Oro-
Oro-Medonte stretches across the north shore of Lake Simcoe between Barrie and Orillia, climbing inland onto the Oro Moraine and the Horseshoe Valley uplands. Mount St.
Louis Moonstone, one of central Ontario's larger lift-served alpine resorts, sits on the moraine; Hardwood Ski and Bike runs a purpose-built race-quality cross-country and mountain bike network on the same ridge. The Lake Country Oro-Medonte Rail Trail follows a former CN line for roughly 28 kilometres between Barrie and Orillia and carries the Trans Canada Trail through the township.
On the lake, public access at Bayview Memorial Park in Shanty Bay, Carthew Bay, and Hawkestone Memorial Park anchors swimming, sailing, and a year-round Lake Simcoe lake trout and whitefish fishery. Copeland Forest Resources Management Area's 1,800-hectare Crown forest spans the Oro-Medonte / Springwater boundary on the moraine.
Most of the township is a short drive from Barrie or Orillia and about an hour and a half from the GTA.
Today's read.
Real-time conditions updated; AI field notes unavailable.
On the record.
Every claim sourced. Click through to the original.
- 01Mount St. Louis Moonstone is one of the largest lift-served alpine resorts in central Ontario, located in Oro-Medonte Township on the Oro Moraine.Source ↗
- 02The Lake Country Oro-Medonte Rail Trail runs roughly 28 kilometres between Barrie and Orillia along a former CN rail line through the township.Source ↗
- 03Copeland Forest Resources Management Area is a 1,800-hectare provincial Crown forest with multi-use trails on the Oro Moraine, spanning the Oro-Medonte / Springwater boundary.Source ↗
- 04Lake Simcoe (Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 16) supports a year-round cold-water lake trout and whitefish fishery; lake trout season is open January 1 to March 15 and from the second Saturday in May to September 30.Source ↗
8. activities
worth your time
StrongHiking
Copeland Forest Resources Management Area's 1,800 hectares span the Oro-Medonte / Springwater boundary on the Oro Moraine, with multi-use trails open year-round and Hardwood's summer trail network adding purpose-built routes on the same ridge. The Simcoe County Forest tracts within Oro-Medonte add quieter day-use options through working forest, and the Ganaraska Trail's Barrie-to-Orillia section threads through the township across the moraine for hikers chaining longer days.
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StrongCycling
The Lake Country Oro-Medonte Rail Trail runs roughly 28 kilometres along a former CN line between Barrie and Orillia, threading the full length of the township and carrying the Trans Canada Trail through Oro-Medonte. The flat, crushed-stone surface makes the corridor accessible for casual riders and longer touring days alike. Copeland Forest's forest-road network on the Oro Moraine adds gravel options, and the rural concession roads connect everything across the moraine.
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StrongMountain Biking
Hardwood Ski and Bike's purpose-built cross-country mountain bike network on the Oro Moraine is one of the established XC networks in Ontario — race-grade trails on rolling glacial terrain, with lift-free pedal-up cross-country lines rather than gravity flow trails. Copeland Forest's informal singletrack and forest-road network on the moraine adds adjacent terrain, and both centres pull from the same Oro Moraine ridge east of Barrie.
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StrongSailing & Boating
Three public access points anchor Oro-Medonte's Lake Simcoe sailing — Bayview Memorial Park at Shanty Bay, Carthew Bay, and Hawkestone Memorial Park — giving the township substantive shoreline access on one of southern Ontario's largest open-water lakes. The principal Lake Simcoe sailing centres sit on Kempenfelt Bay (Barrie) and Cook's Bay (Innisfil), but the north-shore launches put boats on open water quickly with sheltered bays close at hand.
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StrongSwimming & Beach
Bayview Memorial Park at Shanty Bay, Carthew Bay, and Hawkestone Memorial Park form the township's Lake Simcoe shoreline beach trio — public Township of Oro-Medonte parks with beach access, picnic facilities, and boat launches alongside. The deep cold water along the lake's north shore keeps swimming sharper than the warmer southern bays even in mid-summer.
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StrongFreshwater Fishing
Lake Simcoe's north shore along Oro-Medonte holds cold-water lake trout and whitefish year-round under Fisheries Management Zone 16 regulations, with ice fishing through January, February, and early March on the lake's deep waters. Inshore warmwater bass and pike round out the open-water season, and Bass Lake on the eastern edge of the township carries smallmouth bass and panfish under the same FMZ.
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StrongDownhill Skiing & Snowboarding
Mount St. Louis Moonstone sits on the Oro Moraine inside Oro-Medonte Township, one of central Ontario's larger lift-served alpine resorts by skiable acreage and lift count. Lake-effect snow off Georgian Bay typically opens the resort earlier and extends the season later than the southern Ontario average. The hill is alpine-resort scale only — there is no backcountry, heli, or cat-skiing product anywhere within the township.
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▲ SignatureCross-Country & Nordic
Hardwood Ski and Bike runs a purpose-built race-quality classic and skate cross-country network on the Oro Moraine east of Barrie — track-set, lit, and used by the national-team programs as a training and competition venue. Reliable lake-effect snow off Georgian Bay extends the prime January-through-March window further than most southern Ontario regions manage. Copeland Forest's track-set and ungroomed cross-country trails on the Oro Moraine add a quieter Crown-forest option west of Hardwood, and the moraine's mixed-deciduous canopy threads the network through rolling glacial terrain.
Read field guide arrow_outward15. more outings
surveyed.
Activities supported across Oro-Medonte without a featured write-up.
- 01
Trail Running
Hardwood Ski and Bike - 02
Walking & Strolling
Lake Country Oro-Medonte Rail Trail - 03
Camping
Bass Lake Provincial Park (eastern edge / Orillia boundary) - 04
Nature & Discovery
birding - 05
Paddling — Flatwater
kayaking · canoeing · sup - 06
Surf & Wind
windsurfing - 07
Snow Adventure
snowshoeing · fat-biking · tubing - 08
Sky Watching
Available - 09
Seasonal Phenomena
fall-colours - 10
Wildlife Viewing
Lake Simcoe shoreline - 11
Motorized Touring
scenic-drive - 12
Indigenous Experiences
Williams Treaties territorial framing (Anishinaabe) - 13
Food & Drink
farmers-market · farm-tour-u-pick - 14
Heritage & Culture
heritage-historic-site - 15
Geology & Discovery
Oro Moraine glacial geology (visible across the forest tracts)
Local operators.
Trusted outfitters, guides, and experience providers in Oro-Medonte.
Big Bay SUP Rentals
Stand-up paddleboard rentals in Barrie with 3-hour, day, and weekly rates and optional Centennial Beach delivery
View on AER arrow_outwardBlu Wave SUP
SUP rentals and wing-foil lessons on Wasaga Beach and at Collingwood Harbour, run by Canada's original paddleboard brand
View on AER arrow_outwardBushey Angle Guided Fishing
Year-round multi-species guided fishing out of Barrie on Lake Simcoe, Georgian Bay, the Bay of Quinte and the French River
View on AER arrow_outwardFish Simcoe Hardwater Outfitters
Lake Simcoe ice hut rentals near the GTA, with rods, cameras, and pizza included
View on AER arrow_outwardForest Bathing With Beth
ANFT-certified forest bathing walks across Simcoe County and an annual French River retreat at The Lodge at Pine Cove
View on AER arrow_outwardGeorge'N Charters
Captain-led salmon and lake trout fishing charters on southern Georgian Bay out of the Midland Town Dock
View on AER arrow_outwardGlen Oro Farm
Family-run equestrian farm and forest glamping eco-retreat in Hawkestone, 90 minutes north of Toronto in Oro-Medonte
View on AER arrow_outwardTreetop Trekking — Barrie (Horseshoe Valley)
Aerial adventure park at Horseshoe Valley Resort, 20 minutes north of Barrie, with ziplines and night treks
View on AER arrow_outwardMuskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre
Heritage steamship cruises aboard RMS Segwun and Wenonah II on the Muskoka Lakes from Gravenhurst, plus the on-shore Discovery Centre
View on AER arrow_outwardOrillia Boat Tours
Daily Lake Couchiching and Trent-Severn lock cruises from the Port of Orillia boardwalk, max 4–6 passengers
View on AER arrow_outwardRad Adventures
NCCP- and PMBIA-certified mountain bike camps for ages 4–16 across six Blue Mountain and Georgian Bay locations
View on AER arrow_outwardSilver Gull Outdoors
Guided sunset paddles, paddle-craft rentals, and Outdoor Council of Canada certificate courses on Gull Lake in Gravenhurst, Muskoka
View on AER arrow_outwardSkydive Wasaga Beach
Tandem and solo-student skydiving over Georgian Bay and Wasaga Beach, Ontario, jumps from 12,500 feet
View on AER arrow_outwardSMART Adventures
Year-round off-road riding tours, lessons, and courses on ATVs, dirt bikes, side-by-sides, and snowmobiles near Barrie
View on AER arrow_outwardSouthwinds Marine
Five-diamond Clean Marine in Collingwood with Boston Whaler and Lund sales, full-service slips, and SUP and kayak rentals
View on AER arrow_outwardThe Real Barrie Paintball
Paintball and airsoft on a 50-acre, 17-field wooded site in Essa Township, 10 minutes south of Barrie
View on AER arrow_outwardWasaga Adventure Park
Paintball, airsoft, axe throwing, and combat-archery day camps on a 50-acre Elmvale park, an hour north of Toronto
View on AER arrow_outwardWasaga Beach Parasail
Parasail charter flights at Wasaga Beach with Transport Canada–approved crew, open to ages four and up
View on AER arrow_outwardWasaga Watersports
Powered watercraft, kayak, and paddleboard rentals on Georgian Bay at Wasaga Beach, walk-up bookings only
View on AER arrow_outwardWindrift Adventures
Drive your own four-to-six dog team through Ontario winter trails north of Barrie.
View on AER arrow_outwardWye Marsh Wildlife Centre
Guided canoe, kayak, and snowshoe ecotours through a 3,000-acre National Wildlife Area near Midland on Georgian Bay
View on AER arrow_outwardBancroft Offroad Tours
guided UTV/ATV tours, off-road adventures
Visit website arrow_outwardBlue Mountain Collingwood Adventure Tours
Guided wine tasting, cider sampling, craft beer tours with transportation, outdoor adventures, bachelorette/bachelor tours, custom group tours
Visit website arrow_outwardBorn To Ride Bicycle
Bike rentals (hybrid, mountain, tandem), guided cycling/mountain bike tours, learn-to-ride training
Visit website arrow_outwardCollingwood Adventure Voyages
Fishing charters, boat tours, lighthouse/heritage tours, sunset cruises, shipwreck snorkelling
Visit website arrow_outwardCooks Bay Marina
Pontoon boat rentals (Starcraft, Legend models 18-21ft seating 8-12), fishing boats, jet skis, hydrobikes, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards
Visit website arrow_outwardCottage Country Tours
Guided snowmobile tours, rentals for experienced
Visit website arrow_outwardDiverse Boat Rentals Tours
Boat rentals (bowriders, fishing boats, pontoons), watercraft rentals (kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, jet skis), private captained charters, scenic tours, sunset cruises
Visit website arrow_outwardEagle Max Adventures
Kayak/canoe trips, snowshoeing, guided hikes, caving, bike rentals
Visit website arrow_outwardFish on Ice Fishing
Guided ice fishing for jumbo yellow perch, all-inclusive with on-ice lunch
Visit website arrow_outwardFree Spirit Tours
Kayak, SUP, canoe rentals and self-guided paddles on Nottawasaga River/Jack's Lake
Visit website arrow_outwardFree Spirit Tours
Kayak, SUP, canoe paddling tours/rentals on Beaver River (Heathcote), Nottawasaga River (Wasaga)
Visit website arrow_outwardGeorge'N Charters
Visit website arrow_outwardGone Fishing Tours
Guided fishing charters half/full day: pike, bass, walleye, perch
Visit website arrow_outwardHumdinger Bicycle Tours
Guided and self-guided bike tours, multi-day cycling tours, custom tours, bike rentals, luggage transfer
Visit website arrow_outwardLandmark Cruises
Visit website arrow_outwardMountain View Stables
Horseback trail rides, riding lessons
Visit website arrow_outwardOutdoor Junkys Guide Services
Fishing charters (open water and ice), multi-species: lake trout, pike, muskies, perch, bass; hunting trips
Visit website arrow_outwardPenetanguishene 30000 Island Cruises
Narrated boat tours of 30,000 Islands (90min-3hr), with food/bar/music
Visit website arrow_outwardSail La Vie Sailing School
Sail Canada courses, boat tours, summer camp
Visit website arrow_outwardScenic Caves Nature Adventures
Hiking trails, suspension bridge, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing trails
Visit website arrow_outwardSkydive Toronto Inc
Tandem various altitudes, training, solo cert
Visit website arrow_outwardSR Fishing
Fishing charters year-round: lake trout, whitefish, perch, pike, bass
Visit website arrow_outwardStep it Up Adventures
Private guided hiking, snowshoeing, paddling tours; multi-day backcountry trips
Visit website arrow_outwardSwift Canoe & Kayak - Georgian Bay
Canoe, kayak, SUP rentals
Visit website arrow_outwardThe Beer Bus Co.
Brewery, winery, cider mashup tours; axe throwing add-ons
Visit website arrow_outwardTreetop Trekking Barrie
Zipline & aerial adventure park, treetop trekking, kids courses
Visit website arrow_outwardWolf's Den Sporting Supplies
Outdoor practice range (20-100yds), 3D archery walking course, bow rentals, fishing ponds
Visit website arrow_outwardWood Angling
Fishing charters for smallmouth bass, jumbo perch, northern pike, walleye, lake trout
Visit website arrow_outwardKey resources.
- oro-medonte.caTownship of Oro-Medonte parks, trails, and waterfront
- hardwoodskiandbike.caHardwood Ski and Bike — Nordic and mountain bike trail information
- ontario.caCopeland Forest Resources Management Area — Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
- ontario.caFisheries Management Zone 16 — Ontario fishing regulations