Glenelg

Length – 25 km

Cross-Country track set – 25 km
Skate Skiing  groomed – none
Snowshoe  trail – none

Skill – intermediate, advanced

Terrain – rolling hills, tight paths, mixed forest, meadows

Hours – daylight, organized moonlight ski

Fee – Adult pass $10, under 18 years free, use fee boxes

Trail Map – well-signed maps at junctions, no paper map

Facilities – parking, outhouse

Highlights – challenging, scenic, wilderness, moonlight ski (if you join the club)

Phone – none

Website –  Glenelg Nordic Ski Club

Current Conditions  

Similar Trails – Massie Hills, Mono Nordic,  Ganaraska Forest 

Local Clubs –  Glenelg Nordic Ski Club,  Bruce Ski Club

Access – The parking lot is located at the NW corner of Hamilton Lane and Concession 8. These are gravel roads and not all are cleared in the winter. Access is from the north, down Hamilton Lane from W Back Line.

No dogs or snowshoeing on trails please.

The 25 km of trail at Glenelg offers cross-country skiers a bit of backcountry solitude in the middle of S.W. Ontario farm country.

The terrain is hilly with quick dips and turns on narrow paths that are track set for only classic Nordic skiing. (no Skate Skiing) There are a few open flat meadow areas too in this large forest area.

As half of the land is privately owned, not all trails on the map may be open and groomed by the volunteers.

The ski club actively maintains these beautiful trails for seasoned skiers to roam on. Sign posts with decent maps will get you around. It could be tricky on some runs as these are two-way trails. Skiers descending have the right of way.

Parking is at the lot, on the corner of a quiet side road intersection. There is an outhouse, otherwise you pay and off you go. This is what I call a rustic location.

There are no other comforts/amenities here so you need to pack what you need and travel with confidence that you can make it back to your car. The closest town is Markdale, 6 km away.

Winters can get cold and lonely out here where there is no ski patrol to help you out.

So it is ill-advised for beginners to venture here or anyone on their own.

The red line on the map shows the snowmobile route, which is popular, so cross carefully.

Being a little higher in elevation and north enough, this area gets enough snow most of the season.

Sadly, I passed by here a little late in the day to ski it, so consider my review “in progress”. From what I saw, the trails certainly were inviting and I will be by again to take them on.

Though Glenelg is little known, if the snow is there, the skiing will be memorable.