Snowmobiling Kirkland Lake: Northeastern Ontario’s Big-Mileage Winter Playground

Kirkland Lake has always had a bit of a shine to it. A mining town built on grit and gold, it turns into one of Northeastern Ontario’s most reliable snowmobiling hubs once winter hits. If you’re an avid rider searching for long miles, consistent grooming, and that wide-open Northern Ontario feeling, this is a destination worth planning a trip around.

Trails Built for Riders Who Want Serious Mileage

The Kirkland Lake region sits in the heart of the OFSC District 14 network, with direct connections to the A Trail, the A110Q, the A109, and the routes that link Tri-Town (New Liskeard / Temiskaming Shores) to Elk Lake and Kenogami. This area stays cold, holds snow, and delivers a long riding season, often well into March.

The Golden Corridor Snowdrifters maintain more than 300 km of groomed trails around Kirkland Lake alone. The club is known for maintaining wide, well-signed routes, smooth bridges, safe crossings, and steady grooming that holds up even after heavy traffic.

One of the most popular full-day rides is the classic Elk Lake Loop from New Liskeard to Kirkland Lake, part of the Gold Rush Tour: Start on the A Trail west through Earlton toward Elk Lake, cut north toward Kenogami Lake, then ride the A110Q straight into Kirkland Lake. From town, hop onto the A109 and A108 to work your way back south. It’s a big, satisfying loop with plenty of speed sections, frozen lakes, bush corridors, and long stretches where you barely see another sledder.

Ride a Piece of the Gold Rush

Kirkland Lake is one of the major staging communities on the 710-km Gold Rush Tour, one of Northeastern Ontario’s signature OFSC multi-day loops. The tour circles through Temiskaming Shores, Elk Lake, Gowganda, Timmins, Matheson, and Kirkland Lake, connecting long-distance riders to some of the best groomed, big-snow terrain in OFSC District 14.

The Elk Lake Loop is a core segment of this tour. When conditions line up, the Gold Rush corridor is known for wide, well-groomed trails, steady snow, and a mix of northern scenery you don’t see farther south, like old mine sites, rolling highlands, frozen lakes, and long hydro corridors that let you stretch the throttle.

What makes Kirkland Lake such a key stop is how seamlessly the trails run right into town. You can unload once, ride for days, and reconnect with the Gold Rush network from multiple access points depending on the weather and grooming.

If you’re planning a multi-day Northeastern Ontario ride, this is one of the most reliable long-distance loops you can pick.

A Town That Welcomes Sledders

Kirkland Lake has always had a strong snowmobile culture, and it shows. The OFSC trails come straight into town, so you can roll in, park the sled, grab fuel, eat a hot meal, or check into your room without ever touching the trailer. For riders doing the Gold Rush Tour or the Temiskaming/Kenogami loops, it’s one of the easiest and most comfortable overnight stops in the region.

Snowmobile-Friendly Accommodations

Comfort Inn Kirkland Lake
A classic stop for Gold Rush riders. The Comfort Inn is right off the trail system, with easy parking for trucks and trailers, and warm-up space for early morning starts. Many riders use it as their overnight base when connecting the A Trail, A110Q, or the corridors toward Matheson and Larder Lake.

Cheminis Lodge – Larder Lake
About 40 minutes east of Kirkland Lake, Cheminis Lodge is a popular staging point for long-distance riders. It has direct trail access, hearty meals, fuel nearby, and the kind of “everyone here rides” atmosphere that sledders appreciate. If you want a classic northern cabin experience with good food and easy morning departures, Cheminis nails it.

Other local motels and lodges also welcome sledders with early check-ins, plug-ins, flexible parking, and staff who know the trail conditions better than most apps.

Terrain Made for Riders

The trail system around Kirkland Lake delivers a mix of everything:

• Dense boreal forest

• Snow-covered rock cuts and ridges

• Abandoned mine sites

• Hydro corridors with long, straight runs

• Consistent northern snowpack

This region stays cold, holds snow, and keeps grooming into late season, which is one of the reasons Quebec riders, Michigan sledders, and southern Ontario groups all make the trip up here.

The Local Snowmobile Community Matters

The Golden Corridor Snowdrifters have a strong presence both on the trails and online through their Facebook updates. Their volunteer crew keeps the network in excellent shape, and visiting riders often comment on how friendly and helpful people are, whether at trailheads or in town grabbing lunch.

If you’re coming from outside the region, check trail status before you go, fuel up where you can, and consider supporting local businesses that keep the snowbelt running.

Why Kirkland Lake Deserves a Spot on Your Winter List

For avid sledders, this area checks all the boxes:

• Long, reliable riding season
• Big-distance loops and strong grooming
• A full network connecting Elk Lake, Kenogami, Matheson, Virginiatown, and Temiskaming Shores
• Accommodations and services that understand snowmobile travel
• Enough wilderness to feel remote, but enough support to ride comfortably for days

It’s the kind of place where you can put on real mileage, carve through long northern straights, and feel that thrill when the forest opens up and the horizon stretches wide. Kirkland Lake is solid, dependable, and built for people who ride hard and come back for more. 

If you’re planning your next winter trip, follow the A Trail north and settle in for some of the best snowmobiling in Northeastern Ontario. Kirkland Lake has earned its reputation mile by mile, snowfall by snowfall.

Ready to ride? Kirkland Lake is waiting.

Info for Québec Riders Heading to Kirkland Lake

Easy Access From Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Kirkland Lake is a natural extension of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue snowmobile network. Riders from Val-d’Or, Rouyn-Noranda, La Sarre, and Amos often trailer across the border or connect via the northern Ontario trail system. Once you hit Ontario’s A Trail, you can ride west toward Kenogami Lake or continue north straight into Kirkland Lake.

Permits & Trail Passes

To ride in Ontario, Québec riders need an OFSC Snowmobile Trail Permit. Buy online before you arrive (seasonal, weekly, or daily options). Trails are monitored regularly, so keep your permit visible.

Trail Signage & Grooming

Ontario trails use letter-and-number identifiers (A, B, C trails + local loops). Grooming around Kirkland Lake is handled by the Golden Corridor Snowdrifters, known for wide, well-maintained corridors and steady updates. Expect clear signage, distance markers, and regular grooming, especially on the A Trail.

Fuel & Services

Kirkland Lake, Virginiatown, Matheson, and Englehart all offer fuel, food, and rider-friendly stops. Many hotels have direct trail access so you can ride right from the lot.

Speed Limits & Rules

Ontario speed limits differ slightly from Québec:

• 50 km/h on public roads where sledding is permitted

• 20 km/h near dwellings or businesses

• No drinking and riding (enforced the same as driving a car)

• Helmets are mandatory, and reflective wear is recommended on shared-use sections.

Terrain Differences

Ontario’s northeastern corridor has long forest runs, frozen lakes, and wide straightaways. It’s less mountainous than some Québec regions, but offers steady snow, remote scenery, and big-loop mileage.

Language & Local Culture

Most businesses in Kirkland Lake are English-speaking, but the region sees many riders from Québec each winter. Expect a friendly welcome—snowmobilers here look out for one another.

Why Cross the Border?

• Reliable early-season snow

• Long, fast runs on the A Trail

• Great loops connecting Temiskaming Shores, Elk Lake, and Matheson

• Easy access for riders from Abitibi-Témiscamingue

• Rider-friendly town with tons of services

Plan Ahead. Ride Far. Enjoy the North.

Kirkland Lake makes it easy for Québec sledders to cross over, gear up, and explore some of the best long-distance snowmobiling in Ontario.

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