There's no end to our Trails!

Tower Trail

Location

South River

Ownership

Crown Land

Management

Forgotten Trails

Length

2 km

Difficulty (1-easy; 2-moderate; 3-difficult)

2 - 3

Supported Activities

hiking, snowshoeing

Amenities

lookout

Surface

backcountry, mixed forest, sand, loose gravel, rock, compacted soil

Rules for Use: 

- motorized vehicles are prohibited on these trails
- do not throw garbage into the forest or along the trails
- for the health of the wildlife and your own safety, please do not feed the wild animals
- please respect 'No Trespassing' signs on adjacent private property and follow the trails as marked
- the hunting of moose, deer, and bear is popular in this area during the fall, so for your own protection, when using trails during the hunting season, consider it essential to wear bright clothing

Safety Considerations:

upper section of the trail is a single track with a grade that exceeds 50% incline
- there is a sharp drop at the lookout summit
- the trailbed is slippery in wet conditions
- Forgotten Trails is working on it, but it is not maintained or signed at the moment, so use of the trail is at the individuals own risk
- all of the Forgotten Trails include sections of uneven tread composed of sand, loose gravel, and rock
- a few routes feature rustic corduroy paths constructed from windfall to help bridge muddy areas
- while the Forgotten Trails are routinely inspected, trail users should be prepared to ford over a new washout or clamber over a recently downed tree
- trailhead may not be visible as signage is intermittent and may have been removed in some places

Maintenance:

- twice a year

Description:

The Tower Trail wanders through a majestic hardwood forest and offers a breathtaking lookout over the Almaguin Highlands.  This trail was originally constructed by the MNR to access the old Fire Lookout Tower, and is now managed by Forgotten Trails, a volunteer trails group based out of South River.  Look around for the original foundation blocks.  Visitors should be prepared for a steep, extended climb, though the view at the top is worth it.  

Directions: 

From the HWY 11/17 junction near Seymour Street, head southeast on HWY 11 for about 57 km.  Turn left at Ottawa Street and right at Dufferin Street.  Dufferin Street will turn left and become Ena Avenue.  Continue onto Tom Thomas Lane and take a slight left at Howard Street.  16 km later, turn right.  The trail is located on the left hand side of the road roughly 1.3 km later.