Comments submitted by the…

Comments submitted by the Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association
November 23, 2025

The following comments are being submitted by the Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association in relation to ERO Posting 019-9306, "Expanding Protected Areas in Ontario". The comments focus on two of the proposals - 41. Kolapore Uplands Conservation Reserve and 32 Duncan Escarpment Provincial Park Addition.

The Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association (KWTA) and the preceding Kolapore Uplands Wilderness Ski Trails Committee have been managing trails in the Kolapore Uplands for over 50 years. Currently the Association manages a 50 km trail network for cross-country skiing in the winter and for hiking and mountain biking in the summer. It is estimated that about 35 km of the current trail system are within the proposed Kolapore Uplands Conservation Reserve and that 1.5 km are within the proposed Duncan Escarpment Provincial Park Addition. As a result, the Association has a strong interest in the future management of these lands.

The Association supports the establishment of the Kolapore Uplands Conservation Reserve provided that future management balances conservation and recreation. Over the past 50 years the Kolapore trails have introduced a very large number of people to the recreational, scenic and natural values of the Kolapore Uplands. KWTA wishes to continue to actively manage the trail network in order to make the area accessible to the public. The Association would like to establish an ongoing collaborative relationship with Ontario Parks. We request that the existing Kolapore Trail blazing, signs and infrastructure remain in place.

One of the significant values of the Kolapore Trail system is that it provides backcountry cross-country skiing, which is a rare opportunity in southern Ontario. This attracts skiers from a broad area. The special skiing experience can only continue to be provided if use of the Kolapore Trails is limited to cross-country skiing in the winter. If the policy of limiting the winter use of the existing Kolapore trails to skiing cannot be maintained, the Association would oppose the establishment of the Conservation Reserve.

KWTA provides a variety of user services at no charge to the public. The trails are marked and cleared, and blazes, signs and bridges are maintained, all by volunteers. KWTA currently pays for snowplowing a parking lot on Grey Road 2, and the rental of a toilet in the parking lot. The Association hopes that if the Kolapore Uplands comes under the management of Ontario Parks, that there can be some increased provision of public services, in particular parking.

There are some conflicting uses in the Kolapore Uplands. In particular, parts of the Kolapore trail system have been damaged by ATVs. A small portion of this use is for hunting access, but most of it is for recreational use. The Association hopes that the ongoing impacts can be addressed.

The Association questions the rationale for parts of the proposed expansion of the Duncan Escarpment Provincial Nature Reserve (site 32). Significant natural values occur on only a small portion of the lands proposed for the expansion to the east of the existing nature reserve. The Kolapore Escarpment and Mitchell Creek Valley life science ANSIs cover only a very small part of the proposed expansion. Most of the lands proposed for designation as a nature reserve east of the existing reserve are abandoned farm fields with little or no natural values. Given the limited values of the site, it would make more sense to include these lands in the proposed Kolapore Uplands Conservation Reserve.

Conclusion
The Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association supports the protection of the special values of the Kolapore Uplands. The Association looks forward to a collaborative relationship with Ontario Parks that will allow the continued provision of high quality non-motorized recreational opportunities on the Kolapore Trails.