Gym Shorts: Tall trails and terrific tracks

If walking along parts of Lake Huron’s longest shoreline of the five Great Lakes isn’t challenging enough for you, have you checked out the awesome Bruce County trails network?

As a new resident or visitor to Bruce County, there’s lots to do and enjoy. The Bruce County trails are another big bonus.

From Tobermory down to, and past, Kettle and Stony Point, there are an amazing number of trail systems throughout the area. Several trails lead into provincial parks, such as Inverhuron Provincial Park, MacGregor Point Provincial Park, and Pinery Provincial Park next to Grand Bend.

Kincardine has more than 25 kilometres of multi-use trails. The town has a system of five different trails, each marked with a different colour based on the level of difficulty. The Kincardine trail system runs along the Penetangore River and has a number of places where you can gain access, such as at the beautiful Geddes Environmental Park.
 

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Kincardine’s Blue Trail by Alps Park
 

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A lot of these trails snake along the backs of our neighbourhoods. Dogs should always be on a leash and going off-trail isn’t permitted in Kincardine.

There’s a handy trail map you can pick up at the tourist office in downtown Kincardine next to Victoria Park.



Blue Trail travels

There’s also the Kincardine to Inverhuron Provincial Park (KIPP) Trail. I enjoy this trail since it’s a paved path and feels safe to cycle or walk on. You don’t have to worry about traffic. You just need to respect others on the trail, including the multitude of bunny rabbits hopping about.
 

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The paved KIPP Trail (Kincardine to Inverhuron Provincial Park) begins at the north end of Kincardine on Queen Street and runs along Bruce County Road 23 (B-Line)
 

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The Stony Island Conservation Area, between Kincardine and Tiverton, has a trail system used by hikers and cyclists, and like many other trails, also offers cross-country skiing in the winter.

In the winter, the Sauble Ski Trail has 29 kilometres of groomed ski trails and snowshoe trails.

The Southampton and Port Elgin Trails let you can walk along the Lake Huron shoreline between the two towns, where you can visit scenic look-outs and lighthouse, and all the main beaches. The trails there cover more than 50 kilometres and include paved pathways, and trails with wood chips, and natural terrain.

If you want to go further south, visit Lambton Shores with more than 11 trails in the area. In addition to Pinery Provincial Park, those trails are located near the towns of Grand Bend, Fort Franks, Ipperwash, Forest, Arkona and Thedford.

Most of these trails are typically maintained by volunteer groups. As always, it’s important to respect Mother Nature. Some of the remote trails will not have garbage bins so you’re expected to take your garbage out with you.

Safety is important when you’re on a trail. You need to dress appropriately for the weather and use good footwear and socks to avoid getting ticks on your skin. Remember there is poison ivy out there too. It’s recommended you wear light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and long pants, and use bug spray.

Always take a bottle of water, snacks, a jacket and a hat with you.

Be mindful of the trail you’re on and remember every trail is different. It’s also important to stay on the trail. When we first moved to Kincardine, my husband, Jim, and his buddy got lost and ended on Highway 21. It was their first time out on one of the Kincardine trails and they learned a valuable lesson.

And don’t forget there’s also mountain biking trails throughout the region if you’re up to something more challenging. Visit explorethebruce.com to check out the Brant Tract, the Carrick Tract, the Lindsay Tract and the Mountain Bike Adventure Park.

Whether you’re out for a short trail walk or a long, all-day hike, enjoy the trail that someone has taken the time to look after, respect the environment and other hikers, and take lots of memorable pictures.