Bruce County Trails

Bruce County Active Transportation and Recreational Trails Master Plan

On Thursday, September 21, 2023, the Transportation and Environmental Services Committee received the Bruce County Active Transportation and Recreational Trails Master Plan. This plan recommends goals for existing and future active transportation and recreational trails within the County Road rights of way and County Forests.

Through stakeholder consultation and an online survey, a plan was developed that recommends seven goals to improve active transportation and recreational trails in the County.

The Master Plan is now closed for public review and comment. We appreciate your feedback as it will assist us with future development of trail.

Bruce County Forest Trails

Bruce County manages approximately 12,000 acres of forest land in the county that are separated into varying tract sizes. Within these tracts the County presently manages and maintains four non-motorized multi-use trail properties that specialize in single track trail design suitable for activities such as mountain biking and hiking. Single track trails are designed to be open and flowing and much narrower than traditional double wide trails blending into the natural environment giving users a much closer connection to nature. These trails include:

• Brant Tract
• Carrick Tract
• MTB Park
• Lindsay Tract

For more information on these properties please visit the links below:

• Explore the Bruce
• Mountain Biking the Bruce

Keep up to date on closures and conditions on Facebook:

• Mountain Bike on Facebook

Rules and Regulations

• Regulations for Off-Road Vehicles and Snowmobiles on Bruce County Highways
• Regulations for the Bruce County Rail Trail and County Forests

The Bruce County Rail Trail

The Bruce County Rail Trail extends from the Huron-Bruce Road through the towns of Mildmay, Walkerton, Paisley to Port Elgin, southerly to Bruce Power and is approximately 80km in length.

The Rail Trail is a multi-use trail resource that includes a variety of permitted motorized and non-motorized use. Non-motorized activities include cycling, hiking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding. Motorized uses include snowmobiles, ATVs, and Dual Sport Motorcycles with a valid permit.

Over the past five years, surface improvements have been completed to cover the old ballast stone with finer aggregate, enhancing accessibility for walking and cycling. These improvements are now complete. The county will continue to perform routine maintenance annually to ensure the trails remain safe and enjoyable for the public. 

Motorized Use on County Lands

The use of off-road vehicles is prohibited on county lands except in approved areas. The county does not oversee motorized use but provides access to local clubs by way of an agreement for the use of lands. Permits can be purchased through the clubs listed below. The fees collected from permit sales go directly into trail infrastructure improvements that are overseen by the motorized clubs and agreed upon by the county. For more information on trail maps and permits, visit the links below.