The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority has announced the forest will remain closed until September 30 as staff continue to clean up after the May 21 storm.
The forest had around 600 acres of tree blowdown from the storm, and downed trees are still impacting main trail access points and systems within the West Forest next to Boundary Road and Porter Road, as well as the Central Forest trailhead located at the Ganaraska Forest Centre.
Logging operations will be occurring throughout the forest until the fall to try and remove some of the trees, and park policy is to close and areas near logging crews.
Even though it was not as severely impacted by the storm, the East Forest will remain closed since it doesn’t have the capacity or the parking areas to support the extra visitors.
Ganaraska Forest memberships will be extended as follows:
Ganaraska Forest memberships (except for cross country ski memberships) purchased between June 1, 2021 and May 21, 2022 will receive a 12-month extension from the original membership expiry date.
Ganaraska Forest cross country ski memberships that expired during the Ganaraska Forest closure (between May 21, 2022, to the re-opening date) will be given a 6-month hiking membership.
Upon expiry, Ganaraska Forest memberships will be automatically renewed for a year, and an email notification will be sent. Once the Ganaraska Forest is opened, a 6-month hiking membership will be automatically issued to cross country ski members and an email notification will be sent.
To learn more, please refer to the “Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Closure of the Ganaraska Forest”. Continue to follow Ganaraska Conservation on Facebook or by visiting www.grca.on.ca.
