The Maitland Trail, approximately 52-kilometers long, stretches between Goderich and Auburn, in beautiful Southwestern Ontario. In total, the MTA maintains over 80 kilometers of trails available for public use year-round. Our Trail Guide is available for purchase, and there is a kmz file that you can download.

A subscription is a convenient way for you to pay your membership fees or to make donations automatically using PayPal. Membership subscriptions are for 5 years, and you will receive a membership card each year, and a reminder when your membership fees are due next. Donation subscriptions are $5 per month and have no expiry date. You’ll receive a tax receipt each January. Subscriptions may be cancelled by you at any time through PayPal.

PayPal is convenient and an increasing number of people prefer to pay online, rather than using regular mail. Note: to use PayPal, you don’t have to have an account; you can use a credit card through PayPal. Also, PayPal saves our volunteers time and money. We also accept e-Transfer as a method of payment.

No, non-members are always welcome to join our free organized hikes and bike rides if you register in advance and sign the online waiver. However, there are benefits to becoming a member, such as receiving our Newsletter and invitations to events directly to your inbox.

We recommend that you wear sturdy footwear appropriate for the weather and terrain. Some of our trails are wide and flat and are well suited to hiking sandals. However, some trails are quite rugged and natural, and home to sharp sticks, spiders, and poison ivy. We want you to protect yourself and enjoy your hike. For organized events, our hike leaders have the right to refuse a participant who they deem to be unfit or unprepared for a hike. Your safety and enjoyment are important to us.

Yes, contact the Hike Leader at least 24 hours before the hike so they can plan accordingly. Some hikes require transportation or last-minute details to be communicated, and some outings are weather dependent. Guided hikes also have a limited number of participants.

Check the schedule on our Events page, and contact the Hike Leader at least 24 hours before the hike. Be sure to thoroughly read the hike description so you are aware of the difficulty level, length of time and all other important details.

Dogs on leash and children are usually welcome on hikes, although not all hikes are suitable in length or difficulty for those with very short legs. It’s best to call the hike leader to ensure your dog and/or child will enjoy the hike. Please be sure to clean up after your pets.

Permission of landowners is granted for foot traffic only, i.e. no motorized vehicles. Also, there are many sections where cycling and horseback riding are not appropriate or safe. Note: Parts of the G2G Rail Trail are suitable for snowmobiling for those with valid permits, and horseback riding, excluding the section west of Highway 21, and the Menesetung Bridge.

You may order an End-to-End badge from the MTA Store. You can earn the badge if you hike the entire trail on your own or during the MTA guided tours. Have you heard of the annual MTA Camino? Check out the El Camino page under Events.

MTA volunteers work very hard to ensure that trails are as safe as reasonably possible. While enjoying your hike, please be responsible on the trails and follow the safety guidelines. Always be aware of your surroundings including possible wind damage that could shake branches loose from above. Please report any unsafe conditions that you encounter.

Volunteers are vital to the MTA, so we have numerous volunteer opportunities. Trail Rangers adopt a portion of the trail, deal with small maintenance issues, and report larger issues to the maintenance crew. Our Thursday Trail Crew fix larger problems, and continually improve structures and access. Hike Leaders are trained to lead hikes throughout the year. Occasionally, we also require additional people to help at special events or administration.

MTA is registered with Canada Revenue Agency as a non-profit organization and membership fees are not considered to be tax-deductible donations. We are only permitted to issue a tax receipt if there is no return monetary value for the donor. A membership has value and, therefore, does not qualify. Of course, we will gladly issue a tax receipt for donations.

Excellent question! Donations are an important source of revenue for the Maitland Trail Association. We are an all-volunteer organization. Monies raised through memberships, donations, etc. are used for trail maintenance, event funding, insurance, and operating costs.