Maitland Trail Association 50th Anniversary

Hidden along the banks of the Maitland River, in the heart of Huron County, lies one of the area’s best kept secrets. Fifty years ago on July 2, 1975 a group of passionate hikers came together to form the Maitland Trail Association (MTA) with a proposal to build a trail that follows the river, which now encompasses 54 kilometres from the mouth in Goderich to Auburn. The original dream had been to hike all the way to Wingham, 

Many passionate and dedicated people and organizations were involved in the creation of the MTA. The first  Executive Committee was made up of Heinz Hoernig (Chairman), Jean Knight (Secretary-Treasurer)  and Bill Wisser (Vice-Chairman), with hundreds of volunteers donating their time over the years. 

The starting point was to reach agreements with landowners to allow the trail to be built on their land. The MTA has maintained these agreements with 60-odd property owners for five decades to allow the team to build and maintain trails and bridges, and to allow the public to hike over the land. It is a testament to the dedication of the volunteers and the respect of the users that have kept the trail in place for a half-century. The current board of the MTA asks that you be mindful of the fact that you are a guest on someone’s property while on the trail and that you be respectful of all the landowners who make the trail possible.

Keeping the trail open requires constant care, trimming, erosion control, monitoring for deadfall trees and washouts along the banks. In addition, the trail was significantly impacted by two natural disasters - a mesocyclone in 1995 and the F3 tornado that struck the area in 2011, resulting in hundreds of downed trees along the river. 

In addition to the Maitland Trail, the group maintains several other trails in the area. The Maitland Woods, the Millennium Trail, and Menesetung Bridge and Sifto Loop are all located within the Town of Goderich, and the association maintains the section of the Goderich-to-Guelph (G2G) trail from Highway 21 to Auburn (formerly known as the GART), resulting in the MTA managing a total of 85 kilometres of trails, of varying terrain and difficulty.

The entire trail system is free to use, thanks to the volunteers and fundraising efforts. Annual supporters pay a small fee to help the organization support environmental awareness, outdoor recreation and community engagement.

The trail ranges from easy to moderate to difficult, and passes through a variety of environments, including areas of ecological significance. In the same section, you could experience forests, farmland, riverbank and meadow. Each season brings new views and different adventures. Some sections lend themselves well to a winter snowshoe excursion, while others are a perfect shady stroll on a summer day. 

The current MTA President, Phil Paquette, offered some words of wisdom for hikers embarking on the trail for the first time. “Don’t underestimate the difficulty of the trail. This is a rocky, hilly wilderness trail.” The association has added some footbridges over soggy areas and creeks, for the most part the trail is kept as natural as possible, especially out of respect for the landowners. Always be prepared, including proper footwear and a pack that includes water. 

The association has been publishing a Trail Guide since 1998, to help hikers navigate the trail. The guide has evolved over the years and is now a pocket-sized set of six colourful individual maps covering each section of the trail. Before setting out on a hike, be sure to visit the website for current conditions, news and any reroutes. The website is informative and easy to navigate. (www.maitlandtrail.ca) 

Many events and fundraisers happen each year, but the flagship event is the El Camino walk, where hikers register to hike the trail end-to-end over two days on the third weekend in September. Hikers are supported with a bus to the starting point each day, checkpoints with water, snacks and first aid, shuttles for hikers who need to end early, and volunteers monitoring the trail for safety. Registration opens on May 17, and the event sells out every year, so if you think you’re up for the challenge, get signed up early. 

This year the MTA is celebrating the 50th anniversary with two signature events. The MTA 50 Badge is designed to encourage families and individuals to get outside and appreciate the natural beauty of the trail. Any outdoor activity counts - hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, a quiet walk! Just log your steps on the downloadable form, and when you’ve completed fifty, submit it to earn your golden badge.

On June 14, the group is hosting a Celebration Dinner and Auction at the Goderich Columbus Centre. In addition to the catered dinner and silent auction, the evening will feature music and a cash bar. The keynote speaker for the evening will be Adam Shoalts, professional explorer, writer, and public speaker who adventures across Canada, the Amazon, and the Arctic. Tickets are available at the website, but are selling quickly.   [insert QR code here}

Everyone has a favourite section of the trail. Gena Lowe, 50th Anniversary Committee Member/Website Manager, recommends the Benmiller section for its sweeping views of the Maitland River. The rugged terrain of the trail from Sharpe’s Creek Line to Boundary Line has captured the adventurous spirit of Paquette. Be sure to check out the Hike In Huron section of this edition of Stops for a description of the Auburn to School Road section.

Take a walk on the Maitland Trail and discover your favourite section. www.maitlandtrail.ca 

*photos courtesy of Gena Lowe, MTA