People’s Choice Photo Contest

Show off your favourite photos of the Copeland Forest at the Fall Fair for your chance at a free membership.

The photos will be grouped into two categories:

  1.  People:  Photos of people enjoying Copeland Forest either skiing, walking, biking.
  2. Nature and Landscape:  Photos of the natural beauty of the Forest, from small flowers to trees.

Please bring your photos (up to 3 per category), printed from 4″ x 6″ to 8.5″ x 11″.  Please put your name, phone number, and email on the back so we can return them to you.

The photos will be displayed on a board at the Fall Fair and people will vote for their top three in each category.  Votes will be counted at the end of the Fall Fair.  The winner in each category will get a free one year membership and  the top three photos in each category will be presented at the Annual General Meeting in February.

 

a view to the well known pond in the copeland forest

Temporary Trail Closure for Repairs

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The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry will be conducting trail repairs that include the installation of culverts on one of the main Copeland trails.

The location of this repair work is the main trail between Parking Lot 1 and Parking Lot 2  (see our map for these locations).  Continue reading Temporary Trail Closure for Repairs

New Trail Diversion Around Seepage Area

The Upland of the Copeland Forest is on the edge of the Oro Moraine.  Water seeps out of the hills and helps form the rivers that flow out of the Forest.

In a few instances, single track trails go through these water seepage areas and continued trail usage will lead to a widening of the trails and ecological damage.  At the end of June, six mountain bike members of Copeland Forest Friends Association re-routed 200 metres of trail to avoid one of the seepage areas.

It is our hope that this new route will discourage users from traveling through this sensitive area that is below the new trail.

Later this summer, we will add signs at either end asking users to stay on the trail.

Thanks to the trail crew for their hard work:  Bob, Tony, Ed, Brian, Kody, Johnathan and John.  A special thanks to Bob Hannah for coordinating the project.

New Maps and Signage – Helping You Find Your Way

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A new map of the major trails in the Copeland Forest is now available to help  people enjoy the Forest.  Over 50 new signs enable users to see where they are on a map.

The map and signage are a project of the Copeland Forest Friends Association.  In the public consultations leading to the formation of Copeland Forest Friends, we heard repeatedly that people were getting lost in the Forest.  The new maps and signage will help you locate yourself in the forest and get you back to the main parking lots.

The signs and maps are very user-friendly and we hope will make for a more enjoyable and safe experience for all in the Forest.    Frequently Asked Questions about Copeland Forest Maps and Signage.

Kids pointing at signThe printed map/brochure is printed on tear-resistant, water-repellent paper and is  free to all members of the Association.  You can purchase a copy for $2 at these locations:

  • Craighurst Esso
  • Craighurst KOA Campground
  • Horseshoe Resort Guest ServicesWorth Every Penny
  • Horseshoe Inn Reception Desk
  • Bikeland in Barrie
  • Greenhawk in Barrie
  • Sojourn in Barrie
  • The Bird House Nature Company in Orillia
  • Woodside Pottery & Gallery in Craighurst
  • The Couchiching Conservancy

 

A special thank you to the volunteers of the Copeland Forest Friends Association, particularly the trails committee.  The trails committee members are:  David Kennedy, Andrew Doble, Neil Craig, Ted Greatrix, Bob Marshall, Dave Lord, and Sandy McLoughlin.

This project is one of the key activities included in the 2016 work plan approved under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Association and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests.  The Association looks forward to continuing to assist the Ministry with the management of the Forest.

This project would not have been possible without the financial support of Casino Rama’s Community Cares Program.  The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority provided GIS work for the map.  The trails were mapped by the District Office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and updated by the CFFA.  Thanks to Horseshoe Resort for its support of the project.

Casino Rama

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