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 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 provincial 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 midnight, Monday November 24, 2025. KWTA's comments on the proposals will address the following topics, and we would encourage you to submit comments as well.
- KWTA supports the establishment of the Kolapore Uplands Conservation Reserve provided that future management balances conservation and recreation
- 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 requests that existing Kolapore Trail blazing, signage and infrastructure remain in place
- KWTA is willing to be an active partner in the stewardship of the Kolapore Uplands, and continue to provide services such as maintenance of the trails by volunteers and snowplowing at a parking lot
- KWTA manages the trails for hiking and biking in the summer, and cross country skiing in the winter. The Kolapore Trails provide a backcountry ski experience that is rare in southern Ontario. Continued application of the policy that cross-country skiing is the only use on ski trails in winter is essential to providing quality skiing. If the policy restricting winter use of the Kolapore Trails to skiing cannot be maintained, KWTA would oppose the Conservation Reserve designation.
