In 2019 GDA sponsored a 1-day chainsaw safety training day open to volunteers, with training offered by the Ontario Parks Association. In exchange, each participant has continued to volunteer with removal of trees which fall across the trails. Trail users get in touch...
In 2020 we installed a series of beautiful handmade benches throughout the East and West Duffins Headwaters properties. This project was organized by GDA member Rob Ferguson, who researched the best bench designs and coordinated the entire project. GDA member Ian...
In 2021 we purchased trail counters and partnered with TRCA to install them on the East Duffins Headwaters properties. We obtained an additional counter through Trans Canada Trail Foundation. The counters provide valuable data on the number of trail users, and of...
We developed a formal agreement with TRCA in 2019 to permit volunteers to help out on the trails. Our volunteers give hundreds of hours of their time each year to help with routine trail upkeep, removal of fallen trees, trail improvement projects and generally keep...
In 2016 we funded the construction of a parking lot for trail users to access a newly donated section of trails in the Wilder Forest. GDA provided 100% of the funding to create a 30 car parking lot accessible from the Brock Road and adjacent to a horseback riding...
We assist TRCA with trail maintenance on the 200+ km. of trails in the East and West Duffins Headwaters properties. Since 2007 we have supported the TRCA with approximately $15,000 yearly towards the cost of routine trail maintenance such as mowing. Until 2021 we...
In 2016, GDA commissioned Chrismar Mapping Services to develop a set of printed, waterproof trail maps for the area between Lakeridge Road and Brock Road, south of Reg. Rd. 21 and north of Durham Road #5. Uxbridge had claimed the title “Trail Capital of Canada” yet...
Online maps for many of the trails in this area can be downloaded using the app, Avenza. Maps include: Durham Regional Forest Main Tract, East Duffins Headwaters, Dagmar Forest, Clubine Forest, Secord Forest and Wildlife Area, and Goodwood Resource Management Tract....
Many of the trails have navigation posts which have maps and numbers, so trail users always know where they are standing even if they do not have a cell phone or cell coverage. The tops of the posts slope to the north to further aid in navigation. GDA collaborates...