Central Ontario Geocachers

COG Spring Fling V

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Geocachers Guide to COG, the Universe, and Everything

Barrie

The largest urban centre in the Central Ontario Region. Barrie Features a 7km Waterfront park system and trails that end at the Oro-Medonte Rail trail (28km Barrie<->Orillia). Barrie features all modern ammenities, and fine dining if you become sick of eating campfire marshmellows. Great places to geocache in town include little lake in the north end of the city, Ardagh Bluffs in the South west end, and Sunnidale park. Barrie also contains trails such as the nine-mile portage, and Trans-Canada Trail

Copeland

Enjoy The Copeland Forest, home of Ontario's Second oldest cache, and a hike-and-a-half you wont soon forget! Take a walk along the Ganaraska Trail, and enjoy the rolling hills of the Oro Morraine ecosystem.

Geocaching map of the Copeland Forest

Wasaga Beach

The worlds Largest Freshwater beach, and quite the party spot. If your looking for bikinis, beach volleyball, and some stiff drinks, your destination should be here... in summer (HA!)

Geocaching map of the Wasaga Beach

Orillia

Flanked at the narrowing between two lakes; Simcoe and Couchiching (or the "Couche" as some call it), Orillia is known for its fantastic history and beaches. Casino Rama is also a big draw for visitors.

Huronia

Huronia is jammed to the brim with caches along the Severn Sound shores, linking Penetanguishine, midland, Port McNicoll, Victoria Harbour, and Waubaushene. A historic town of Ste. Marie shows how life was in the 1600's along Lake Hurons Shores. The French/Native Heritage of the region is visable even today in many of the signs and older buildings. There is even an interesting dialect of "Franglais" that is spoken in some parts, noteably in Lafontaine.

Collingwood/Bruce

Enjoy hiking in the Blue Mountains, or along the Bruce trail as it touches the shores of Lake Huron. Enjoy the old Collingwood shipyard, fossil hunting in Craigleith, or just hang out in the resort town of blue mountains and enjoy the food!

Geocaching map of Blue Mountain Resort

Minesing Wetlands

If you are up for a Canoe, nothing beats caching along the Nottawasaga River in spring. This unique 6,000 hectare wilderness is located north-west of Tiffin. The undisturbed nature and habitat diversity is of prime importance to birds for spring migration, nesting, staging for fall migration and as feeding grounds. This wetland plays host to great numbers of waterfowl including Buffleheads, Scaups, Gadwalls, Black and Ring Neck Ducks. Flocks of Canada Geese and pairs of Whistling Swans are common. On the outer edges where forest meets farmland you may be rewarded by observing Sand Hill Cranes stopping over on their migration to Western Canada. A diverse selection of plants and animals within a range of habitats including Boreal and Carolinian forests make this wetland of extreme interest to many. Keep looking up! Bald Eagles and other regionally obscure birds are quite common in the swamps!

Geocaching map of the Minesing River

Outside Simcoe County

Bruce Penninsula (1 hour west)

Experience the thrill of the niagara escarpment as the beach! Limestone Cliffs plunge into the icy waters of georgian bay, caves and grottos make for a fantastic shoreline. Shipwrecks and underwater plunges make this a fantastic spot for scuba diving. Travel along the bruce trail through this world biosphere, and see some of the oldest trees in the world (even though they only may be a few feet tall).

Toronto / GTA (1 hour south)

The Largest city in Canada. With over 1400 named parks within the city, Toronto is a great area to cache with a wide variety of both urban and rural style hides. Toronto has Canada's only urban National Park (Downsview), as well as an exceptional variety of international cuisine, and historic villages (cabbagetown, corktown, the distillary district, casa loma, etc). Toronto is branded as the 'Tree city', and has the highest viewing platform in the world at the CN tower.

Muskoka (1 hour north)

aka COG-North, The lower canadian shield and Torontos cottage country - thousands of lakes and islands with a rocky shell. Sparsley populated outside of summer, and a great area to explore with or without a canoe.

If you are considering these or other areas, the COG Fling Team will be happy to suggest other great destinations and caches in the area!