20th anniversary for South Huron Trail
MacNaughton-Morrison Trail, linking Exeter and Morrison Dam Conservation Area, celebrates 20th anniversary in 2024
MacNaughton-Morrison and Morrison Dam Conservation Area trails combine to form eight-kilometre South Huron Trail; The creation of the popular trail, 20 years ago, is thanks to donors, volunteers and landowners
The MacNaughton-Morrison Section of the South Huron Trail celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2024. The celebration of the trail’s 20th anniversary is fittingly celebrated on Ontario Hiking Week, the first week of October.
The ribbon was cut ceremonially, to officially open the MacNaughton-Morrison Trail (MMT), on Sunday, October 3, 2004. Since the trail’s creation 20 years ago, there have been many additions to the trail system, including the construction of Stirling Bridge; the construction of Jones Bridge; the Brian Clarke memorial stairs; the creation of the Woodland Reflection Shelter; the addition of the South Huron Trail Mobile to make the trail accessible to people with limited mobility; and much more.
Today, a group of volunteers called the Friends of the South Huron Trail helps with spring cleanups and fundraising. Dave Frayne is Chair of Friends of South Huron Trail. He says the trail is only possible thanks to donors, volunteers, and the landowners along the trail, who permit the trail to cross their property. The creation of the trail was a momentous task made possible by a partnership of service organizations and the local community.
The benefits of the trail are many, he said, from preserving nature to enhancing physical and mental health through outdoor recreation to the social benefits of meeting neighbours to the economic benefits of attracting visitors and new residents to the area.
In 2024, to celebrate the trail’s anniversary, Ausable Bayfield Conservation staff and local volunteers are working on a video about the trail. Watch in the coming weeks for a new video on the Ausable Bayfield Conservation YouTube channel.
The South Huron Trail is an eight-kilometre, all-season trail that winds through the scenic Ausable River Valley. This accessible trail links MacNaughton Park in Exeter, Ontario and Morrison Dam Conservation Area (MDCA), at 71108 Morrison Line, just two kilometres (km) east of Exeter. The South Huron Trail combines the MacNaughton-Morrison and MDCA trail sections. Thanks to trail loops of different lengths (2 km, 4 km, or 8 km), people can spend 20 minutes or two hours enjoying nature.
The trail offers many benefits. It is a place to experience nature, remember loved ones, enjoy fellowship and renew friendships, take part in spiritual reflection, be active in recreation, and improve one’s health. It has also been used for fundraising events and attracts people to visit and stay in the area.
To learn more about the South Huron Trail, and to download a brochure guide to the trail, visit the South Huron Trail web page.
VIDEOS ABOUT SOUTH HURON TRAIL
- In 2014, a video was created about the history of the South Huron Trail. The video featured interviews with George Godbolt, Kristin Strang, Susanne Strang, Bonnie Sitter, Tom Prout, Dave Frayne, and the late Ted Jones. To watch the video (South Huron Trail Tenth Anniversary 2004 to 2014), click on the YouTube link.
To celebrate the trail anniversary, you are invited to enjoy some of these other trail videos:
- Volunteer Peter Moseley-Williams discusses the importance of local trails
- Virtual Tour of MacNaughton-Morrison Section of South Huron Trail – 4K Ultra-High Definition UHD
- Morrison Dam Conservation Area and the South Huron Trail in 4K UHD video