"Now in its fourth year, Trails Open Ontario is a province-wide natural heritage tourism program that invites residents and visitors to experience the province's trails and natural spaces," said Liane Nowosielski of the Ontario Heritage Trust.
Enjoy some serenity now at Ontario's 250 conservation and nature areas teeming with hiking and biking trails.
Among the special places are the St. Clair River Trail to explore Bluewaterland around Port Lambton; a 28-kilometre cycling tour along the Train Trail from Collingwood to Stayner; and the Tay Shore Trail, showing off the flora and fauna around Victoria Harbour.
Here's a look at some of the upcoming events:
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- The Grand River Tour on Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. explores the Dunnville Feeder Canal.
Starting at the Dunnville Memorial Arena, participants learn about the canal built in 1829 to tap into water from the river for the first Welland Canal.
The tour includes views of one of the largest expanses of provincially significant wetlands in Ontario.
- Wetland Ridge Side Trail in Niagara-on-the-Lake, has guided hikes along this section of the Bruce Trail on Oct. 3 leaving at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Hikers will travel along the edge of a vineyard to a reclaimed wetland and view multi-layered rock formations of the Niagara Escarpment and the vineyards and orchards of the plains below.
- Watch for wildlife such as osprey, deer, beaver and wild turkey on a hike in Bloomingdale north of Kitchener on Sept. 18.
Starting at 8:45 a.m. at the Bloomingdale Mennonite Church, the tour follows the Grand River through lands formerly used as a gravel pit. There are flood plains, wooded areas and ponds that form a sanctuary for the wild critters.
- Discover the Maitland Trail, east of Goderich, on the Ball's Bridge hike on Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. and the Tiger Dunlop's Tomb tour on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.
This is one of Ontario's last surviving "Pratt truss and pin" iron bridges and the hike travels through woodlots, across fields and along river valleys.
The other hike tells the "colourful story of Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop's association" with the Canada Company and the founding of Goderich in 1827.
- Kincardine Trails has a four-kilometre hike Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. from Geddes Environmental Park that "meanders on varied terrain through wild fruit orchards, cedar forests and riverside meadows."
- Check out the Sauble Beach Cross Country Ski Trails on hikes Sept. 18 and 19 from 1 p.m. in Sauble Falls.
Hikes begin at the chalet and are routed through the rolling ski trails and surrounding forests offering "spectacular opportunities" for bird watching.
- The Saugeen Conservation Authority hosts a three-hour event at the Greenock Swamp Wetland Complex in Chepstow on Sept. 25 from 1 p.m.
Participants will learn about the swamp and its role as well as hike to the viewing platform at Schmidt Lake.
- Apps' Mill Nature Centre near Brantford has interpretive guided hikes through the historic property on Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For children, there will be nature crafts and "stream slosh" activities.
- Join the guided tour or take an independent jaunt along four new trails at the Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area in Sparta on Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Staff from the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority will lead the walks through the Carolinian forest including the Herb Kebbel Wetland.
- In North Huron, there's the Fall Colour Tour at the Wawanosh Valley Conservation Area on Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.
This includes a hike along the Maitland River and through woods and meadows with hot apple cider, displays and children's activities.
- Learn about the South Huron Trail's earliest residents on the Spirit Trail Supernatural Hike in Exeter on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
This guided hike around MacNaughton Park is part of the activities at the Haunted Huron event.
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If you hike:
- To learn about all the Trails Open Ontario events: www.heritagetrust.on.ca
- Trail events are listed in the Doors Open Ontario Guide available at travel centres or by calling Ontario Tourism at 1-800-ONTARIO (668-2746).
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