In 1991, a group of volunteers gathered through the cooperation of STORM (Save the Oak Ridges Moraine), the Metro Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Hike Ontario. These volunteers developed the idea of a system of public recreational trails along the full length of the Moraine, from Albion Hills in the west, to the Northumberland Forest in the East.

The volunteers formed an Oak Ridges Trail Steering Committee and following a series of meetings, the Oak Ridges Trail Association (ORTA) was officially inaugurated at a public meeting held at Albion Hills in May 1992. The main objective of the Association is to develop and secure the Oak Ridges Trail,

"....thereby promoting an appreciation and respect for the Moraine's ecological, cultural and scenic integrity, with the aim of retaining a trail corridor in its natural state." [Oak Ridges Trail Guidebook 1997]

About the Oak Ridges Trail Association
The Oak Ridges Trail Association is a non-profit, volunteer organization that has grown to over 700 members. We are governed by a Board of Directors who have responsibilities for managing the various aspects of the organization. Directors on the Board are elected at an Annual General Meeting. ORTA offers a membership to those individuals who would like to support the organization with a small fee. ORTA in turn, organizes hikes on the trail and makes available to its members a quarterly newsletter in which activities of the organization are communicated to its members. Non members are also encouraged to participate in the Association's hikes.

At present about 250 km of trail, including side trails, have been completed. The trail starts with a link to the Caledon Trailway near Palgrave in the west to the town of Gores Landing on Rice Lake in the east. Efforts are underway to extend the trail further to the east.

Members of ORTA produce a Guidebook of the trail which includes waterproof maps, information about points of interest, and access points as well as information about the cultural and natural history of the Moraine.

ORTA includes ten chapters, each of which has responsibility for a section of the trail. Chapters include Caledon, King, Aurora, Richmond Hill, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Uxbridge, Scugog, Clarington, Hope-Hamilton and Northumberland. Each of the Chapters has a member on the Board of Directors.

ORTA is a member of Hike Ontario. Hike Ontario is a coordinating body for hiking trails in Ontario, Canada. Member organizations have more than 2500 kilometers of hiking trails for you to explore. Hike Ontario also has individual members who share its vision and mission, which is to encourage the development and maintenance of hiking trails and to promote hiking.