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Tay Township

You are here: Home / Community Profiles / Communities / Tay Township

Strung along ebb and flow of the winding Georgian Bay shoreline you’ll find the quiet communities of Tay, including Waubaushene, Victoria Harbour and Port McNicoll. Here the Trail follows the scenic, paved Tay Shore Trail that serves as main active transportation corridor connecting these communities and many natural, historical and heritage sites throughout. From the 17th century living museum of Saint Marie among the Hurons, the Martyr’s Shrine, the nearby S.S. Keewatin, the last remaining Edwardian steamship of its kind, and over 300 century buildings throughout the Township, you’ll find Tay steeped in history. And the numerous small beaches, green lanes and beautiful wetlands, such as the nearby Wye Marsh, are sure to be memorable, and perfect for a leisurely family outing.

For the more adventurous spirit, Tay also serves as a gateway to the Big Chute Loop, a 66km signature loop on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail connecting Waubaushene, Port Severn, Honey Harbour, Coldwater, Six Mile Lake Provincial Park and the Big Chute Marine Railway. The Township also has connections to the Ganaraska Hiking Trail. The Tay Shore Trail itself is part of the Simcoe County Loop Route.

Some amenities can be found in each community connected by the Trail in Tay, making for great stops for ice cream or snacks and an afternoon visit. Overnight accommodations can mostly be found near Waubaushene, with Bell Falls Family Campground available for under-the-stars stays near the Trail in Sturgeon Falls.

Tay is a renowned trail community offering a wonderful experience and a haven away from the bustle of major roads and urban centres, and one that will keep you coming back to visit and explore.

Signage Coming Soon

Download Printable Map

Trail Attributes

Distance: 19km

Mostly follows the off-road paved Tay Shore Trail between Midland and Waubaushene
North of Waubaushene the route follows rural and service roads to Port Severn

Trail Tips:

The Tay Trail section is very family friendly and great for a trip to the beach or some ice cream.
Exit at Coldwater Road in Waubaushene to set off on the 60km Big Chute Loop to Port Severn, Honey Harbour the Big Chute Marine Railway and Coldwater.

Local Maps and ConnectionsStaging AreasAmenities and TransitHelpful Links

Links to Local Maps

Tay Township – Site includes links to the Tay Tourism map, local village maps and others. (PDF)
Simcoe County Tourism Interactive Map – Tip: Select your search items from the top of the map.
Cycle Simcoe Maps – PDF and interactive maps, itineraries and routes. An excellent resource for all things cycling in the Simcoe County area.

Connections

The Great Trail– The Trans Canada Trail network stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, forming the largest trail network in the world.

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. Connection is not direct, but can be found from 10-15km of the waterfront along rural roads. Site includes maps and GPS data.

In Tay, the Great Trail, Simcoe County Loop Trail and Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and Tay Shore Trail are joined.

Ganaraska Hiking Trail – A 500km long hiking trail stretching from Port Hope to the Bruce Trail near Collingwood. The Waterfront Trail connects to the Ganaraska near the Trestle Trail into Port McNicoll

Staging Areas

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

  • Trestle Park – 15485 Highway 12, Tay

Where to Stay?
There are plenty of B&Bs in Tay away from the bustle.

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

    Some sections of the route are not maintained during the winter.

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.  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. Using Simcoe County LINX you can travel further towards Georgian Bay.

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

Museums and Heritage Sites
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

 

Protecting. Connecting. Celebrating. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number: 86767 9821 RR0001
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Waterfront Regeneration Trust

4195 Dundas St. West - Suite 327
Toronto, Ontario M8X 1Y4
(416) 943-8080
[email protected]

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