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Skip Navigation LinksSimcoe County > Forestry > Swift Rapids Road Closure

Swift Rapids Road Closure


Swift Rapids Road is a utility road which runs from the north end of Carlyon line to the Swift Generating Station and Lock 43 on the Trent Severn Waterway. It is maintained on behalf of the authorized users by the Orillia Power and is not an assumed road.  

Upon entry from Carlyon Line, the first 2.4 km section of road runs through Simcoe County Forest known as Shephard Tract.  Details are available on the mapping tool on the County website. This area is managed by the County of Simcoe and is subject to the County Forest Recreation Policy and associated by-law. In particular:

  • Motorized vehicle use is not permitted within the Shephard Tract;
  • Hunting is permitted as per provincial regulations, however, any other discharge of firearms including target shooting and paintball is prohibited.

There is a gate at the entry to the Shephard Tract that​ ​has been locked during the spring for the last two years. The gate will remain locked going forward to prevent access by unauthorized vehicles. Users are welcome to enter the Shephard Tract on foot or by bicycle.

Beyond the Shephard Tract, the remainder of the land bordering Swift Rapids Road, up to the locked gate at the dam, is provincial Crown land and can be used by the public for recreational purposes.  Information about permitted recreational uses on Crown land can be found here https://www.ontario.ca/page/recreational-activities-on-crown-land.  There are prohibited areas at and near the dam operated by Orillia Power Generation. Trespassing fines can be issued by police and township by-law officers to anyone entering those areas.​