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About Ganaraska Forest Centre
The Ganaraska Forest Centre, owned and operated by the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, is a multi-use facility, located in the heart of the 11,000-acre Ganaraska Forest. Featuring overnight accommodations for over 80 people, the facility boasts a large Great Hall, four break-out classrooms, a commercial kitchen and expert culinary staff to look after any group's dietary needs.
The certified teachers at the Ganaraska Forest Centre offer over 25 Ontario curriculum-linked outdoor educational opportunities to students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, through day-use programming, or 2, 3, 4 or 5-day residential stays. The Ganaraska Forest Centres outdoor education programs meet or exceed the criteria of the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association's (OPHEA) Safety Guidelines. All instructors are Ontario-certified teachers, with outdoor education emphasis, and combined, have several years of practical, hands-on teaching experience. The facility is also available for private and corporate events and community and non-profit groups.
The Ganaraska Forest Centre is a fully accessible site, with users having access to an All Terrain Wheelchair, for those with mobility issues.
Winter Recreation at the Ganaraska Forest
2021/2022
Come and enjoy some of the most picturesque, groomed cross-country ski trails in Ontario. Venture out from the Ganaraska Forest Centre onto more than 35 kilometers of groomed and track-set ski trails.
Our trails meander through pine and hardwood forest, offering a challenge to skiers of varying ability levels.
For snowshoe enthusiasts, the Ganaraska Forest provides two trails: a short 2.5 kilometer loop and a longer 8 kilometer loop.
Cross country ski and snowshoeing day passes are available at shopganaraska.ca or at the Ganaraska Forest Centre gatehouse kiosk. A cross country ski membership can also be purchased a shopganaraska.ca
New for 2022!
A new, short loop ski trail is available close to the Ganaraska Forest Centre. This 1.5 kilometer trail loops from and terminates at the Ganaraska Forest Centre trailhead next to the parking lot. If you are new to cross country skiing or just need to warm up before or cool down after a long ski, GRCA staff encourage you to try out this new trail.
Snowmobiling
As a reminder, all snowmobiles require valid Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club trail pass to access the OFSC network. For information on OFSC trail status please refer to the OFSC trail guide OFSC Public (evtrails.com)
GRCA staff hope to see you on the trails this winter. Have fun and stay safe!
Announcements
Effective as of December 16, 2021, due to logging operations, the Blue Trail is closed to all Forest Users. GRCA Staff will not be maintaining the Blue Trail until logging has been completed. For your safety, please adhere to signage and avoid this area. Staff will be maintaining all other ski trails during this closure.
To provide optimal tail conditions and to avoid trail base degradation, cross country ski trails are now exclusive to cross country ski use only from January 1 until March 31. No other forest use is permitted during this period of the year on the ski trails, regardless of trail status.
Cross Country Ski Trail Conditions
As of 3:30pm on January 26th, 2022, Cross country ski trail conditions have been updated to Fresh Snow. The blue trail continues to be closed due to harvesting.
Please click HERE for trail condition definitions.
Latest News
Please see attached updated maps of active logging areas and routes in the Ganaraska Forest. Red represents logging areas and orange represents logging routes. Please use caution when in the vicinity of these areas.
Read MoreStart Preparing for Spring Tree Planting this Fall with the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) will continue to offer trees and shrubs for sale, or for free during in 2022, and now is the time to start planning. Through various partnerships with member municipalities and organizations, there are the multiple…
Read More
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