Snowmobiling Ontario - Picking Favourites
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With 30,000 kilometres of groomed snowmobiling trails spider webbing across Ontario, picking the best is an impossible ordeal. Now, if you ask for some favourite Ontario snowmobiling destinations, that can be done.
On any given day, in the right conditions, courtesy of mother nature and the grooming crew, every one of those kilometres can deliver the best experience of the season. There is more to a favourite than time on the trail. Accommodations, services, local interactions all leave an impression that helps deposit a location in the memory bank. So here we go, my five Ontario snowmobiling destinations go to's.
Wawa
Love at first sight, I knew when it comes to snowmobiling Ontario, Wawa was going onto my favourite list even before my sled touched the snow. Sleds, sleds everywhere you look, sleds; short track sleds with bags on for the long haul and long track machines with shovels strapped on, obviously digging out is part of the adventure, the buzz is infectious. There is a reason for all this activity. Beyond town limits, you will find the finest snowmobiling playground anywhere. Whatever flavour your snowmobiling needs are, you will find it in Wawa. Partake in some groomed local loops, pampered by the Wawa Sno Riders Snowmobile Club, or dive deep into thousands of square kilometres of pristine backcountry powder.
Location: Wawa is located 2 hours from the Sault Ste. Marie international border crossing and a 9-hour drive from Toronto.
Accommodations - there are plenty to choose from, our stay at the Wawa Motor Inn was excellent.
Food - Wawa Goose Bar & Grill and The Viking Restaurant, big thumbs up. Lunch at The Big Bear in Hawk Junction is a must when out on the trail.
Ride - Loop up to Dubreuilville and back or the famous Halfway Haven lodge to the south.
Must-Do - a selfie with the Wawa Goose
Dubreuilville
With an average annual snowfall of more than 12 feet, courtesy of that big beautiful snow-making machine to the south (aka Lake Superior), plus a riding season that pushes well into April, making Dubreuilville a snowmobiling hot spot. A favoured overnight stop with touring snowmobilers, but why not linger a bit and experience the area's 300 or so kilometres of trail, lovingly pampered by the local Les Alouettes Snowmobile Club.
For the backcountry fan, the area is full of snow-covered logging roads, hydro corridors, and local secret stashes. The website Aventure Nord is an excellent place to start gathering your intel. You can also try the new MooseBack App, which gives you the ability to find your way around the local trail system of the same name.
Location: approximately 3.5 hours drive from Sault Ste. Marie and five hours from Thunder Bay at the northern end of Highway 516.
Accommodation: The Magpie Relay Resort is the place to stay. Owned and operated by snowmobilers, ample parking for trucks and trailers and a heated garage for your sled.
Food - the LOL Resto Bar will not disappoint. You'll find the LCBO is next door to the restaurant, and the Quickee Mart will be happy to take care of your snacking needs. A free shuttle service is available for guests at The Magpie Relay to get you around town.
Ride - Head west towards Marathon and White River. Or try the popular 300km, there-and-back ride to Hearst.
Almaguin Highlands
When we point the truck and trailer north in search of snowmobiling good times, we tend to unload at first sight of the snow-covered trail, aka Muskoka, or roll way north to the promise of greener or, in this case, whiter pastures. What we miss are the snow-filled trails of the Almaguin Highlands. Thanks to the lake effect snow courtesy of the Georgian Bay, 300 cm of the white stuff blankets the forest each year. Add plenty of trail options to that, and you've got yourself a destination that will have you smiling often well into April.
Location: along the east and west sides of Highway 11 between Kearney and Powassan.
Accommodation: Caswell Resort in Sundridge The historic hotel has it all, comfortable rooms, pool, food on site, choice of a room or cabin and the trail right at your door.
Food - The food at Caswell Resort is delicious. Other options are available within walking distance.
Ride - Head west to the famous Ice Caves on the east end of Dewfish Lake and lunch at Edgewater Park Lodge.
New Liskeard
The gateway to Ontario's snowmobile trails northern reaches. Temiskaming Shores consistently provides good snow, and local clubs ensure that trails are at their best. Fuel and services are available in towns along the trail, and the district trail guide and trail signage make for easy navigation.
Location: along Highway 11 at the northwestern end of Lake Temiskaming.
Accommodation: the Quality Inn with parking for trucks and trailers, fuel next door and being able to park your sled outside every room, plus an on-site restaurant, indoor pool, sauna, and whirlpool. Everything a snowmobiler needs for a night or a few.
Food - If you want to venture beyond the on-site restaurant, Ali's Grill and Bar across the road is highly recommended.
Ride - Pack the bags and head north for a few days or a day trip north to Kirkland Lake on TOP Trail A, then back on TOP A108.
Muskoka
Location, location, location, easy access, plenty of annual snowfall and beautiful scenery along with 1220 kilometres of some of the best trails in the province. Well signed, easy to navigate and with so many places to stay or eat, Muskoka is as close as it gets to a guaranteed good time.
Location: Along Highway 11, two hours north of the GTA.
Accommodation: Residence Inn Marriott Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst. Easy highway access (two hours from Toronto), plenty of parking for trucks and trailers and of course, super comfy accommodations.
Food - Several restaurants are within walking distance.
Ride - There are so many trails, so little time, but these trails link to a couple of preplanned loops and should help get you started the Big Loop, the Small Loop.
What are some of your favourite Ontario snowmobiling destinations? Leave a comment and share your go-to areas.
