How to get to Blue Mountain?

[MetroMan]

Hey guys, a friend and I got season's passes to Blue Mountain and today we made our first trek there. It was definitely a lot further than we expected since we're planning on going once a week for the entire winter.

Is there direct train service to Collingwood from Toronto? A bit over one hour is acceptable for our weekly trek, but driving for over 2 hours there, and 2 hours back is going to get tiring real quick.

Any advice?

 

[King of Kensington]

There used to be but I think you're about 40 years too late

 

[CDL.TO]

Is there direct train service to Collingwood from Toronto?

Hahahahahahahahahahaha! Direct train service! To a community of less than 3 million! In CANADA! Hahahahahahahaha! *Whew*

Sorry Metroman. Sometimes I've gotta laugh about the rail transportation system in this country otherwise I'll cry.

We might not have it yet, but I think Blue Mountain and Collingwood should look in to winter trains departing TO for Collingwood on Fridays and returning Sundays. Heck, they have Eurostar trains that do this from London to the French Alps, and that's a lot further than Collingwood.

 

[Hydrogen]

I think a portion of the former rail bed is now recreational a bike path.

 

[Zephyr]

I wonder how that Mountain got its name?

 

[adma]

Is there any direct *bus* service, I wonder...

 

[ShonTron]

I think a portion of the former rail bed is now recreational a bike path.

Not the Barrie-Collingwood trackage. There's still rail into Collingwood, though it stops just short of downtown. The Collingwood-Meaford section was turned into a hiking/bike trail.

PMCL has buses to Collingwood, but it's not very frequent. I suggest renting a car. If the roads are good, Airport Road's a good route, kind of scenic, and not too slow once you get past Brampton. Highway 26 is a pain from Barrie.

 

[MetroMan]

^ Thank you!

Airport Rd. looks good but what's the posted speed limit? If we're gonna drive 60 the whole way, we'll never get there even though its pretty much always straight ahead. If we can get away with 100 or more, Airport Rd. will prove to be the best route.
How's traffic on this road?

Route I drew up on Google Maps with SeanTrans suggstion:

GoogleMap

 

[ShonTron]

Except through Caledon East, Mono Mills, Mansfield and Stayner, Airport Road has a posted limit of 80 all the way up to where it meets Highway 26. Yeah, you can get away with 100 except through the villages and the few really curvy parts (like at Hockley Road)

Traffic is never that heavy. Blowing snow might be a problem on bad days to drive, and it is hilly (but mostly straight).

 

[lordmandeep]

airport does become quite windy and steep and hilly after highway 9...

 

[Edward]

If you're looking for speed the 400 is the way to go.

 

[Hydrogen]

Not the Barrie-Collingwood trackage. There's still rail into Collingwood, though it stops just short of downtown. The Collingwood-Meaford section was turned into a hiking/bike trail.

That's the one I was thinking of.

 

[JasonParis]

Airport Road's a great way to go. I'd also highly recommend it for a Fall drive.

 

[lordmandeep]

Airport road can be dangerous if a snow squall hits and one time I drove on it after a winter storm and it was icy only in areas where it goes downhill and turns..

 

[Hydrogen]

That makes it exciting.