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Published: July 18th 2009
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The Oro-Medonte Rail Trail
Number of times we have biked this trail: at least twice a year since 2000
Location: Orillia to Barrie
Distance: 29 km
Distance markers: maps at each road crossing
Surface: crushed limestone
Width: 3 metres
Grade: Flat
Conditions of trail: good
Parking: yes, lots
Water: none
Washrooms: Line 2 (and see below for off trail)
Garbage containers: none
Rest Areas: none
Trail marking: clear maps at each "oro-medonte line" crossing
The Oro-Medonte rail trail runs between
Barrie and Orillia Ontario for a distance of
29 kilometres. It is a level, easy ride of crushed limestone and suitable for walking or biking. It is also used in winter for skiing, and snowmobiling.
Washrooms are available in Shanty Bay. The Trail is well marked with maps each time it crosses one of the Oro-Medonte township lines and includes maps as well.
Refreshments can be had in Orillia and Barrie as well as a corner store in Hawkstone (Line 11) and Oro Station (Line 7) and Shanty Bay (line 2)
The trail can be
accessed at many locations
where it crosses Oro Lines 1-15. At Oro-Medonte line 15 there is a large parking lot. At other intersections with Oro-Medonte township roads, there is usually parking for a few vehicles. In Orillia there are a number of places, but likely the easiest is just behind the McDonald’s Restaurant near Highway 12 and Memorial Avenue.
In Barrie head for Oro Medonte Line 1 South. You will go under the bridge for Ridge Road West and soon you will see a large parking lot beside the trail. The trail actually begins a few hundred metres before that (under the bridge) Penetanguishene Road and Shanty Bay Road. The trail ends/begins here where you can connect to the Barrie North Shore Trail that will take you to downtown Barrie (there are no signs but follow Shanty Bay Road to Johnson Street and at Johnson Beach, there will be a large parking lot) and then connect to Barrie's Waterfront Trail (paved).
At the intersection with Line 2, there is also parking and porta potty at Brewis Park. This small parkette also has picnic tables and a stand with tools for minor repairs on your bike as well as a bicycle
pump.
Some highlights include: Thunder Bridge just north of Penetanguishene Road has an interpretive sign that tells about the bridge and railway
At Brewis Park, Line 2 you can take a detour to Shanty Bay and visit St Thomas church which was built in 1838.
At Line 7 in Oro Station, there is a convenience store a few hundred metres north and if you go south there is access to the waterfront.
You can follow Rail Trail Drive for about 1.5 km to
Bayview Memorial Park on Lakeshore Road East where you will find
washrooms (summer) and a beach.
At Line 11 is the community of
Hawkstone. Head north a few metres and turn right at the General Store. If you are
lucky, you might find the Community Centre open, where there are
washrooms. There is also a small park here with a picnic bench.
At Line 13 is the
Carthew Bay Nature Reserve, a wetland with herons, beavers and other wildlife.
At Line 15/Woodland Drive, you can’t miss the hydro poles with
osprey nests on top!
The Oro-Medonte Trail is crushed limestone and most of the way it is fairly smooth and suitable even for street bikes. However, if you would like an alternative ride, Ridge Road West starts in Barrie and runs parallel to the trail until line 13. At line 4 the trail intersects with Ridge Road West. Ridge Road is a scenic county road with a wide shoulder, mostly flat and on weekdays very little traffic.
Here is a "commentary" on the trail if starting from the McDonald's Parking Lot in Orillia and then at line 13 changing to
Ridge Road: McDonald's on Memorial Avenue 300 metresbridge under highway 12 km 3, Woodland Drive - look up - Osprey nests km 3-9 wetlands, beaver ponds Line 15 km, 6 Parking and trailhead
Line 13 km, 9 Turn right if going to Ridge Road The following are all on or off Ridge Road Line 11, km 13 km Hawkestone - General Store Line 7, km 19 Oro Station - General Store on Ridge Road Line 6, km 21 Little Brick United Church & cemetery - 1865 Line 5 km 22, Toto's Italian Pizzera
& ice cream (there are washrooms here) and the pizza is good! Line 4, km 24, Trail intersects with Ridge Road Line 2, km 27 Shanty Bay porta potty, parkette, general store and bike repair kit Line 1, km 29 Parking and trail head
more photos below................
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george rewa
non-member comment
great ride
wonderful essentialy flat ride. great fun but stock up on fluids