CLIMB ABOARD AND GET OUTDOORS
OTTAWA VALLEY SNOWMOBILE CLUBS
Snowmobilers , start your engines !
CLIMB ABOARD AND GET OUTDOORS
SNOW-CRUNCH COLD and freshly groomed trails with a pack of brightly dressed snowmobilers heading down a forest trail ? Yep , it ’ s winter in Canada .
Those great trails are the result of hours of effort by volunteers in many snowmobiling clubs , like those in the sidebar to this story . Their labour – moving , flattening , rototilling or compacting the snow
SHEILA ASCROFT
– “ paves ” the way for a happy riders on the trail . ( If you meet an
OTTAWA VALLEY SNOWMOBILE CLUBS
• SNOW COUNTRY SNOWMOBILE ASSOC . 40484 HWY 41 , PEMBROKE , ON K8A 6W5 877-376-7669 OR 613-735-8882 SNOWCOUNTRY @ NRTCO . NET
• BONNTRAE SNOWMOBILE CLUB RR 1 , GOLDEN LAKE , ON K0J 1X0 BONNTRAE @ SNOWCOUNTRYSCSA . CA
• EGANVILLE SNO-DRIFTERS RR 2 , EGANVILLE , ON K0J 1T0 EGANVILLE @ SNOWCOUNTRYSCSA . CA
• GRIFFITH-MATAWATCHEWAN SNO-DUSTERS 91 FLYING CLUB ROAD , GRIFFITH , ON K0J 2R0 GRIFFITH @ SNOWCOUNTRYSCSA . CA
• MISSING LINK SNOWMOBILE CLUB GENERAL DELIVERY , DEUX RIVIÈRES , ON K0J 1R0 MISSINGLINK @ SNOWCOUNTRYSCSA . CA
• OPEONGO SNOWBIRDS SNOWMOBILE CLUB BOX 1053 , BARRY ’ S BAY , ON K0J 1B0 OPEONGO @ SNOWCOUNTRYSCSA . CA oncoming groomer , slow down and move to the far right of the trail to avoid the wide drag or tiller .)
And after all that fresh air , there ’ s nothing better than a warm , winterized cabin for the night , on offer at local resorts and motels up and down the Ottawa Valley . Pine Valley Resort in Stonecliffe ( about 35 kilometres upstream from Deep River ) has three large cabins heated by outside boiler . Owner Brent Allen reports two main types of winter visitors : husband and wife on separate sleds , and groups of men .
“ The couples come for leisure snowmobiling ; they go out for three or four hours and return to a warm cabin and have a good dinner with wine . Then do the same the next day ,” says Allen . He says the snowmobile industry recently realized women were interested in the sport and , presto – clothing and accessories for women . He says today ’ s sleds “ are more reliable and comfortable , and women like to be independent when riding .” Allen , who is also vice president of the Missing Link Snowmobile Club , says men come in groups , usually stay longer , and ride longer looking for speed and adventure . Some come for the RAP Tour ( Round Algonquin Park ), since Pine Valley Resort is only half a kilometre from the Top A trail .
Bounded by Algonquin Park to the south , with the Ottawa River and Laurentian Hills to the north , Missing Link Snowmobile Club ’ s 250-kilometre trail system provides the “ missing link ” between the Deep River and Mattawa snowmobile clubs . “ We only have about 15 members , but we have fabulous trails in a pristine environment ,”
For those wanting to really get out there , here ’ s five touring options for starters :
VOY : VOYAGEUR ROUTE
Follow the voyageurs of yesteryear along the Ottawa River from Arnprior to North Bay through changing scenic vistas and a mix of trails from farmland to forest . Easy access to services and accommodations . One to two days , 350 kilometres .
MAD : MADAWASKA HIGHLANDS LOOP
Follow the scenic Madawaska River on rail corridor trails . With stops in Whitney , Lake St . Peter and Barry ’ s Bay , services are easily accessible . One day , 180 kilometres .
BON : ROUND BONNECHERE LOOP
Spectacular views along these rail bed and pipeline corridors mixed with twisting mountainous terrain . Easy access to services and accommodations . One day , about 230 kilometres .
CAL : CALABOGIE HIGHLANDS LOOP
Visit Eganville for picturesque , uncrowded trails . Stops in Griffith and Calabogie for services and dining . Tight forest trails set a leisurely pace . One day , 260 kilometres .
For more info , trail conditions , services , and a place to stay , it ’ s www . snowcountryscsa . ca or 1-877-376-7669 .
• PETERSON PATHFINDERS SNOWMOBILE CLUB BOX 224 , COMBERMERE , ON K0J 1L0 PETERSON @ SNOWCOUNTRYSCSA . CA
• TIMBERLINE SNOWMOBILE CLUB BOX 824 , PEMBROKE , ON K8A 7M5 TIMBERLINE @ SNOWCOUNTRYSCSA . CA
• WHITE WATER SNO-GOERS RR 3 , RENFREW , ON K7V 3Z6 WHITEWATER @ SNOWCOUNTRYSCSA . CA
RAP : ROUND ALGONQUIN PARK LOOP
This well-established ride showcases the best of Ontario snowmobiling in one remarkable circle tour round Algonquin Park . As it passes through districts 6 , 7 and 11 of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs , the trail uses utility corridors , abandoned rail lines and old logging roads , plus the forests of the Canadian Shield . RAP includes the one and only snowmobile trail through Algonquin Park . Services are readily accessible . Three to five days , 900 kilometres .
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