Ganaraska Forest
Ganaraska Forest
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
34 reviews
Excellent
21
Very good
11
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
cowgirl009
St. Thomas, Ontario29 contributions
Aug 2013 • Friends
Miles and miles of trails in the ganaraska forest. A trail pass is required but it is easily purchased. There are trails that are flat or challenging. Beautiful scenery! We share the trails with ATVs and dirt bikes but they are very respectful of horses. They cut their engines as soon as they see the horses. We camped in Sandaraska Park. A great place with hydro and water hookups and pens for the horses.
Written August 31, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dale448
Port Hope, Canada33 contributions
Apr 2016
The trails.
in tne forest are to follow for me . but they nice and wide easy to walk without tripping .
in tne forest are to follow for me . but they nice and wide easy to walk without tripping .
Written November 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eric L
Lake Louise, Canada47 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
This great part is large enough to allow you to walk without seeing anyone for good periods if you are looking for quiet time. No large hills prevented our 2 year old from enjoying the trail. Must be careful to stay on the tracks when poison ivy is present though! Overall, we love it. Plenty of nature to observe whether you are focused on the forest or the trees or the mushrooms colorful leaves, etc. Or even the nice pine smell!
Written December 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michel P
Whitby, Canada2 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Thank you to all the idiotic people who walked on the NORDIC XC trails with snowshoes. You ruined our day and 1.5 hour car ride.
Written February 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chaitanya
Cambridge, Canada1,457 contributions
May 2018 • Family
Nice place to go with family for a picnic to just enjoy the fresh air. The forest also has trails in the area for people interested in hiking and getting some exercise done.
Written June 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Olga_RichmondHill
Richmond Hill, Canada24 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
Quite a big forest, different trails and the most inportant - very few people, perfect place for private person.
Written November 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D K
Guelph, Ontario, Canada33 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
The forest is magnificent and a breathing reminder of what once was and could be. The administrators have thoughtfully created separate trails for those who walk, horse riders and moto thrill seekes. We appreciated the well-kept, yet natural envirornment; it was zen.
Written October 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sherry W
Cobourg, Canada917 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
A short drive for a piece of paradise. Well marked trails ranging from a short 2km trail to the large orange trail that lets you add on km up to 16km.
There is a small seasonal food/beverage kiosk run by a very kind gentleman. Clean bathrooms for before and after your excursions.
Snowshoe and cross country ski trails!!
Bring you four legged friends but please keep them leashed and have your poop bags handy. Also, remember please to take out with you anything you brought in. I actually saw discarded water bottles and granola bar wrappers...really?? Why people.
Love this place!
There is a small seasonal food/beverage kiosk run by a very kind gentleman. Clean bathrooms for before and after your excursions.
Snowshoe and cross country ski trails!!
Bring you four legged friends but please keep them leashed and have your poop bags handy. Also, remember please to take out with you anything you brought in. I actually saw discarded water bottles and granola bar wrappers...really?? Why people.
Love this place!
Written March 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave B
Waterloo, Ontario109 contributions
May 2015 • Solo
I showed up at Ganaraska last Saturday morning on my way up to Ottawa to stretch my legs and go for a ride. There was a race going on, which looked like a lot of fun, but I didn't have time. Very welcoming crowd.
I would certainly recommend these trails. Almost all single and double track going through forest with much longer than normal distances should you wish.
4 main trails to choose from. Three shorter ones, one "epic" one that you can cut to a variety of distances including 15km, 30km, 60km and 100km. For what it's worth, I rode the forest at about 12-15km/h.
I found the trails reasonably well sign posted, but there are a few intersections where the sign has fallen down or the sign is missing. Not a problem, though, as it is easy to pick up one of the other trails within 10 minutes of riding, so you can easily get back to the trail head, just not the original distance you signed up for. I missed a turn for example and my 30km route was actually more like 20km.
There ARE parts that you have to keep your eyes peeled for the epic trail. Clearly marked, but when your going for it, can be easy to miss turn-offs.
Regarding the epic trail, I now understand what other posters have mentioned. The main trail comes to a cross roads about 5 to 10 minutes in with four paths diverging. Several of the routes are signposted (e.g. blue, orange) but I couldn't find the epic trail signpost. I opted for going straight through and it turned out to be the right choice.
Not much that is technical that I came across - a handful of logs and a couple of downhill bits you can tear up if you know where you are going.
The double track is actually quite fun because you can really gun it.
I would certainly recommend these trails. Almost all single and double track going through forest with much longer than normal distances should you wish.
4 main trails to choose from. Three shorter ones, one "epic" one that you can cut to a variety of distances including 15km, 30km, 60km and 100km. For what it's worth, I rode the forest at about 12-15km/h.
I found the trails reasonably well sign posted, but there are a few intersections where the sign has fallen down or the sign is missing. Not a problem, though, as it is easy to pick up one of the other trails within 10 minutes of riding, so you can easily get back to the trail head, just not the original distance you signed up for. I missed a turn for example and my 30km route was actually more like 20km.
There ARE parts that you have to keep your eyes peeled for the epic trail. Clearly marked, but when your going for it, can be easy to miss turn-offs.
Regarding the epic trail, I now understand what other posters have mentioned. The main trail comes to a cross roads about 5 to 10 minutes in with four paths diverging. Several of the routes are signposted (e.g. blue, orange) but I couldn't find the epic trail signpost. I opted for going straight through and it turned out to be the right choice.
Not much that is technical that I came across - a handful of logs and a couple of downhill bits you can tear up if you know where you are going.
The double track is actually quite fun because you can really gun it.
Written May 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David R
32 contributions
May 2019
The trails are in good condition for the most part and quite well maintained.
The trail markers are easy to see and follow.
Be aware that cyclists use these trails and although most of them are responsible riders there are a few who seem to think they own the trails and pay no heed to walkers.
The trail markers are easy to see and follow.
Be aware that cyclists use these trails and although most of them are responsible riders there are a few who seem to think they own the trails and pay no heed to walkers.
Written August 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is Ganaraska Forest a suitable destination for a mixed group of 20-30 adults (mostly in 40s & 50s) for a day trip from Toronto? Our primary objective is to have an picnic/outing. Some of us may venture out on the trails, and do the Treetops adventure, but not everyone will participate.
Would appreciate if you can call me on 416 357 0041 or give me a # to call back on (specify time of day when best to call).
Thanks
Written May 24, 2015
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