At the time of this writing in early February, Ontario is currently being bombarded by its second major snowstorm of the week, with the GTA receiving half an average season’s worth of snow accumulation in that short time. In fact, more snow has fallen in the past 7 days than we received all of last winter, with the northern regions getting even more, thanks to frequent lake-effect squalls whipping off of Georgian Bay.
If you’re a snowmobiler you’ll know all too well about the abysmal riding conditions of the last few seasons. As a result, while driveway shovelers might be booking trips to the chiropractor right now, snowmobilers will be booking trips to the North!
I’ll be sharing with you some of my favourite OFSC trail regions to experience in 2025, because thanks to this massive dumping, we have plenty of season left to get out there and experience the unmitigated thrill that is snowmobiling in Ontario.
I actually rode all of these (this time last year) in a 3 day time span (with some trailering involved) while on a project for Destination Ontario, so depending on your wants and needs, I know for a fact you can experience them all without burning half your vacation days at work.
Affectionately known as ‘Party Sound’ to the locals, this is the perfect region if you’re looking to get away for a day or weekend trip thanks to its close proximity to the GTA (about a 2-hour drive). It’s loaded with plenty of amenities like fuel and tasty restaurants to keep both yourself and your machine satiated. I’ve always staged out of the big parking lot at the Jolly Roger Inn & Resort, conveniently located right off Highway 400 / 69. The trail itself is loaded with variety, consisting of sweeping corners through dense forest, open sections next to the water and a famous rock wall that routinely develops massive ice formations, creating the ideal social media photo spot.
While Sudbury is widely considered a ‘city of lakes’ (due to the 330-some lakes in the region), it is best known as one of the mining capitals in the world thanks to its rich deposits of copper, nickel and platinum. District 12 has some of the most unique topography in the OFSC fold thanks to a meteorite that impacted the region 1.8 billion years ago, which creates more of a ‘lunar’ feel to the landscape with shorter trees and dramatic elevation changes. My favourite spot for unique photos is exiting one of the many purpose-built tunnels that dot the trail, creating some dramatic pictures with contrasting light conditions.
Arguably one of the most pleasurable touring rides on a bright sunny day, District 6 meanders through rock cuts, over unique trestle-style bridges and tightly hugs several rivers complete with rapids, making for a stunning ride with your spouse or a few buddies. Like all OFSC trails, they are meticulously maintained by groomers (who volunteer out of local snowmobile clubs) and offer sledders a safe and consistent snowpack. Another perk of riding District 6 is the multitude of clearly marked signs, making it very friendly and safe even for new riders.
Bonfield is home to Bonfield Snowmobile Club (one of the oldest clubs of its kind) dating back to 1969, founded to give members a chance to socialize while sharing a passion for something they love. Conveniently located along the Highway 17 Corridor between North Bay and Mattawa, with multiple access points to the trail, you can expect to find numerous bridges, ice crossings and wide open field sections. During my last ride here, we had perfect weather (and riding) conditions with not a cloud in the sky. The snow was that ideal consistency where the track hooks up just right yet the skis don’t slide in corners. Tack on a fresh dusting of snow coating the numerous dark green pines, with the blazing February sun dipping into the horizon, I was able to capture some of the most memorable sunset/snowmobile photos in my entire collection.
One thing we’ve learned over the last few winters is that living in the Great White North does not guarantee abundant snow conditions. Whether you pick one of the above loops, all of them, or opt for another of the more than 30,000 km of OFSC trails the province has to offer, make your best effort just to GET OUT and ride!
Ontario law requires a snowmobile entering an OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trail to display a valid Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit.
