CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING 5 MAPLE KEYS Directions -from Brussels, proceed east on County Road #16 to County Road #19; turn left (north) and proceed through Ethel to second concession road (Grey 5-6) -turn right (east) and proceed east one concession and turn left; enter at roadway gate; park on road. Description -hilly, quite sheltered, loop trail, marked. 6 REDMOND TRACT
Directions -from Auburn, go north on County Road #22 and turn right at second concession (concession 4-5); Tract is on right hand side in first km. Description -gentle slopes, loop trail, sheltered, not marked (park at roadside, enter at sign).
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Located 1 mile/1.6 km west of Varna at #38594A Mill Road. Parking and playground at Municipal Complex. Ski or hike open field to entrance of mixed coniferous and deciduous tree- lined trail. Slopes, mainly sheltered, scenic gully, wildlife. 16 MORRISON DAM C.A. (ABCA) Directions -from Exeter, proceed east on Highway #83 for 2.5 km and turn south (right) onto Concession 2-3 road -entrance is 500 m ahead on east side (park in ABCA office parking lot). Description -sheltered, loop trail, track set when conditions permit.
7 ROBERTSON TRACT Directions -from Carlow, go east on County Road #25 to third sideroad; turn right and proceed to end; ski area on left (alternate access/parking at Auburn bridge). Description -flat, straight, semi-sheltered, blazed with Maitland Trail markers, river views.
Huron County offers a great diversity of crosscountry skiing and snowshoeing opportunities. There are County Forests, natural areas, river banks, golf courses, cemeteries, abandoned railway corridors, snowmobile trails and portions of the Maitland Trail. The trails listed below are generally cleared and pruned. (For your safety, please check hunting season regulations and required authorizations). Note: The following numbers indicate the skiing location on the map on Page 34. 1
SARATOGA SWAMP
(County Forest / Maitland Valley Conservation Authority). Directions -from Carlow, proceed north on County Road #1, through Nile and turn right at first sideroad north of Nile -follow road past one intersection and go to top of hill -park on roadside at top, by County Forest sign. Description -hilly, sheltered, scenic, not marked, mixed coniferous and deciduous areas -some challenging sections. 2
WAWANOSH PARK C.A. (MVCA)
Directions -from Auburn, go north on County Road #22; at third sideroad (Concession 6-7), turn right and follow to end. Description -flat, semi-sheltered, river views, campground. 3
WAWANOSH VALLEY C.A. (MVCA)
Directions -from Auburn, go east on County Road #25 one sideroad and turn north and continue to end of road (7 km); or from Blyth, go 7 km north on Highway #4 to Nature Centre Rd, turn east (left) and follow to end of road. Description -semi-sheltered, some hills, marked, bird watching and wildlife viewing (map on board at parking lot). 4 BRUSSELS BUSH Directions -from Blyth, proceed north on Hwy. #4 to County Rd. #16 and turn right. Continue to northwest corner of third intersection; enter at either of 2 Cty. Forest signs. Description -hilly, sheltered, river views, some wildlife viewing.
STANLEY TRAIL
ABCA -Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (office east of Exeter at the Morrison Dam) MVCA -Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (office in Wroxeter)
8 POINT FARMS Directions -located on Highway #21, seven km north of Goderich. Description -flat, open, lake access (park car at gate access). 9 MAITLAND WOODS Directions -located in the Town of Goderich on Suncoast Drive -access from Suncoast Drive, Huckins Street or Knights of Columbus Hall parking lot. Description -flat, sheltered, marked. 10 MAITLAND CEMETERY Directions -from Goderich, take Highway #8 east, past Zehrs, cemetery entrance on left. Description -gentle slopes, some steep and challenging hills at river, not marked (park in parking lot -ski through cemetery to back of property). 11 FALLS RESERVE (MVCA) Directions -from Benmiller, go north-west one km on County Road #31, turn left at Falls Reserve sign; continue to park entrance. Description -gentle slopes, open, sheltered and some hills along river, partially marked (most of trail is blazed with Maitland Trail markers). 12 BENMILLER INN Directions -parking at the Benmiller Inn, located north east of Goderich at the intersection of County Roads # 1 and #31. Description -small trail fee applies (Benmiller Inn -trail map available). Hilly, scenic, sheltered, river views, marked trails.
NAFTEL’S CREEK (MVCA) Directions -located on Highway #21, six km south of Goderich; parking lot available. Description -gentle slopes, mostly flat, sheltered, variety of trail loops marked (map on billboard at entrance). 13
14 HULLETT WILDLIFE AREA Directions -from Clinton take Highway #4 north to first concession, turn east (right) follow for three concessions (main office location). Description -flat, open area, good bird watching, use nature trails or dyke tops. (Contact the number at the front of this Travel Guide for a comprehensive Guide of the Hullett Wildlife Area). Please refer to Page 13 (Museums & Attractions Section) for more information on the Provincial Hullett Wildlife Area.
www.ontarioswestcoast.ca
OTHER SKI AREAS . . .
There are adjacent out-of-County ski areas that are worth a visit. These include the areas shown by letter symbols on the map: THE PINERY PROVINCIAL PARK Highway #21, south of Grand Bend. Trail maps, fees and groomed trails; rental of ski equipment on weekends -visit park office for details. Phone: 519-243-2220 A
B WILDWOOD CONSERVATION AREA Near St. Marys on Highway #7. Maps and trail passes available at office. Phone: 519-284-2829 FALCONER TRACT (Bruce Cty. Forest) Located 4 km west of Highway #4 on the south side of Culross Concession 2. C
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