Hike in Huron - Maitland Trail - Auburn to School Road

Just west of Auburn, down Bridge Road, is the entry point for the Maitland Trail (an extensive trail running 52 kilometres between Auburn and Goderich, along with a network of side trails) and several fire cuts through the forest that are well-marked. 

From the parking lot, head west along the lane and you will see the trailhead to the Maitland Trail and from here you will follow the white blazes. (Blue blazes mark side trails along the Maitland Trail). In the spring, you will likely encounter plenty of fishermen, canoes and kayaks taking advantage of the high water. The riverbanks are steep in places affording great views of the river below. While meandering through the reforestation, watch for trilliums and anemones blooming. There is often a lot of evidence of red squirrels with great piles of midden (pine cone scales and scores) heaped under the trees in this section.

Follow the white blazes until you reach the point where the Maitland Trail makes veers right just past Pinery. This will take you north, away from the river for a little more than two kilometers. The volunteers have kindly added an outhouse along this section, one of the few amenities along this rugged trail. A short jaunt to the right at kilometre-marker 48 will bring you to an entry point back into the reforestation and up to a hard right out of the forest and head west along a hedgerow skirting a farm field. The route is well-marked as it is a fairly recent re-route. The trail then turns left (km-marker 46), as you head south and back to the river. This section of the trail is rated easy with fairly flat terrain and a consistent elevation. Once you reach the river and head right again, you’ll experience a short section of hilly up-and-down along the banks gives you a sample of what some of the trail ahead will be like, especially the section from Londesboro Line to Sharpe’s Creek, some of the most difficult terrain on the trail. But for our purposes on this day hike, we recommend stopping at School Road and using this as an introductory hike, and head on back to the car at the bridge in Auburn.

The trail remains open during the spring turkey hunt season, but hikers are reminded to wear bright clothes from April 25 to May 31.