The Missing Link

A new ATV route could form a long-missing connection to the Park to Park Trail System. But where will it run?
UPDATE (June 14th 2016): Instead of creating this route permitting ATVs to ride through Parry Sound, council has gone over and above and made it legal to ride any roads in town! Click here for the full story.

Parry Sound Town Council has approved a one-year pilot program that will permit an ATV route through Parry Sound. The route will connect the “missing link” on the the Park to Park Trail system. This roughly 250-km trail system runs from Killbear Park on Georgian Bay south to Parry Sound, then from the other side of Parry Sound east to Kearney and on to Algonquin Park, with a detour south to Huntsville, and a further road connection through Huntsville to Limberlost Road right to the Algonquin Park border.

A large part of the Seguin Trail is based on the railway bed of the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway, built by the local lumber and railroad baron J.R. Booth (an interesting read) to haul lumber west from Algonquin Park for loading onto ships arriving at Depot Harbour (the world's deepest freshwater harbour) beginning in 1888.

One of two possible routes through town will be selected, and until that is finalized it will be difficult to identify local businesses that might benefit from the route such as restaurants, fuel, and accommodations. The proposed route can be seen here.

Photo courtesy of Bear Claw Tours

Two well-known locations will undoubtedly be accessible whichever route is selected. One is the Quality Inn south of Parry Sound, which is directly accessible from the Seguin Trail using the tunnel under Hwy. 400. A Petro Canada, a Licks, and a Tim Hortons are also close by, and directly accessible by snowmobile or ATV.

The other location that should benefit greatly from this is the Parry Sound KOA campground, which is also close and accessible to the same fuel and food stop. The Seguin trail connection passes right through this property, giving it maximum accessibility for ATVs and UTVs. The campground has cabins and cottages to rent as well as RV campsites for very reasonable prices, kid-friendly activities every weekend in season, and plenty of parking for trailers.

This issue has been ongoing in Parry Sound for at least five years, and while this one-year pilot is a step in the right direction, some things won’t be very beneficial for Parry Sound unless the Council loosens things up a bit. Many, indeed most local businesses, accommodations, fuel and food stops will not be on either route, limiting the benefit to them, and people who live in Parry Sound will still have to trailer their bikes to a suitable departure point unless they actually live on the route chosen.

I remain hopeful that once the Council sees that there won’t be hordes of ATVs in their town, and that the ones they do see will be courteous and respectful of their surroundings (much as they are in the surrounding townships), they will expand this route to allow more local access. That is what will most benefit the town of Parry Sound and ATV riders in general.

`
About Adam Columbus

Adam is the former webmaster for the Algonquin West ATV club webmasters. He lives north of Huntsville, Ontario with his family. He is also an ex-business owner from the GTA who is now semi-retired.

Recommended Articles

Everyone is welcome!

Law Change Allows All Off-Road Vehicles Access to Public Roads

Getting Started on ATVing in Ontario

Everything you need to know.

Ride On

How to legally ride ATVs and Side by Sides

Can you ride your ATV in winter? You bet!

Friendly lodges, dedicated trails, guided tours, and more

This Lakefront Lodge Offers Ontario Riders the Perfect ATV Staycation, Rally, and More!

It's an ATV lovers paradise.

ATV Clubs of Ontario

The Complete List

Rally of the Tall Pines: Your Weekend Guide to Canada's Largest Car Rally

It's that time of year again in Bancroft, Ontario!

Will you ride the new electric wave?

Quieter, cooler, made in Canada, and better for the environment—these lean green ATVs have it all.

Central Ontario ATV Club

From Wasaga Beach to Barrie and beyond

Where to Stay in Ontario

10 Amazingly ATV-Friendly Lodges and Resorts

Ontario ATV Events

Poker Runs, Mud Bogs, Charity Rides, Rallies and more!

Winter ATVing

No need to store your ride for the season.

Never Get Lost Again

With the OFATV QuadOn ATV trail app

Which Permit Do I Need for this Trail?

How to Navigate Ontario's ATV Trails

Off-road Adventures Close to Home

The 9 best ATV tours in "Southern" Ontario

What To Pack For An ATV Ride

16 essential items from tool kits to apps and safety gear

Ride Hard, Ride Fast

ATV Riding in Sudbury

Hatfield-McCoy vs Ontario's ATV Trails

Which one is better?

Lumberjacks, ATVs and Country Music

Larry Berrio goes wild in Kapuskasing

A Bucket List Race

The Fourth Wiky Mud Challenge