What Is the Ontario Trails Council Website?

Updated

Ontario Trails Council (ontariotrails.on.ca) is a trail information and trip-planning website for outdoor adventures across Ontario. It is most useful if you want to find trails by region, activity, or length before a hike, ride, paddle, or walk—rather than book a guided tour or buy gear. The site presents itself as a way to “find your perfect trail” through Ontario’s landscapes, with trail listings and activity categories.

What the site helps you do

The homepage is organized around discovery rather than transactions. Its main heading, “Life’s a journey. Find your perfect trail,” is supported by sections such as “Adventure anywhere this season” and “From kayaking to buttertarts, there’s a trail for you.” The practical value is in browsing trail options and then choosing one that fits your location and interests.

Find trails by activity

The site groups trails under activity types, including:

  • Backpacking & Camping
  • Hiking & Walking
  • Running
  • Four Wheel Driving
  • Kayaking (referenced in the “From kayaking to buttertarts” section)

This structure helps you start with what you want to do, then narrow down by place.

Browse by region and trail length

Trail listings include a city, length, and region. The regions shown on the page include:

Region Example trail and location Length
Northwest Ontario Silhouette Trail, Ignace 1.5 km
Northwest Ontario Contact Trail, Kakabeka Falls 1.0 km
Northwest Ontario Pakwash Nature Trail, Ear Falls 5.1 km
Northeastern Ontario Discovery Trail, Temagami 1.0 km
Northeastern Ontario Devil's Rock (Mani-doo Aja-bikong) Trail, Cobalt 3.0 km
Southwest Ontario Norfolk Conservation Area Trail, Port Ryerse 5.0 km
Bruce, Grey, Simcoe Sydenham Bruce Trail Club Trails, Owen Sound 170.0 km
Bruce, Grey, Simcoe Simcoe County Forest - Thomas Tract, Severn 20.0 km
Greater Toronto Area Sawmill Valley Trail, Mississauga 2.2 km
Muskoka, Parry Sound and Algonquin Park Humphrey Nature Trails 8.0 km
South Eastern Ontario Shirley Langer Recreational Trail, Belleville 1.0 km
Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley Minden Off Road Park Trails, Minden 15.0 km
Kawarthas and Northumberland Central Ont. Off Road Jeep Club, Minden 20.0 km

The page also highlights broader collections: Algonquin Park (95 trails), Ontario Parks (28 trails), Off Leash Dog Parks (100+ trails), and Ontario Trails of Distinction.

How to use it for trip planning

A straightforward workflow is:

  1. Choose your activity from the categories on the homepage—for example, Hiking & Walking or Four Wheel Driving.
  2. Scan trail cards for city, length, and region to match your travel area and how far you want to go.
  3. Use the regional groupings to compare nearby options, such as several Simcoe County Forest tracts in the Bruce, Grey, Simcoe region.
  4. Check the trail’s own listing for details before you go. The homepage provides summary information; it does not replace current trail conditions or access rules.

For example, if you are near Mississauga and want a short urban walk, Sawmill Valley Trail is listed at 2.2 km in the Greater Toronto Area. If you are planning a longer outing in the Owen Sound area, Sydenham Bruce Trail Club Trails is listed at 170.0 km—a very different commitment.

What to keep in mind

The site is a discovery and planning resource, not a booking platform. The available page information does not show pricing, reservations, or login requirements, so do not assume any trail access is free or unrestricted based on this site alone. Lengths and locations are summary data; verify opening hours, permits, closures, and seasonal conditions with the trail operator or land manager before travelling.

The site also points to “Help build adventures of a lifetime,” suggesting a community or support role, but the homepage evidence does not detail membership, donations, or volunteer programs. Treat those as things to explore on the site rather than confirmed services.

In short: use ontariotrails.on.ca when you need a starting point for finding Ontario trails by activity, region, and distance, then confirm the practical details with the specific trail provider.