The Ganaraska Trail in Queen Elizabeth Wildlands QEW offers some of the most rugged and ‘primitive’ trail hiking experiences around. Last Labor Day holiday I took a trip to explore the least visited reaches of the QEW hiking trails. I found solitude, lovely seldom used campsites, and pleasant walking.

I also found significant navigation challenges as there is lack of detailed data on good camping spots, the primary map of the area has many serious inaccuracies, and the trail blazing is hard to follow.

Conditions

• This trail is rough as this is a less accessible section of the Ganaraska Trail. As a result it gets little use and less maintenance.
• Bugs can be bad in QEW and with recent rain I have no reason to suspect they won’t also be an issue. Head-nets are highly recommend as well as bug spray.
• Campsites (if they exists) are primitive and the are privies/thunder-boxes so cat-holing experience is important.
• The trail will be overgrown and invisible in sections. Often times the only signs are the trace on a GPS. You can help by installing the “Avenza PDF maps” app (free) and downloading the “Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park Backcountry Map”(Free) Here are links

https://www.avenza.com/avenza-maps/

https://www.avenzamaps.com/maps/search.html?query=Queen%20Elizabeth%20II%20Wildlands%20Provincial%20Park%20Backcountry&location_mode=map_input&location=&sort=relevance&price_max=1&page=0&debug=&current_map_id=&location_box=45.076391693020014%2C-78.694111262207%2C44.51930223528573%2C-79.31689873779294&vendor_ids=&category_ids=&merge_mode=v4&debug_ids=

Logistics planning spreadsheet

Please fill this out when you sign up.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XLaCZaz9M2TIsTrpZZ8baK0_naI0zhH2Wu_dw6KhLZk/edit?usp=sharing

The parking lot is small so minimizing the number of cars is important. Please add your details to the trip planning spreadsheet ASAP so carpools can be arranged.

The itinerary

Distances are not given because they are variable. The hiking will be a steady pace from about 10 - 6. not fast but we will not be stopping much.

Day 1, Saturday:

We will start in Queen Elizabeth Wildlands leaving from the Victoria bridge trailhead at 10:30 AM. Below are driving directions from downtown Kitchener to the trailhead.

https://goo.gl/maps/6eeUWxWxjo62

We will hike west along the Ganraska Trail west and camp somewhere on the ‘High Falls’ Loop section of Trail’.

Day 2, Sunday:

The destination is variable based on how fast the group and trail are but likely we will aim for somewhere east of Hiker’s Graveyard to make a shorter day on Monday.

Day 3, Monday (Labour Day):

We will hike back to Victoria Bridge somewhat scratched up. We may be there early or late afternoon depending on where we camp Sunday night.

Money

QEW does not has any fees. You should expect to split the cost of gas with your driver and fellow passengers.

I am collecting $1 as a deposit, I will return it to all who attend the trip.

You can find a map of QEW here.

http://www.explorethebackcountry.com/qewmap