Discovery Routes - About Us

There's no end to our Trails!

About Us

Mission Statement:

To facilitate and manage the development, maintenance, and promotion of the region's recreational trails systems, and encourage the use of trails to improve one's health and well being while enjoying the natural beauty and history of Ontario's Near North.

*** Get on the Trail for Life - Become a Member of Discovery Routes! Click here to find out how. ***

You can have a look at the Minutes taken from Discovery Routes' meetings - just click HERE.

Discovery Routes Trails Organization was established in 1992. As a not-for-profit organization as well as a registered charity, Discovery Routes' main responsibilities are to create, maintain, and promote multi-seasonal trails in the Near North region of Ontario. Discovery Routes is a volunteer partnership of community leaders, economic developers, environmental stewards and locally-based action groups. Discovery Routes’ region includes the area from Mattawa to West Nipissing, and from Magnetawan north to Marten River.

Check out a Google Map of our trails

Discovery Routes’ structure includes a Coordinating Council which represents 9 trail partners as well as an Executive Committee which overseas the operations.

Members of the 2007/ 2008 Executive Committee are as follows:

Mark King, Chair

Bill Beckett, Past Chair

Susan Christian, Secretary

Ken Turner, Treasurer

Arne Schmidt, Member-at-Large

Walter Reich, Member-at-Large

Laurie Bachelder, Member-at-Large

Sharon Kitlar, Member-at-Large

David Thompson, Member-at-Large

Mike Martel, Member-at-Large

Vic Trahan, Member-at-Large

As of April 2007, Discovery Routes maintains shared office space within the North Bay District Chamber of Commerce. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

1375 Seymour Street

PO Box 747

North Bay, ON P1B 8J8

T: (705) 472-8480

F: (705) 472-8027

discoveryroutes@sympatico.ca

Discovery Routes promotes the use of trails in support of better health, tourism, strong communities, and environmental appreciation and protection. One of Discovery Routes' main goals is to provide the coordination for community based partnerships to actively promote the use of local trails for recreation, and to encourage healthy lifestyles.

DRTO is involved in the ongoing development of the region's component of the Trans Canada Trail with grants from the Trans Canada Trail Foundation, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and local support. Click here to find out more about local progress on the Trans Canada Trail.