George G. Newton Nature Reserve is one of the hidden gems of our Nature Reserve system. Located just a few kilometres from the shore of Lake Huron between the towns of Goderich and Bayfield, this 33-hectare nature reserve is tucked away on a quiet gravel road.
The property features approximately 2 kilometres of trail, including an easy upper loop and a more challenging lower loop. The upper trail meanders through rolling hills, passing a fascinating combination of natural and human history. Here, you will see a handful of massive maple, walnut and catalpa trees – some of the largest in the area. An old barn foundation is still visible along the trail, while other evidence of the property’s agricultural past is being reclaimed by nature, except for a few remnant plants which escaped from the former homestead gardens. Portions of the trail also traverse a mature pine plantation (a common restoration technique used in the mid-20th century to reclaim farmland) that is slowly giving way to hardwoods.
Uphill forest trail, G. G. Newton Nature Reserve, 2011 © Mark Carabetta
The lower trail, however, poses a challenge for hikers. It slopes steeply through a dense grove of cedars, eventually meeting and following a creek. There are a few points along the creek that provide a peaceful vantage point to view the floodplain, before the trail rises steeply back through the cedars to connect with the upper loop.
In 2023, the Huron Fringe Field Naturalists, whose members steward the property, identified various problem areas along the upper trail. Deteriorating steps at the entrance, a steep and often slippery slope, and an area of significant erosion created challenges for hikers and made the trail difficult to use in wet or wintery conditions.
G. G. Newton Nature Reserve BioBlitz, 2016 © Rachel White
Thanks to the generosity of Trillium Mutual Insurance and Capital Power, Ontario Nature was able to hire TREADscape, a sustainable trail builder, to re-route these problem sections. TREADscape completed the work in November 2024, and the upper loop now features more gentle grades and is more accessible for visitors.
“Years before I began working for Ontario Nature, I discovered George G. Newton Nature Reserve’s lovely trail network. Since then, I have been a frequent visitor for dog walks, early morning birding or the occasional trail run. It’s been awesome to be a part of making this trail network more accessible, and I hope it will lead to others discovering and coming to appreciate it as I have.”
– Marcus Maddalena, Nature Reserves Manager
Entryway trail, G.G. Newton Nature Reserve, 2014 © Noah Cole
In spring 2025, Ontario Nature will be hosting an official trail opening. Visit our events calendar soon for information about the upcoming event. If you’re interested in visiting before that, you can learn more about this nature reserve on our website.
The George G. Newton Nature Reserve trail improvement project is generously supported by Capital Power, Trillium Mutual Insurance and Walmart.
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