Bethany Ontario

It’s February and with a winter like the one we’re having this year, it can seem like it’ll never end. Why not brave the cold and have some fun?  Bethany is home to wonderful trails for snowmobilers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

There is an old rail line – the Victoria Rail Trail – to the immediate west of Bethany Village that is part of an extensive trail system.

It is an 85-kilometer rail trail with corridors linking Kinmount to Bethany, through Fenelon Falls and Lindsay. This public trail is open year round for recreational uses and is fantastic for snowmobiling.

It offers sports enthusiasts splendid panoramas and vistas, including views of lakes and waterways, meadows and valleys, and rolling hills and forests.

This scenic rail trail is divided into 3 sections for easy access and your snowmobiling pleasure. The North Corridor follows the former CN rail line north, from Fenelon Falls to Kinmount.  Stop for a break at Island Park or view the falls at Trent-Severn Waterway Lock 34.  The trail follows Cameron Lake and then the Burnt River, leading into Somerville Tract, which is heavily forested.  After leaving the Forest, head north past the Crego Creek Bridge and into Kinmount, the Historic Austin Sawmill and the old railway station are part of a community park.

The Central Corridor begins in the north end of Lindsay at Thunderbridge Road and takes you north to Fenelon Falls.

The South Corridor, the old CP Rail Line, extends 30 kilometers from Lindsay to Bethany.  This trail begins off King Street E. with the new Rotary Trail – 1.5km of paved pathway.  Going south from Logie St. the trail follows the old CP Rail line to Bethany, progressing through farmlands and the natural areas of Fleetwood Creek Valley, bordered by the Bethany Hills.  A portion of the trail passes through the newly formed Windy Ridge Conservation Area. An easy access point for Bethany residents and visitors is at the intersection of Ski Hill Rd. & Jackson St.

If 85km of pristine trails aren’t enough to whet your exploring appetite, the Central Ontario Loop Trail is a marketing partnership promoting a shared-use regional trail system passing through five counties. This system is a unique 450km loop of publicly owned trails and covers a huge area of Central Ontario including Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

However, if snowmobiling isn’t your thing, don’t worry! There are plenty of other ways to enjoy the local trails including walking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ATVing.