Timmins Opens its Streets to Snowmobiling

It was a long time coming, and now riders and their sleds will be finally able to access all that Timmins has to offer!

By Matt Corbeil Matt is an avid outdoorsman from Timmins, Ontario

April 12, 2023

Hey guys! It’s been a while since I’ve put out a new article, but I can assure you my passion for snowmobiling only grows stronger! Things in Timmins have been very busy and I’m anxiously awaiting the upcoming snowmobiling season as I’m sure you are too.

As some of you may be aware, Timmins has just passed a much-anticipated milestone for snowmobiling around and in the city. Council has approved a bylaw to allow snowmobiles on certain roads to gain access to trails, gas stations, restaurants and more. This didn’t happen overnight, and it’s been a few years in the making. We can thank the Timmins Snowmobile Club and its dedicated team of OFSC members who helped promote this change. This program was first rolled out during the 2018/2019 season and then again in 2019/2020. Each phase was a step towards having the bylaw officially passed and approved.

what the new timmins snowmobile bylaw means for riders

For the locals in Timmins this is great news because we can further enjoy the sport and truly enjoy the freedom and fun that snowmobiling has to offer. The Timmins residents will be able to focus more on the destination, instead of how they will fill up their machine or grab some food on the run. I’m hoping this change in access will also inspire some new riders, bring some past riders back into the sport and encourage the purchase of an Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit for the seasons to come.

This is also a large step forward for tourism in the city. From my perspective, Timmins has some of the best trails in the north, but we’ve been in the shadows of areas like Cochrane for quite some years now. I see it every week when I pass through Cochrane for work—the hotels are packed, the restaurants are full, and the snowmobiling vibe has taken over the town. I want this for Timmins! Opening access to certain streets and allowing more freedom for trail permit holders will be an advantage for this upcoming season. I’m sure the tourists will agree! Riders will now have more options, like staying at an Airbnb that’s close to the trail or visiting a restaurant they couldn’t access before because it wasn’t “just off the trail.” By allowing snowmobiles on certain streets we will get rid of those constraints and open some new opportunities.

Ready to ride // photo by Timmins Snowmobile Club

At the end of the day most of the sledding community is responsible and just wants to go out there and enjoy the ride. We will respect the rules and we’ll show the community it was a worthwhile approval. It’s very important that everyone adheres to the restrictions the bylaw has set out so we can positively enforce this change. This will only open new doors for the future, maybe a trail system or road approval for ATVs and SXSs—it’s just the beginning.

so Where exactly can i ride in Timmins?

For more news please visit the Timmins Snowmobile Club Facebook page. An updated list of the approved roads and streets will be available soon. Happy riding, friends. Always use the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide for trail conditions and information.

For more info on where to ride in and around tthe city, check out our guide to snowmobiling in Timmins.

Find more to do in Timmins this winter

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About Matt Corbeil

Matt was born and raised in Timmins, Ontario. He's an avid outdoorsman who loves fishing, hunting, quads, sleds, and anything else with a motor. He earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian in Sudbury Ontario, and works in supply chain at a gold mine called Detour Gold.