But that entire network depends on one essential ingredient: respect.
My family and I farm near Cannington in Durham Region, and I am also a director on the board of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, representing farmers in my area.
We don’t have snowmobile trails running on our farm, but we are surrounded by properties that do – and my family and I are also snowmobile riders, which gives me a unique perspective of both sides.
As farmers and landowners, we have a responsibility to respect the trails when they’re on our property and riders have a responsibility to respect the land they’re crossing and make sure they stay on the trails.
Ontario’s local snowmobile clubs make significant investments of time, energy and equipment to establish, manage and maintain the trail system every year. When riders leave marked trails, the consequences go far beyond broken rules.
For farmers, off-trail riding can mean stress for livestock from fast, loud machines moving too close to animals. It can mean soil becoming compacted and damage to crops that might be hidden under the snow. Gates may be left open, fencing damaged, or wildlife access created where it shouldn’t be.
There are also serious safety risks for riders themselves, however, from venturing off-trails or riding in areas where there are no trails.
The snow hides water drainage tiles, culverts, rocks, old fencing material, or farm equipment that can pose risks to riders; speed combined with unknown terrain is incredibly dangerous.
That’s why trail status matters. Before setting out, riders should make sure they know what the current status is of where they hope to ride; the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide, available at ofsc.evtrails.com/#, is the perfect resource for this.
Trails are only ever shown as available (green), limited availability (yellow), or unavailable (red). Riding an unavailable (red) trail is trespassing — even if it looks rideable.
Anyone riding this season must also hold a valid 2026 Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit, available online only through the OFSC. As well, snowmobilers are responsible for understanding the legal requirements under Ontario’s Motorized Snow Vehicles Act and for following the ABCs of safe snowmobiling:
- abstaining from alcohol and drugs
- being prepared for the unexpected
- riding with caution, care, and control at all times.
According to OFSC CEO Ryan Eickmeier, trespassing on private property and entering prohibited areas must become as unacceptable socially as it is legally. Land use permission is a privilege, not a right, and it must be respected by every snowmobiler.
Landowners who experience trespassing incidents, including riding on unavailable trails or off marked routes, should report them to their local police detachment.
Snowmobiling and farming have successfully coexisted in Ontario for generations because most people do the right thing. Ontario Snowmobile Safety Week is a reminder that safety, access, and the future of the trail system all depend on respect — for landowners, for riders, and for the communities we share.
Source : OFA