forest

Where: Penetanguishene
Length: 5 km
Difficulty: Easy with three shortcut detours.

Features: A number of plant species can be seen along this forest route including a red pine reforestation area, eastern white pine, blackberries and raspberries. Watch out for poison ivy! This narrow block route passes behind École Secondaire Le Caron.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=ThompsonForestLoopTrail

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Tiffin Centre

Where: Angus and Barrie
Length: 5 km
Difficulty: Easy with a few slight hills.

Features: This popular nature reserve delivers a bridge with a panoramic tour. Cross through a hydro corridor to view the Bear Creek embankment and wetland and walk along a boardwalk through Baby Bear Pond.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=TiffinCentreCALoopTrail

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Tiny Marsh

Where: Elmvale
Length: 1.7 km
Difficulty: Easy. Relatively flat marshland.

Features: Travel along a boardwalk through the marsh to view dams, a birdhouse for wood ducks and ground cover vegetation. Breathtaking views can be seen from a lookout tower between the marsh and swamp. The open field is an integral habitat where mallards and blue-winged teal nest. An old crop field is now a beautiful field of wildflowers.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=TinyMarshLoopTrail

trail-tottenham
Tottenham Trail

Where: Tottenham
Length: 2.2 km
Difficulty: Moderate with several small hills.

Features: Spend a pleasant afternoon along the Tottenham trail featuring several options for a day of fun. Numerous small hills comprise this woodland walk which joins up with a travelled vehicle track. Traverse through a small pine forest, over the Mill St boardwalk and over a bridge at Beeton Creek. A mid-park beach and swimming area offer a spot to cool off.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=TottenhamCALoopTrail

trail-welsh
Welsh Tract

Where: Cookstown
Length: 2.5 km
Difficulty: Moderate with a halfway point shortcut.

Features: This easy to travel short trail is jam-packed with sites to see. Travel through a thicket of old cedars, by a creek with shallow pools and minnows and past a pond created in 1973 lined with cedars and sumac. Enjoy views of rolling hills and pasture, a deer grazing area, the stone foundation of an old early settler’s barn and a large 150-year-old hard maple cabbage tree aptly named for its large head of leaves. Plant species along this trail include a red pine forest with some white pines, cedar grove and large hemlock.
http://maps.simcoe.ca/Trails/?TRAIL=WelshTractLoopTrail


In addition to these spectacular woodland hiking trails, there are many linear trails that follow along more inhabited locations. Most of these follow along rail tracks or waterfront sites that pass by numerous landmarks throughout the region. To view a complete listing of Simcoe Trails, visit http://www.simcoe.ca/InformationTechnology/Pages/TrailMaps.aspx

 

 

 

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