Start your morning with that golden sunrise shimmer on the water with a visit to Midland, a four-season playground with plenty of heritage, history and natural delights curled about the shores and clear waters of Georgian Bay. In Midland, the Trail follows off-road trails almost exclusively, allowing for a family-friendly leisurely walk or ride through town. You’re never far from the sight of the water or the shade of a nearby park. There are over 320 acres of parkland within the Town, including a second amazing waterfront: Little Lake Park, with a number of natural, recreational and heritage facilities including the Huronia Museum and the Ouendat Indian Village.
Not far from the trail near the harbour are a local coffee roaster and café as well as a bike shop. Elsewhere you’ll find any number of amenities from the basics to unique shops and eateries. Midland has tons of accommodations with four major hotels (with a convention centre set to open in 2020), three motels, inns and B&Bs making Midland an ideal place to spend the night on your Great Lakes Waterfront Trail journey. And if you have a love of butter tarts, make sure to visit in June for the annual Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival!
For those looking for a more adventurous experience, just outside the Town you’ll find a dedicated mountain bike and ski centre. For those more curious about the past or with a love of the quieter green spaces, look no further than St. Marie Among the Hurons – a living museum for 17th century living, the Wye Marsh with its birding and trails, and a nearby connection to the Ganaraska Hiking Trail.
Midland is a proud proponent of active living and local trails. For a deeper dive on the surfaces and history of local trails, visit Midland’s recreational trails webpage.
Trail Attributes
Distance: 9km
- Roughly 7km of paved multi-use path right along or close to the waterfront. Follows the Midland Rotary Waterfront Trail.
- Roughly 2km of unpaved off-road Trail along the Mid-Pen Trail
Trail Tips:
- Midland has a ton of accommodations, restaurants and other amenities and is an ideal spot for an overnight on your trip.
- Little Lake Park is lovely and has its own short section of trail. A great place to visit with your family or on your own for an afternoon.
- Planning an extended trip from Simcoe County? Try discussing your plans and making arrangements with hotel staff, they will often allow you to leave your car on-site if you spend your first night with them.
- We mentioned Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival and we’re mentioning it again.
- Grounded coffee. Local coffee roaster. Baked goods. Right beside the Trail.
Protecting. Connecting. Celebrating. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number: 86767 9821 RR0001
