Kolapore wilderness trails

On October 10, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks posted a proposal notice on the online Environmental Registry of Ontario titled "Expanding Protected Areas in Ontario".  The notice includes proposals for establishing a new Kolapore Uplands Conservation Reserve on existing provincial Crown lands, and expanding the Duncan Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve.

The proposed Kolapore Uplands Conservation Reserve would cover 1,892 ha (4,675 acres) of provincial Crown land in the southwest corner of the Town of the Blue Mountains - see map below.  Overall, we guesstimate that the Crown lands within this area contain about 35 km (70%) of the Kolapore trails. 

The proposed expansion of Duncan Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve would include 126 ha (311 acres) - see map below. The land involved is both to the north of the existing reserve and directly to the east. This proposed park addition contains about 1.5 km of Northwest Passage trail. 

Although new protected areas are desirable, there are implications.  For example, it is not clear if winter use of the Kolapore trails within the Conservation Reserve could continue to be limited to skiing.  If this restriction was lifted, skiing would no longer be enjoyable. 

Nature Reserve policies are both clearer and more restrictive.  For example, hunting and biking are not permitted in the Duncan Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve, and would not be permitted in the proposed expansion.

In addition to a new set of land management policies, the protected area proposals and (potential subsequent designation) will result in management challenges for the Association.  Already we have been told that an application that we submitted several months ago for a short new trail is on indefinite hold.  If the Kolapore lands become protected areas, they will be managed by Ontario Parks, and this may result in additional requirements for trail management. 

Information about the proposals can be viewed at ero.ontario.ca under the number 019-9306 (https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-9306)  Other proposed new protected areas in the vicinity are Hoggs Falls Conservation Reserve in the upper Beaver Valley and Len Gertler Conservation Area (Loree Forest). 

Comments on these proposed new protected areas must be submitted by November 24, 2025.  KWTA's comments on the proposals will address the following topics, and we would encourage you to submit comments as well. 

• the Kolapore Trails have been providing access to the Kolapore Uplands for over 50 years, and we hope that the trails can continue and be improved over time.  The trails have introduced many people to the Kolapore Uplands.  Users regard this as a special area 
• KWTA is willing to be an active partner in the management of the Kolapore Uplands, and continue to provide services such as snowplowing at a parking lot
• KWTA manages the trails for hiking and biking in the summer, and cross country skiing in the winter.  Continued application of the policy that cross-country skiing is the only use on ski trails in winter is essential to providing quality skiing.  The Kolapore Trails provide a backcountry ski experience that is rare in southern Ontario.   

We will post updates as additional information becomes available.  

Currently scheduled trail improvement days in Sept - early Oct 2025 are listed below.  PLEASE send an email to info@kolaporetrails.org if you are planning to volunteer at any of these events 

Friday Sept 26, 9 AM Two or three volunteers are needed to move rocks in a stream in preparation for a bridge reconstruction project.  The rocks are small to medium size, so this is suitable for most volunteers. Rubber boots are essential. Tools will be supplied.  Meet at the paved parking lot at the east end of the County Forest, just off Grey Road 2, and we will car pool from there.  We intend to be finished before noon.  Note:  Enough volunteers have registered for this project.

Sunday Sept. 28, 9:30 AM  We will be doing our first fall trail clearing this morning.  This will mainly involve pruning with some removal of fallen branches.  We can supply loppers and saws, but if you have a favourite lopper, bring it along.  Work gloves are desirable.  Meet at the paved parking lot at the east end of the County Forest, just off Grey Road 2.  We intend to be finished by about noon.

Friday Oct. 3, 9:30 AM  We will be installing railings on the bridge that we rebuilt at the west entrance to the County Forest last year.  We will have to move a small amount of lumber in from the road to the bridge (a short distance), but most of our time and effort will be devoted to carpentry.  We will provide most tools, but if you have a favourite hammer or impact driver, bring it along.  This will be a longer project - if you can only stay for the morning, that's great, but if you can stay for part of the afternoon, bring a lunch.  Meet at the west entrance to the County Forest: 527668 Osprey - Blue Mountains Townline.  Park on the south side of the road, in front of what used to be called "the old water bottling plant", except that the plant was demolished a few weeks ago! 

Saturday Oct 4 and Sunday Oct 5  This is the big project of the fall.  We are replacing part of an aging bridge on Kingsway trail near intersection 61.  Lots of volunteers are needed - especially on Saturday - to help move materials to the site.  The meeting time will be 9:30.  Some volunteers will work into the afternoon, but assistance for just the morning would also be appreciated, particularly on Saturday.  Car pooling is encouraged for this work party, because parking will be somewhat challenging.  A map of recommended parking locations will be emailed to everyone who signs up.  We should be able to provide all the necessary tools, although we encourage volunteers to bring work gloves. 

If you have questions about any of these projects, or other volunteer opportunities, send an email to info@kolaporetrails.org

With the good snowfall we've received over the past few days, and more expected, we hope that the ski season will start soon.  Please don't walk on the trails now that ski season is imminent. 

A full colour publication celebrating the Kolapore Trails 50th Anniversary has just been released.  It has been mailed to all current members, and will be sent to all new members.  The content includes lots of photos, a short summary of the history of the trails, "memorable moments" stories, reproductions of early maps, origins of the trail names, the arrival of mountain biking, natural heritage of the area, and thoughts about the next 50 years.

Thanks to Collingwood Today for this great article on the 50th Anniversary of the Kolapore Wilderness Trails!

The Kolapore Wilderness Trails network is turning 50 years old this year! As we celebrate together, we'd love to collect photos and stories of your Kolapore adventures and misadventures. 

We've created Dropbox upload links for each decade. If you don't know the vintage of your photos, that's fine - just submit them to the General upload.

If you can, please include some information about your photos. Give your photos meaningful filenames or upload a separate document with captions. Or just let your photos speak for themselves!

We'd also love to receive your favourite stories and memories of Kolapore in Word, text or PDF format. Do you remember your first visit? Why do you keep coming back? What's your favourite thing about Kolapore? Did you ever get lost or break a ski pole? Fall off your bike into a creek? It's OK - you're among friends here.

Note that submitted materials may be shared on Kolapore Wilderness Trails social media, on our website, in a slide show or in a 50th Anniversary publication so please only share your photos and stories that you're willing to let us share with others. Thank you for being part of the celebration!

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Please click on a link to submit your photos.

2020s Kolapore Trails Photos and Stories

2010s Kolapore Trails Photos and Stories

2000s Kolapore Trails Photos and Stories

1990s Kolapore Trails Photos and Stories

1980s Kolapore Trails Photos and Stories

1970s Kolapore Trails Photos and Stories

General Kolapore Trails Photos and Stories

The Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association has been able to find a commercial plowing contractor to clear the main Kolapore parking lot for this winter.  This will be moderately expensive, so we need continued support from members and trail users to be able to pay for this service.  We understand that Grey County has arranged a plowing contractor for the new parking lot at the east end of the County Forest trails, just west of Grey Road 2.  There will be ongoing updates about plowing on the Trail Conditions page.

It is with the deepest possible sadness that we share with the community the recent passing of our dear friend and fellow trail builder, Kevin Walsh. Kevin was a Kolapore-area resident, Kolapore volunteer, Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association Board member, and a keen Kolapore skier and biker.

A gofundme campaign has been started by Kevin's friends to support Lisa, Polly and Lea.  https://www.gofundme.com/f/kevin-walsh-memorial-fund?qid=c7640991900c63c783758b1e95ba371c

The Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association was advised January 17 that logging has been completed in the County Forest, and that the trails can be reopened.

Kolapore volunteers have done an assessment of trail conditions and some trail cleanup, but more will be needed in the spring.  Trails east of 6 and 7 were unaffected by the logging.  Although there was quite a bit of rutting by logging equipment, in most sections of the trail the snow has smoothed out the ruts.  Between 4 and 5 some skiers may prefer the lower, flatter, informal trail. Remediation work will be required in the spring to permanently fix the ruts. 

During the logging, a number of intersection signs and numbers were removed, and won't be reinstalled until the spring.  Temporary numbers will be installed at key intersections.