It’s a hiking time of year.
With cooler weather and beautiful fall colours, it feels like a perfect time to get out to enjoy the beauty and adventure of the outdoors. Lately, I have been inspired by the many photos I’ve seen posted by hikers on social media, capturing the stunning colours and landscapes along their routes.
Even though I love being active and spending time outdoors, I do not consider myself an avid hiker and, like others, am unsure about where to hike or how to get started as a beginner.
I decided to contact Carol Strickland, president of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail – Orillia Club, to get her advice.
When Strickland suggested we meet at Copeland Forest for a hike, I was thrilled. I have always wanted to explore these trails I’ve heard so much about.
The Copeland Forest in Oro-Medonte near Horseshoe Valley is an area of over 4,000 acres, owned by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, that year round attracts walkers, hikers, cyclists and even horseback riders to its hundreds of trail options.
While enjoying a spectacular two-hour hike, Strickland talked to me about how she became an avid hiker, shared some of her favourite places to hike and offered some suggestions for beginners – all while leading me along a trail loop with just the right amount of ups and downs, many twists and turns and beautiful fall scenery all the way along.
You would definitely describe Strickland as an avid hiker – she regularly hikes two or three times a week, year round. I felt totally confident following her lead along a trail that I was experiencing for the first time.
“I’ve enjoyed hiking since I was a young women, five decades ago, but never as much as I do now, and since retiring,” Strickland said, when asked about how she got into hiking.
She moved to Orillia in the mid-1980s, when looking for a place to work as a family physician. “I wanted to live and work somewhere that had easy access to outdoor activity. I still love this area and have no plans to leave; there are just so many incredible outdoor opportunities close by.”
When asked what it is about hiking she loves so much, Strickland said, “It’s my go-to main fitness activity – it’s great exercise, but I also enjoy seeing nature up close, and being able to connect with friends.”
“Being out on a hike, especially now (with COVID-19), is a good way to see and meet friends,” explained Strickland. “And there’s a hiking ‘zen’ that happens. As one of the octogenarian members of our Ganaraska Club has often said: ‘Rarely do I regret going on a hike; many times I’ve regretted not going on a hike.’”
As for her favourite places to hike? “Right here in the Copeland Forest is one of them,” Strickland exclaimed. “There is such a variety of trails and they are well-marked, thanks to the Copeland Forest Friends Association.”
She added that many of the Simcoe County Forest trails are also favourites among Ganaraska Club members. Strickland also recommends some good beginner trails right in Orillia, including the Uhthoff and Lightfoot trails.
“I love the rail trail between James Street and Woodland Drive (in Orillia); there’s so much nature to see in that section. Grant’s Woods and some of the other Couchiching Conservancy properties have good scenic nature trail options, too," said Strickland.
"A little farther out of town, the Coopers Falls Recreational Trail north of Washago is a challenging 8-km trail with stunning scenery. It’s hard to pick an absolute favourite. We are lucky in this area because there are so many beautiful places to explore.”
For families, Strickland suggests Scout Valley and Bass Lake Provincial Park. There is also a 6 km walking trail at George Langman Sanctuary, located on Bass Lake Sideroad just outside of Orillia.
Strickland doesn’t hesitate to encourage others to take up hiking.
“We (Ganaraska Hiking Trail Club) love to have new members join. We want to see more people hiking and learning about the trails. We need to keep this resource for future generations," she said.
“Joining a local hiking group is an excellent way to get started, especially if you are unsure about the trails or area you are exploring,” explained Strickland. “It’s a good way to learn about trails you otherwise wouldn’t know about. Plus, being part of a group motivates you to actually get out and hike.”
Strickland says she is excited about the number of people she has seen out on the trails this year.
“For a long time, we didn’t see a lot of people, especially young people, in the forest, but with COVID-19, it seems there has been a huge interest in hiking.”
In fact, just this summer, a new group called Wild Root Hiking Collective was formed and is described as, “a hiking group for young folks ages 20 to 40 looking to explore local wilderness in the Orillia-Severn-Muskoka area.”
The idea came about when Joelle Burnie, a staff member with The Couchiching Conservancy, was having a conversation with her colleagues, Tanya Clark and Courtney Baker, about wanting to explore local trails with others.
The group set up a Facebook page and Instagram account and are now organizing group hikes with and for the growing collective. To get involved, follow the activities of Wild Roots Hiking Collective on Instagram or visit them on Facebook.
To find out more about the Ganaraska Hiking Trail – Orillia Club, visit: ganaraska-hiking-trail.org.
Some handy hiking links"
Simcoe County Forests (trail map)
Couchiching Conservancy properties (and trail maps)
Coopers Falls Recreational Trail
Orillia Lake Country (trail information)
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