OFSC Urges Responsible Riding For International Snowmobile Safety Week

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Snowmobilers are reminded to only ride available trails and always practice responsible riding habits this winter season

(Barrie, ON, January 13, 2025) – The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), the non-profit, volunteer-driven association that oversees organized snowmobile trails in Ontario, is advising snowmobilers to remain patient as snowmobile clubs and their dedicated volunteers are actively working to prepare as many OFSC trails as possible for riding in the near future.

For International Snowmobile Safety Week (January 11-19), the OFSC reminds snowmobilers to only ride Available or Limited Availability OFSC trails and avoid riding Unavailable trails at any time during the winter. Snowmobilers can easily find out where there are Available trails to ride by checking Trail Status 24/7 on the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide (ITG) or on the OFSC Go Snowmobiling App. Trail Status shows on the ITG as:

  • GREEN for Available: The identified route is accessible with the understanding that the trail will likely vary considerably in quality, attributes and terrain over its length.
  • YELLOW for Limited Availability: Access to the identified route is limited with marginal riding opportunities, so snowmobilers enter with the understanding that they should ride with extreme care and reduced speed.
  • RED for Unavailable: The identified route is not available at this time, with access prohibited, and entering any Unavailable trail on private property is trespassing.

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OFSC Celebrates National Snowmobiling Day October 28

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It’s Time To Get Ready For The 2024 Season!

(Barrie, ON. October 23, 2023): The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) invites snowmobilers and other winter lovers to celebrate National Snowmobile Day with us on Saturday, October 28th. Canada has enjoyed a rich snowmobile heritage since Joseph-Armand Bombardier introduced the first “Ski-Doo” in 1959, an iconic debut that made 17th place on the CBC’s 2007 list of “The Greatest Canadian Inventions”.

Today, organized snowmobiling in Canada is a volunteer-driven, trail permit funded recreational activity  united nationally through the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations (CCSO) and managed by 12 provincial and territorial snowmobile associations representing 729 non-profit clubs. Over 1.5 million family participants enjoy 130,700 kilometres of marked, mapped and maintained recreational snowmobile trails connecting thousands of snowbelt communities and creating over $9.3 billion in economic impact and 41,000 related jobs annually.

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OFSC Celebrates Landowners Who Make Snowmobile Trails Possible

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Provincial Landowner Appreciation Week is October 2 – 9, 2023

(Barrie, ON. October 2, 2023): The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is launching the 2024 snowmobile season with “Provincial Landowner Appreciation Week”, October 2 to 9, 2023. In grateful recognition of their often unsung contribution to organized snowmobiling, Landowner Appreciation Week celebrates over 18,000 community-minded landowners, who come from all walks of life, including thousands of farmers, and home or cottage owners, as well as private companies, municipalities, conservation authorities and others.

For more than 50 years, these landowners have voluntarily contributed to the well-being of their hometowns and the enjoyment of snowmobilers by donating the use of a portion of their private property for an OFSC Snowmobile Trail during the winter months. These OFSC trails provide safe and legal places for recreational snowmobilers with valid Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permits to ride, while connecting hundreds of rural communities and businesses by snow.

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OFSC 56th Convention and AGM Kicks Off New Snowmobile Season

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Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit Fees for 2024 Season

(Barrie, ON. September 26, 2023): Recreational snowmobile trails do not just appear by magic each winter. That’s why hundreds of grassroots volunteers from across Ontario recently gathered in Muskoka representing 181 community-based snowmobile clubs who are members of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC).

“Our volunteers are the backbone of snowmobiling in Ontario, and the 2023 Convention theme celebrated their perseverance, resilience and grit,” said Murray Baker, OFSC President. “Our provincial gathering provides an important opportunity for our volunteers to reconnect with peers, share best practices and appreciate collective accomplishments as trail preparations for the 2024 season move into high gear.”

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Madawaska Rail Bridge Receives Provincial Support

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(Madawaska, ON: January 27, 2023) – The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (O.F.S.C.) and the Opeongo Snowbirds Snowmobile Club were joined by Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke M.P.P. John Yakabuski to announce the completion of the Madawaska rail bridge refurbishment project.

“As we build Ontario, our government is making record investments in infrastructure, like the Madawaska rail bridge, to ensure snowmobilers can continue safely enjoying the province’s premier trails for generations to come,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Congratulations to the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs on re-opening this critical link, which connects the communities of Whitney and Barry’s Bay.”

This infrastructure project is supported by a $208,919 investment from the Government of Ontario. Funding was announced by Minister Mulroney at the O.F.S.C. Annual General Meeting in September 2019.

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OFSC Member Clubs Approve New Strategic Plan

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Setting The Stage For the Successful Future of Organized Recreational Snowmobiling in Ontario

(Barrie, ON: March 3, 2022) – Last night, the membership of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) approved a new strategic plan. The new plan received a strong majority vote from member snowmobile clubs during a special meeting. More than 200 voting and non-voting Club representatives from across Ontario attended, even though most of these volunteers are still heavily involved in trail operations.

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