31 Ways To Get In The Know About Snowmobile Trail Riding in Ontario

Snowmobilers in Ontario have loads of resources when it comes to our favourite winter activity. Check out one (or all) of these 31 sites to get informed.

By Craig Nicholson—The Intrepid Snowmobiler Craig Nicholson is an International Snowmobile Hall of Fame powersports journalist, who specializes in writing about snowmobiling.

September 18, 2024

One of the many benefits of Ontario snowmobiling is that riders have plenty of choices. There’s an abundance of destinations, staging areas, trails, lodgings, restaurants, sled rentals, and guided tours. And in this huge province, these options exist in some areas for more than four months.

Such a broad range of choices can be intimidating, especially for newbies and sledders who are first-time tour planners. Adding in a multitude of variables like weather forecasts, road conditions, trail status, and service restrictions can become almost overwhelming – unless you know where to get answers and how to stay informed. The easiest way is to invest some time to explore Ontario snowmobiling online before you hit the trails – and don’t forget to check in with friends or family daily while away on a ride!

Ontario Tourism Info

Need to discover the best alternatives for your next ride? If you only bookmark one tourism site, this is it! Snowmobile Paradise Ontario is hands-down, the best one-stop shop for all things snowmobiling in Ontario. This provincial site has embedded links to the most important tourism-related info, including Destination Ontario and a list of top snowbelt trail riding regions.

Ontario Trail & Permit Info

Visit the website for the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) to learn about riding OFSC Prescribed Trails, buy your Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit, check the latest trail location and status on the Interactive Trail Guide (ITG), pick a Snow Tour, or register for online driver training. You can also download an OFSC Go Snowmobiling App to carry with you on the trails. And for the insider scoop on in-season trail riding updates, go to the OFSC Facebook page and sign up for their weekly newsletter.

OFSC District & Club Info

Want the latest updates about trail riding and operations in a specific region? The OFSC is comprised of 16 districts (regional) and about 200 community-based snowmobile clubs (local), most of whom have their own websites and/or a Facebook page. Here’s a list of the OFSC districts and their sites. You can contact them for free, printed trail guides. Many district sites also include the names of their member clubs. To find a club site or Facebook page, click on its name to connect, or enter the name in a search engine.

Ontario Weather Forecasts

No guarantees on the accuracy of (or agreement with) predictions here, folks. Regardless, it’s always good to have a couple of go-to sites to check what Old Man Winter may have in store for your upcoming trail ride. Don’t just look for new snow, also be sure to check the expected “feels like” temperature and dress accordingly!

Here are the top weather sites for Ontario snowmobilers to check out:

Ontario Road Conditions

Obviously, road conditions only matter if you’re trailering to a destination. But that’s when it’s wise to check ahead to plan your route accordingly and leave early as needed.

First-Person Snowmobile Stories from Ontario Riders

Want to hear more about Ontario snowmobiling from real riders? Check out Northern Ontario Travel, Northern Ontario Tourism's official online magazine. It offers first-person stories and shared experiences about all things snowmobiling from a variety of sledding enthusiasts.

Ontario Enthusiast Sites

There are many enthusiast and media sites available across North America, but here I’m only going to mention a couple that are Ontario-based and regularly feature touring stories and other info valuable to Ontario trail riders.

What A Ride carries informative snowmobiling stories from some of today’s foremost powersports writers and check out the What A Ride Facebook page too!

The Intrepid Snowmobiler chronicles Ontario’s many touring and trail riding adventures, as well as snowmobiling tips and product reviews, while the Intrepid Snowmobiler Facebook page often provides riders with breaking news and you-heard-it-here-first riding info.

For those into sledding videos, Sledaddicz posts an array of Ontario touring, destination, and product videos.

Ontario Snowmobile Groups

Another way to get an answer to a burning question is to ask other snowmobilers. Fortunately, there are several Ontario-based Facebook snowmobile groups with lots of avid riders, listed from top to bottom by membership size.

Ontario Snowmobile Forums

You can also dialogue on a snowmobile forum. Here are two that have active Ontario interactions:

Bookmark the Sites You Like

Fair warning. If you visit all of these online resources, you may end up more confused ever by information overload. So my best advice is to take the time to select a few that appeal to you and rely on them first and foremost. After all, you gotta have some time left to go snowmobiling!

Ontario's Must-Ride Snowmobile Loops

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About Craig Nicholson—The Intrepid Snowmobiler

Popularly known as The Intrepid Snowmobiler, Craig Nicholson is an International Snowmobile Hall of Fame journalist who specializes in recreational snowmobiling activities. Craig has snowmobiled in every region of Canada and many states. His one-of-a-kind tour book, “Canada’s Best Snowmobiling – The Ultimate Ride Guide”, chronicles his adventures, as does his website and Facebook page.