Explore Angus

and the surrounding area

Tiffin Centre Baby Bear Bridge in Summer
Tiffin Centre Baby Bear Bridge in Summer
Pine River Trail

This trail was unveiled in 2012. It starts at the Nottawasaga Fishing Park and exits at LeClair Park (Roth Street, Angus). Be sure to check out this trail – it provides visitors of the site with a peaceful setting that promotes a healthy community.

Location: Angus

Thornton-Cookstown Trans Canada Trail
This 14 kilometre trail runs between the villages of Thornton and Cookstown and travels through green pasture land and forest and across the Cookstown Creek.

To view a map of the trail, visit Simcoe County’s Trail Maps

Location: Thornton & Cookstown

Devil’s Glen Provincial Park

Situated on the Niagara Escarpment 518 m above sea level this park features rock outcrops, forested slopes and wetlands, and protects a geologically significant incised river valley.

Meltwater from the last retreating glacier carved the steep gorge of Devil’s Glen, where the Mad River now winds its irregular route. The park is gated and only accessible by foot. Camping and fires are not allowed. Access off of Highway 124 south of Duntroon,
before Singhampton.

This is an Ontario Provincial Park. For more information visit www.ontarioparks.com.

Location: between Singhampton and Glen Huron, ON

Noisy River Provincial Nature Reserve

Noisy River’s largely forested landscape is interrupted by a few meadows and a scenic portion of the Noisy River. Typical Niagara Escarpment features include cliffs, crevice caves, uplands, valley slopes and wetlands. There are no visitor facilities, but the Bruce Trail crosses this nature reserve. The park offers good hiking and nature appreciation opportunities. Access south of Dunedin off of County Rd 9. This is an Ontario Provincial Park. 

For more information visit www.ontarioparks.com

Location: Southwest of Dunedin, ON

New Lowell Conservation Area
New Lowell is home to a beautifully kept seasonal campground and a day-use park on Silver Birch Lake. Managed privately, the day-use park comes complete with a sandy beach, picnic areas and pavilion perfect for any size function. The Ganaraska Hiking Trail connects the park to Simcoe County’s forested area to the south. Entrance to the park is by admission on the weekends.

More information on this park is available at www.nvca.on.ca.

Location: County Rd 9 to 2894 Hogback Rd in the village of New
Lowell, ON

Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area

With close to 400 acres of countryside vistas, hardwood and coniferous forests, open meadows and a series of caves, the Nottawasaga Bluffs offers a full day of exploration and adventure. Connect with the Bruce Trail as it makes its way through the property or venture down one of its side trails to catch a variety of unique features.

Find more information on this park by visiting their page here..

Location: Nottawasaga 15/16 Sideroad south of Singhampton, ON. Access 500 m left off of Nottawasaga 17/18 Sideroad east of Singhampton.

Minesing Wetlands Conservation Area
Designated as a wetland of international significance and spanning an area of more than 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres), the Minesing Wetlands is home to a diverse array of habitats. The unique assemblage of fens, marshes, swamps and bogs supports a network
of sensitive flora and fauna, some rare or endangered. Willow Creek and the Nottawasaga River offer wonderful opportunities for short visits or longer trips by kayak or canoe, and a chance to spot some of the many waterfowl species that call this area home. A series of hiking trails are found in and around the wetlands, all of them offering unique glimpses into this wetland and its inhabitants. On foot, snowshoe or cross-country ski explore the Ganaraska, Trans Canada and McKinnon trails.

For more information visit their page here.

Location: From the City of Barrie, go west on Hwy. 90 (Dunlop St.) to George Johnston Rd. Travel north 8 km to the parking lot and canoe access on your left.

Bruce Trail

The Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath, provides the only continuous public access to the magnificent Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Running along the Escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory, it spans more than 890 km of main Trail and over
400 km of associated side trails. The Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) is a charitable organization committed to establishing a conservation corridor containing a public footpath along the Niagara Escarpment, in order to protect its natural ecosystems and to promote environmentally responsible public access to this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The BTC is one of Ontario’s largest land trusts, preserving over 8,000 acres of irreplaceable Niagara Escarpment landscape.

For more information on hiking the trail please visit www.brucetrail.org.

Location: The Trail’s optimum route follows the natural edge of the Niagara Escarpment from Queenston in Niagara Falls to Tobermory. Visit website for access points.

Ganaraska Trail

The trail begins at a boulder opposite the town hall in Port Hope, located on the north shore of Lake Ontario. The trail passes through a variety of scenery from Lake Ontario, north through the
Ganaraska Forest on the sandhills of the Oak Ridges Moraine and past the lakes and drumlin fields of the Kawarthas to the rugged wilderness of the Canadian Shield. The Trail then continues west through the rolling hills of Simcoe where it meets the Bruce Trail at McKinney’s Hill, Glen Huron. A cairn marks the end of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail. The Trail continues from the Niagara Escarpment to a terminus at Wasaga Beach. A second branch of
the Trail runs from north of Horseshoe Valley to Highway 32 near Port McNicol on Georgian Bay. From Springdale, just west of Glen Huron in the Mad River section, a branch of the Trail leads to Wasaga Beach. Another branch extends from north of Horseshoe
Valley in the Oro-Medonte section to the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in the Midland section.

For more information visit www.ganaraska-hiking-trail.ca

Tiffin Centre for Conservation

Situated between Barrie and Angus, the Tiffin Centre for Conservation is home to the NVCA’s Administration Centre, and the 300+ acre property is a four-season destination for environmental recreation and education.

Visit www.nvca.on.ca for more information.

Location: 8195 8th Line of Essa, Utopia.

Utopia Conservation Area

This 100-acre area is used as passive green space. A portion of the property where the 140-year-old Bell’s Gristmill resides is leased to the Friends of Utopia Gristmill & Park for purposes of conservation and restoration. The Friends of Utopia Park & Gristmill work to raise funds for the preservation and restoration of Bell’s Gristmill.

Learn more at www.nvca.on.ca.

Location: From the City of Barrie, go west on County Rd. 90 to the 6th Concession of Essa. Turn left (south) and travel for 4 km to the entrance.

Glencairn Conservation Area

Located in the village of Glencairn, this pleasant area offers a scenic getaway for an hour or the entire day. The Mad River winds through offering opportunities for fishing, short hikes and simple relaxation. The Glencairn Conservation Area is maintained by the Glencairn Park Committee. 

Learn more at www.nvca.on.ca.

Location: 8948 Webster Rd., Adjala- Tosorontio Township.

Canoe Launches

There are a series of canoe launch kiosks along the Nottawasaga River to check out if you wish to explore the Angus area via canoe.
• Essa Centennial Park
• Nottawasaga Fishing Park
• Willow Creek Canoe Corral
• Edenvale Conservation Area