Length – Â 32 km (one way)
90% Â rail trail path
10% Â road crossings (some are busy), detours
Elevation – Â flat, straight, bridges, shaded woodlots, farm fields
Terrain – wide path, crushed stone, gravel, a little asphalt
Skill – Easy
Traffic – bicycles, hikers, horses, cross-country skiers
Facilities – Â parking, outhouses, local services in Collingwood, Thornbury, Meaford
Highlights – Georgian Bay, Thornbury bridge, Craigleith train station
Trail Fee – free
Maps – signpost markings and milestones
Phone – 1 888 227 8667
Website – Georgian Trail , Cycle Simcoe, Georgian Bay Tourism
Similar Trails – Caledon, Hamilton to Bradford, Millennium
Local Clubs – Collingwood Cycling Club (road riders)
Access – Parking by trail at many locations.
History – In 1872 this rail line was constructed by the North Grey Railway between Collingwood and Meaford. Trains carried timber, quarried stone and oil to markets south. Yes Craigleith had oil in its shale beds.
Passengers and tourist were sent north to Craigleith station for ski holidays at Blue Mountain up until passenger service ended in 1963. Eventually CN freight stopped running and the tracks were removed in 1985 to become this trail route.