It All Starts Here

Ontario offers a variety of snowmobile-friendly hotels, motels, resorts inns, and bed & breakfasts to accommodate snowmobilers. To ensure that riders can always find suitable lodgings, OFSC trails are laid out through 16 districts to provide direct access to many of them, and many of the best can be found as advertisers on district trail guides. But by virtue of their exact whereabouts, some accommodations make easier and more convenient staging locations than others. 

By staging location, I mean a place that is best situated as the launch point for whatever kind of weekend or weeklong ride you’re planning. What follows is a list of my personal favourites: lodgings that I’ve tried for staging and recommend to other snowmobilers. This is not to say that many other places along the way are not equally good, only that they aren’t my first choice for staging a ride or tour.

Each of these recommended staging accommodations meet my basic criteria of being directly accessible by trail, providing ample truck and trailer parking, having clean, comfortable rooms, and a restaurant on site or next door. Each is also exceptionally well positioned to stage several different days rides from their premises and/or as a gateway staging point for a multi-day saddlebag tour. Which ones will work best for you will depend primarily on where you are coming from and where you want to ride, so take your pick and enjoy! 

Staging in East Central Ontario 

Bancroft Inn & Suites - Bancroft, Ontario 

The Bancroft Inn & Suites is easily accessed by road on Highway 62 or off TOP Trail B106E just north of town (watch for their sign on the east side of rail trail). It provides sled parking in front of rooms, continental breakfast, plus gas, convenience store and supermarket just across the road. Owners Tammy & Curtis Martin are avid snowmobilers, so they understand and cater to sledders and can help with any of your snowmobile-related needs – they even have a free shuttle service to the Bancroft Eatery and Brew Pub for no-hassle dinners. 

For day rides on the Bon Echo Loop, the Hastings Highland Tour (OFSC District 2) and the Madawaska Highland Loop (OFSC District 6).

#SledBonEcho #SledHHTour #OntariosHighlands #Bancroft #WinterFun #Snowmobile

Pinestone Resort - Haliburton, Ontario 

This full-service resort, located on County Road 21 just south of the town of Haliburton, offers excellent food in the Heatherwood Restaurant and pub fare in the Highlanders Bar, plus well-appointed rooms, a full-service spa and wellness/fitness centre with indoor pool. For families and groups, Pinestone offers a variety of villa and chalet options. Includes secure overnight sled parking in a fenced and locked compound, plus direct trail access via Club Trail 7. View ride article 1. View ride article 2.

For saddlebagging the RAP Tour (OFSC Districts 6, 7 & 11) or for day rides throughout the Haliburton Highlands (OFSC District 6), the Northern Kawarthas (OFSC District 2) or the Eastern Part of Muskoka (OFSC District 7).

#RideTheRap #MyHaliburtonHighlands

Staging in the North Bay Area 

Clarion Resort Pinewood Park - North Bay, Ontario

This full-service hotel has an on-site restaurant (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), plus bar, year-round outdoor heated pool, whirlpool, sauna & health spa with massage services. Computer available in the lobby to check trail conditions. Secure sled compound. Direct trail access either via SSR 710 from TOP D or SSR 703 from Lake Nipissing stake line. Fuel & convenience store across the road. 

For saddlebagging the RAP Tour (OFSC Districts 6, 7 & 11) the RAN Tour (OFSC District 11) or launching for other Northeastern Ontario destinations (OFSC Districts 14 and 15), and for day rides to the Mattawa and Loring Restoule areas (OFSC District 11).

#MattawaTravel #RideNEOntario #BIGTrails

Staging in Central Ontario 

Best Western Couchiching Inn - Orillia, Ontario

With direct trail access from TOP B112B (follow local trail to its end at hotel) and gas & convenience store next door, the Best Western Couchiching Inn has an on-site restaurant and bar, plus a hot tub and sauna, and ample parking out back. Located near the narrows where lakes Simcoe and Couchiching meet in Ontario's Lake Country, you can do day rides starting by either land or lake trails.

For day rides to Barrie, Midland, Collingwood, Niagara Escarpment (OFSC District 8) and Gravenhurst (OFSC District 7).

#OntariosLakeCountry

Staging in Grey Bruce Region 

Best Western Inn on the Bay - Owen Sound, Ontario

This full-service hotel with an on-site restaurant, bar, and two hot tubs is located just north of downtown on the east side of the bay. Adequate trailer parking at east end of hotel and direct access by local trail (turn at Intersection Marker 144) off of TOP Trail B on the east side of town. Fuel up at Rockford: turn west off of B108 south at the next road south after TOP B swings west off the abandoned rail line. View ride article.

For day rides on the Bruce Peninsula Tour, the Saugeen River Tour, the Queen’s Bush Tour and the Walter’s Fall Tour (OFSC District 9).

#RideGreyBruce #ExploreTheBruce

Staging in Eastern Ontario  

Best Western Pembroke Inn - Pembroke, Ontario 

This full-service hotel caters to sledders with an on-site bar, pool, hot tub, and fitness centre, with massage services available. Great food served on site at Westwinds Restaurant (breakfast, lunch, and dinner): check out their incredible Saturday and Sunday evening buffets! With fuel and convenience store across the road and ample parking for sleds at front entrance or at rear exit of the hotel. Direct trail access from Club Trail 121 off TOP A. View RAP Tour article.

For saddlebagging the RAP Tour (OFSC District 6, 7 & 11) or for day rides throughout the Ottawa Valley and Madawaska Highlands (OFSC District 6).

#OttawaValley  #Pembroke #RideTheRap

Staging in the Sudbury Area 

Moonlight Inn & Suites - Sudbury, Ontario

This cozy and convenient roadside property is the ideal staging motel for snowmobilers who want to stay in town while riding Sudbury's three great loop tours. Located on the east side right beside TOP Trail C109D (at Highway 17), the Moonlight Inn & Suites offers continental breakfast, free WIFI, fridges & microwaves, plus restaurant next door and Royal Distributing nearby. View tour article.

For day rides on the Cartier, Chiniguchi or Rainbow Loops (OFSC District 12) or for saddlebagging to other Northeastern Ontario destinations (OFSC Districts 14 and 15).

#SledChiniguchi #RideCartier #RainbowElkLoop #RideNEOntario #BIGTrails

Staging in Northeastern Ontario 

Quality Inn - Temiskaming Shores, Ontario

Located on Highway 11 in New Liskeard, this popular staging hotel is a full-service facility with all the amenities for snowmobilers: on-site restaurant/bar, indoor pool, sauna and (great) hot tub, games room, sled parking in front of rooms, and fuel/convenience store next door. Direct trail access via A107Q. View tour article.

For saddlebagging the Gold Rush Tour (OFSC District 14) or launching to other Northeastern Ontario destinations (OFSC District 15).

#GoldRushTour #RideNEOntario #BIGTrails

Best Hotels for Late Season Staging in Northeastern Ontario

While many riders don’t feel the need to trailer to Cochrane or Timmins when there’s snow on the ground farther south, come March the action usually shifts north until at least early April. This late in the season, these are your best bets for staging locations… 

Thriftlodge Cochrane South - Cochrane, Ontario

Good roadside motel with hot tub and sauna, sled parking in front of rooms, on-site restaurant/bar. Located on Highway 11 just south of town with fuel across the road. Direct trail access from TOP A. View ride article.

For saddlebagging the Northern Corridor Adventure Tour, Lumberjack Loop, Missinaibi Expedition Loop and Bobcat Loop (OFSC District 15) or for day rides on the Abitibi Canyon Loop, Gateway to North Loop (OFSC District 15).

#SledAbitibiCanyon #BobCatLoop #GatewayLoop #LumberLoop #MissinaibiLoop #NCAdventure #RideNEOntario #BIGTrails

Cedar Meadows Resort & Spa - Timmins, Ontario

Quebec-style inn with well-appointed rooms, and chalets, on-site restaurant & bar, plus secure sled parking. Don’t miss the fantastic new luxury spa facility with steam room, sauna and outdoor hot pool. Be sure to leave time to visit the on-site wildlife park! Direct trail access off TOP C just north of intersection with TOP A111C. Fuel south on TOP C about 3 km. View ride article.

For saddlebagging the Gold Rush Tour (OFSC District 14), Northern Corridor Adventure Tour, Lumberjack Loop, Missinaibi Expedition Loop and Bobcat Loop (OFSC District 15) or for day rides on the Abitibi Canyon Loop, Gateway to North Loop (OFSC District 15).

#OntarioSnowTrails #GoSnowmoblingOntario #SnowToursOntario #RideNEOntario #BIGTrails

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