Simcoe County

With kilometres of roads and trail hugging the Georgian Bay coastline, the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail in Simcoe County is unbelievable!

From the trail hub community of Collingwood, to Wasaga Beach, the largest freshwater beach in the world, you’ll follow mostly quiet roads and trails, sometimes just beyond the sandy beaches themselves.

From the winding forested roads of Tiny Township, and the wooded bluffs of Awenda Provincial Park, to the history-steeped, and beautiful shoreline towns of Penetanguishene and Midland you’ll be in awe of the landscape and the incredible sun-dappled waters and bustling marinas nearby.

From the living 17^th century museum of St. Marie-Among-the-Hurons to the Wye Marsh and the deepest freshwater port on earth in Port McNicoll, and the trail hub in Waubaushene…it’s world-class all the way in Tay Township.

And in Severn? From Port Severn to Severn Bridge you’ll find oodles of rural roads and trails, a signature loop into cottage country and the only marine railway of its kind in North America, not to mention an off-road gateway to the nearby City of Orillia.

Here you’ll find accommodations both rustic and luxurious, craft breweries and unique bakeries and coffee roasters, deep heritage and great adventures. Within Simcoe County there are connections to the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, The Great Trail, the Simcoe County Loop Trail and a number of cycle touring loops arranged by our partners in Cycle Simcoe. And if getting on the water is your trip, you’ll find the water is never very far away with rental and tour companies that can set you up right.

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Trail Attributes

Distance: 255km

There are long sections of off-road paved or limestone trail perfect for family use in Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Penetanguishene and Midland through to Waubaushene.
East of Waubaushene to Orillia the route follows a rougher unpaved trail and becomes more remote.
Through Tiny Township the road follows mostly rural roads, though some are narrow and are seasonally busy.
The 66km Big Chute Loop follows mostly quiet rural roads, which may be seasonally busy.

Trail Tips:

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.

Local Maps and Connections Staging Areas Amenities and Transit Helpful Links

Links to Local Maps

BruceGreySimcoe – Interactive tourism map for Bruce, Grey and Simcoe Counties.
Tourism Simcoe County interactive map
Cycle Simcoe (PDF and interactive maps – can request print maps)
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park (PDF)
Awenda Provincial Park (PDF)
Six Mile Lake Provincial Park (PDF)

Connections

The Great Trail – The Trans Canada Trail / Great Trail network stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, forming the largest trail network in the world. Within the County, the Great Trail follows much of the Simcoe County Loop.

Ganaraska Hiking Trail – A 500km long hiking trail stretching from Port Hope to the Bruce Trail near Collingwood. The Waterfront Trail has connections to the Ganaraska near Midland, Wasaga Beach, Orillia and Port Hope.

Simcoe County Loop Trail – A 160km loop connecting some of the greatest locations in Orillia and Barrie to the serene countryside of Simcoe County and the sparkling waters of Georgian Bay. Site includes maps and GPS data.

Junctions

The Great Trail / Simcoe County Loop Trail – Intersection of Concession Rd 12 and Tiny Trail. Follows same route through Penetanguishene, Midland, Victoria Harbour, Waubaushene, Coldwater and into Orillia at Couchiching Beach Park.

Ganaraska Hiking Trail – Zoo Park Road & River Rd E in Wasaga Beach; Tiny Beaches Rd S and Archer Rd in New Wasaga Beach; east of intersection of Triple Bay Rd and Hwy 12, south of Port McNicoll

Community Links

Simcoe County
Simcoe County Tourism
Collingwood
Wasaga Beach
Township of Tiny (Balm Beach, Lafontaine, Thunder Beach…)
Penetanguishene
Midland
Tay Township (Port McNicoll, Sturgeon Bay, Victoria Harbour, Waubaushene…)
Severn Township (Port Severn, Coldwater, Severn Bridge…)
Orillia

Staging Areas

All staging areas have parking, washrooms (may be seasonal)

Collingwood: Birch Street Terminus
Wasaga Beach: Wasaga Beach Provincial Park (fees apply)
Penetanguishene: Penetang Arena, 61 Maria St, Penetanguishene, ON L9M 2G2
Midland: David Onley Park, 475 Bayshore Dr, Midland, ON L4R 5M9
Tay: Trestle Park, 15485 Highway 12, Tay
Coldwater: Coldwater Arena, 11 Michael Anne Dr, Coldwater, ON L0K 1E0
Orillia: Couchiching Beach Park, 140 Canice St, Orillia, ON L3V 4H8 (just outside the County, but an excellent gateway into it)

Where to Stay:

Under the sheets? Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Midland, Port Severn and Orillia. For long-term parking, hotels will often allow you to leave your car for the duration of your trip if you stay with them for your first night. Make sure to ask staff in advance.

Under the stars? There are several campgrounds in the Wasaga Beach Area, Awenda Provincial Park near Penetanguishene, Bell Falls Family Campground, south of Sturgeon Bay is also registered as bike friendly. Six Mile Lake Provincial Park is also located along the Big Chute Loop. Some camping is also available at the lockstations on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Amenities

Accommodations, Campground
Accommodations, Roofed
Beaches
Groceries
Hospital
LCBO (Includes Breweries and Wineries)
Marinas
Museums
Outfitters
Restaurants
Shopping Areas
Tourist Information
Washrooms
WIFI
Winter Maintenance

Transit

Transit:
The Simcoe County LINX transit system has several routes to Georgian Bay coastal communities such as Midland, Penetanguishene and Wasaga Beach from Barrie, with a connecting route between Wasaga Beach and Collingwood. Transit links also exist between Barrie and Orillia, which is an excellent gateway to the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail in Severn Township. Restrictions apply. Not every route runs every day of the week.

GO Transit: Travellers can connect to Barrie from the the Greater Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara regions via GO transit.

Helpful Links

Tourism (General)
Experience Simcoe County – Places to eat, places to stay, events etc.
BruceGreySimcoe – Regional tourism for Bruce, Grey and Simcoe Counties. Places to visit, festivals and an interactive map.
CycleSimcoe – A great place for all things cycling in the Simcoe County area. Local itineraries, maps, packages.

Museums and Heritage Sites
Discovery Harbour – Historic site of an 1800s naval harbour with tall ships, restaurant and on-site theatre. Located in Penetanguishene.
St. Marie-among-the-Hurons – Living 1700s heritage museum located near Midland
S.S. Keewatin – Take a tour of the last Edwardian steamship of its kind in the world. Located in Port McNicoll
Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site – a 386 historic waterway connecting Lake Huron at Port Severn to Lake Ontario in Trenton. Locks 42, 44 and 45 are located along the route in Simcoe. The Big Chute Marine Railway, located on the Big Chute signature loop, is not to be missed!

Natural Attractions
Wye Marsh and Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre – Beautiful marsh with wildlife centre, located just outside Midland
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park – The longest freshwater beach in the world!
Awenda Provincial Park – Camping, bluffs, beaches and beautiful hiking trails.

Ontario By Bike – Great resource with routes, tours and a vast list of bike-friendly businesses.