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Nestled between the fun loving Muskokas in the south and the remote wilderness of the north, the Almaguin Highlands have long remained a mystery to the rest of Ontario. What many people are not aware of however, is that the Highlands are overflowing with natural wonders and historical lore from which a legacy of Forgotten Trails has emerged.
The Forgotten Trails, which include the Old Nipissing Road, Old Muskoka road and Old Rye road, signify a group of long forgotten colonization roads that brought the first settlers to their promised tracts of free land in the north. These trails are brushed and marked each spring and the Forgotten Trails brochure which includes a detailed map of the trail system and interesting information about the trails is available at local businesses and at the Visitor Information Centres. Footprints in time...
Today, the remnants of the trails left behind by the previous inhabitants of the area have been meticulously researched, cleared and re-opened so that wilderness and historical enthusiasts can explore the wonders and mysteries that abound in the Highlands. There are hiking, cycling and driving trails to meet every outdoor adventurer's wants or needs.Even though the settlements along the trails have long since disappeared, the paths continue to wind their way through the beautiful Highland forests keeping the stories of forgotten tales and forgotten trails alive. Relive history by travelling Almaguin Highland's Forgotten Trails today! Hiking Trails LOXTON BEAVER TRAIL - 8.5 KM LOOP MOOSE MOUNTAIN TRAIL - 2 KM LOOP TOWER TRAIL - 2 KM MUSKOKA TRAIL - 2 KM Cycling Tours RIDGE TRAIL CYCLING TOUR - 19 KM LOOP EAGLE LAKE CIRCLE TOUR - 15 KM LOOP OLD NIPISSING ROAD CYCLING TOUR - 40 KM ONE WAY Driving Tours COUNTRY ATTRACTIONS DRIVING TOUR - UP TO YOU! LAKE BERNARD CIRCLE TOUR
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Signposts with the Forgotten Trails logo are a familiar sight throughout the district and direct visitors to a system of all season trails that are used for hiking and cycling in the summer months.
The Forgotten Trails are a network of trails which trace the footsteps of the first inhabitants of the area. This includes the paths of the Huron, Ojibway and Algonquin aboriginal tribes who shared the Highlands for hunting game. In fact, for many years during the early 1800's while the lands around the Almaguin region were being settled, the aboriginals managed to keep explorers out of the Highlands by purposely leading them away from the region and their precious hunting grounds.It was not long however, before the early explorers discovered the natural beauty of the Highlands and the aboriginals paths in the area ceased to exist.
After the discovery of the Highlands by surveyors, logging companies began to move into harvest Almaguin's timber stands. When logging was established in the area, the government began to promote the settlement of the region in the mid 1880's by upgrading logging roads and constructing the Nipissing-Rosseau and Muskoka colonization roads. Enticed by free land, families moved into the region only to have their dreams of settlement dashed by harsh climates, infertile soil and isolation.When the railway reached the area in 1886, many of the disillusioned families moved back to southern Ontario or into western Canada. The trails and communities they developed while in the area fell into disrepair and were forgotten in time.
The Tower Trail wanders through a majestic hardwood forest and offers a breathtaking lookout over the Almaguin Highlands. This trail was originally constructed by the MNR to access the old Fire Lookout Tower. Look around for the original foundation blocks. Hikers should be prepared for a steep, extended climb.
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