1. STAY ON THE TRAIL

As a condition of the land use permission, a landowner expects riders to stay on the marked trail, and not wander off anywhere they choose. The fastest and surest way to get a trail closed is to leave tracks somewhere other than the trail for the landowner to see, especially if it’s farmland and valuable crops may be damaged. If the trail follows the perimeter of a field along a fence line, it’s because the farmer doesn’t want sleds crossing that field directly or cutting corners.

2. LEAVE THE STAKES INTACT

Stakes are placed by clubs to mark where sleds are supposed to go. Too often, someone will ride over the stake line, breaking or knocking them over. The result is that other well-intentioned snowmobilers have no stakes to follow, and inadvertently go off the trail. There is also the real danger that unrecovered broken stakes may get caught up in and seriously damage farm equipment when cultivation commences.

3. LEAVE GATES AND FENCES ALONE

The snowmobile club has permission for a specific corridor and will temporarily remove or relocate any necessary fences or gates. Any other fences or gates should not be touched by snowmobilers for any reason. Cement bloc barriers or a closed gate placed across the entrance of a previously used trail mean it is not open, so snowmobilers must not enter.

4. RESPECT EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTY

Often, landowners such as farmers and utility companies may have equipment or materials nearby the trail. Not only can touching this property be dangerous to you, interfering with it in any way can have serious consequences for others and for the future of the trail. The simple rule is: Stay on the Trail and don’t touch anything that doesn’t belong to you.

5. AVOID FARM ANIMALS AND PETS

Many animals are afraid of snowmobiles and do their best to avoid you. It is especially important to avoid upsetting livestock, so it’s considerate to slow down and make as little noise as possible when passing them. If animals are loose or accompanied by a person (such as someone walking a dog or on horseback), it is essential to slow down to avoid a collision or injury. Remember, animals are important to the landowner, so please be on your best behavior around them.

6. SNOWMOBILE USE ONLY

The landowner has given permission to the snowmobile club only for the use of snowmobiles and club equipment on that trail. When you buy a Snowmobile Trail Permit, you can use that trail only for snowmobiling. You have no right to ATV, cross country ski, dog sled, snowshoe, horseback ride or hike there. If you use that trail for anything other than snowmobiling with a valid trail permit, you can be charged with trespassing. You may also cause permanent closure of the trail.

7. ONLY IN THE WINTER

The landowner has given permission to the snowmobile club only for the use of snowmobiles on that trail during the winter. Use by anyone for any purpose during any other season of the year is not allowed. Most landowners give winter permission in part because the land is then dormant and also because they are less likely to be using it themselves. Unauthorized use in other seasons, especially by ATVs, causes loss of trail permission.

8. ONLY WHEN TRAIL IS OPEN

The first snow doesn’t mean that snowmobile trails are open. It takes several snowfalls and frozen ground to establish a snowmobile trail that protects the land surface or any growth on it from the passage of snowmobiles. If you ride a trail before the club has officially opened it (or after it has been temporarily closed due to poor conditions, or officially closed for the season) you are endangering not the land and crops, but also continued land use permission.

9. RESPECT THE LANDOWNER

Some trails have been closed after a landowner has been insulted, annoyed or endangered by a snowmobiler(s). Behaviors such as riding too late at night near a landowner residence, making unnecessary noise with after market pipes, littering, frightening children, livestock or domestic pets, or damaging property, each can have drastic consequences for the continued use of the trail.

© 2005 Ontario Federation Of Snowmobile Clubs