[JasonF]

ScottMc, Renegademike and I are finally looking to get some use out of our Ontario trail permits this season for the first time this weekend. I am looking for recommendations on good places to stay that have good offtrail and trail snow. We will be heading through the Soo so anywhere within 4 hours of the bridge would be fine. We know very little about the geography and town locations so the more detail the better. We are considering going to Wawa but don't want to head over there if conditions aren't favorable. I have checked out the Ontario websight listing trail conditions but it isn't real detailed on actual snow cover, to bad there isn't a sight like JohnDee.com for Ontario.

Thanks Jason

 

[snowfun348]

Jason. Have you thought about crossing into Ontario at Port Huron? Exeter is about 90 minutes from Sarnia and the trails are good. You will have no difficulty putting a lot of miles on great trails in that area and north.

Have a good weekend. John.

 

[team wisz]

well jason stay away from wawa i heard its not real good over that way.i know the north is not very good this year at all.i have seen a few reports saying its getting better,but it seems to be very limited areas.most are riding over my way,i live in mitchell which is just north of london on.its only 1 1/2 hours from port huron mi.we have been blessed here this year with lake effect.most guys are dropping here in mitchell and heading north to owensound area,and further to tobermory.the trails in district 9 have been perfect,we now have a good 1 1/2 feet of hard packed base,and we have had fresh powder falling everynight.i have been up to owensound and back it was awesome,and there is alot of playing areas along the way you will find.alot of the people have been staying in wiarton,i have never been but apparently the food is great and they bend over backwards catering to sledders.but if you are still wanting to go north i would really check it out close as the conditions havn't been really good compared to what they normally are.i know you will not be disapointed around here,i have put just shy of 2000 miles on my poo this year and i havn't used my trailer once and its all been in district 9,right from my garage lol.

 

[Icerider]

well jason stay away from wawa i heard its not real good over that way.i know the north is not very good this year at all.i have seen a few reports saying its getting better,but it seems to be very limited areas.most are riding over my way,i live in mitchell which is just north of london on.its only 1 1/2 hours from port huron mi.we have been blessed here this year with lake effect.most guys are dropping here in mitchell and heading north to owensound area,and further to tobermory.the trails in district 9 have been perfect,we now have a good 1 1/2 feet of hard packed base,and we have had fresh powder falling everynight.i have been up to owensound and back it was awesome,and there is alot of playing areas along the way you will find.alot of the people have been staying in wiarton,i have never been but apparently the food is great and they bend over backwards catering to sledders.but if you are still wanting to go north i would really check it out close as the conditions havn't been really good compared to what they normally are.i know you will not be disapointed around here,i have put just shy of 2000 miles on my poo this year and i havn't used my trailer once and its all been in district 9,right from my garage lol.[/b]

What he said I live right on the edge of district 9 and have done 95% of my sledding in it. I have gone farther north this year only to find less snow.

 

[JasonF]

I am so torn, this winter has been so a$$ backwards. The plan was to get the Ontario permits and head there when conditions in Michigan weren't to great and hopefully get to see some new scenery to boot. Now it looks like if I want to use my permit I will have to settle for so so conditions. My other option is to stay in Michigan and head to the Big Bay area of the U.P. and have a gauranteed 3-4' of fresh snow. How is the terrain in District 9 and how is the powder for offtrail play?
Thanks Jason

We will usually search out conditions like this
here

 

[Nith Valley Sledder]

You will find most of southern Ontario is farmland. There is very little public land so off-trail riding isn't recommended. You will be trespassing and quite likely pissing off one of the landowners. District 9 has had it's share of grief this year with landowners wanting to kick the sled trails off of their property for a few different reasons. The local clubs have had to work hard to keep the trails in place this year. If you ride in Districts 5 & 9 please stay on the trails. They are great riding anyway.

 

[team wisz]

hey jason once you get a little north it turns into alot of bush trails and hilly ground as well.once you get into the owensound area it turns into alot like the north.you have many options from owensound.you can go east along georgian bay it has a real mixed bag of terrain,if you head north towards tobermory i've heard it awesome trails through the bush.and i know that owensound area has a bunch of off trail play.i have never gone off trail but i know alot of folks do and its usually hydro lines they run(so i've heard)also if you head east towards collingwood there seems to be alot of off trail riding over that way.i have seen some pics from there from last weekend and the snow was really deep.my buddies gade was missing with him standing on it.as far as snow we got lots,and the closer you get to owensound the deeper it gets. there are a few places around the area that i have heard good reports about. the most highly recommended is the waterview in wiarton,they do everything for sledders.breakfast and supper.they have hot tubs in your rooms.and i've heard their rates are pretty good to. another one i think its closer to owensound is the falls inn they have a web site thefallsinn.com i really don't think you guys will be disapointed at all.the trails are in great shape here,and i know you will have a great time.alot of peeps have came this way instead this year because of the lack of snow in the north,and every one i talked to said they will be back again,and they had no idea the trails were this good here. satisfaction garanteed

 

[team wisz]

here are some pics from district 9 last week.

 

[JasonF]

You will find most of southern Ontario is farmland. There is very little public land so off-trail riding isn't recommended. You will be trespassing and quite likely pissing off one of the landowners. District 9 has had it's share of grief this year with landowners wanting to kick the sled trails off of their property for a few different reasons. The local clubs have had to work hard to keep the trails in place this year. If you ride in Districts 5 & 9 please stay on the trails. They are great riding anyway.[/b]

Hmmm, thats what I kind of thought which was the reason for heading north farther into the back country. Thanks for the tip :wink: , I know how frustating it is to have yahoos negate all no trespassing signs to track up an untouched field.

 

[JasonF]

hey jason once you get a little north it turns into alot of bush trails and hilly ground as well.once you get into the owensound area it turns into alot like the north.you have many options from owensound.you can go east along georgian bay it has a real mixed bag of terrain,if you head north towards tobermory i've heard it awesome trails through the bush.and i know that owensound area has a bunch of off trail play.i have never gone off trail but i know alot of folks do and its usually hydro lines they run(so i've heard)also if you head east towards collingwood there seems to be alot of off trail riding over that way.i have seen some pics from there from last weekend and the snow was really deep.my buddies gade was missing with him standing on it.as far as snow we got lots,and the closer you get to owensound the deeper it gets. there are a few places around the area that i have heard good reports about. the most highly recommended is the waterview in wiarton,they do everything for sledders.breakfast and supper.they have hot tubs in your rooms.and i've heard their rates are pretty good to. another one i think its closer to owensound is the falls inn they have a web site thefallsinn.com i really don't think you guys will be disapointed at all.the trails are in great shape here,and i know you will have a great time.alot of peeps have came this way instead this year because of the lack of snow in the north,and every one i talked to said they will be back again,and they had no idea the trails were this good here. satisfaction garanteed[/b]

Great info, Thanks Team Wisz
Now I just need to get the map out and figure out where Owensound is, sounds like a good place to check out.

 

[team wisz]

and some more. as you can see we don't have off trail sleds but the one spot with the kids is a whole area where guys play alot.these were all taken in district 9 and my buddy has a bunch from owensound i will see if i can get them for ya.

 

[team wisz]

its easy jason. cross at port huron hit the 402 east and then get onto hwy 21 and head north till ya get to sauble beach.then just look for the signs for owensound.its just on the other side of lake huron(the canadian side) you will find it.you are about 2 in ahalf to 3 hours from port huron border to owensound.depends how ys drive.

 

[sledman92]

Jason I live in the Soo I have been out on all the trails around here.Have about 600kms on the trails The trails around the Soo are great..The trails in Wawa are terrible and east of the Soo are the same due to lack of snow....If you really want to get out riding I would suggest that maytbe you check out the Water Tower Inn stay there and ride day runs to Searchmont to maybe St Joes Island, Bruce Mines, Drummond Island but you can't go much farther then that and if that sun keeps on coming out It won't be long until those trails are melted up..Trails going to Searchmont, Goulais River, are in really good shape ( kind of like are snow belt area )..Not alot of high miles runs but you find some of these trails really good with really nice secenary...Look up www.watertowerinn.com and www.ssmtrailblazers.com

If you are really thinking about coming up call me and I can explain alot more and make sure what you are looking for is here

Shawn 1- 705 -256=6845

 

[Homer2002]

I was up at Wawa 10 days ago and it was good considering how little snow they had. They only had a foot and a half maybe two. They got another foot 2 days after we left so I would expect near perfect trails now. I have rode in most parts of southern and northern Ontario and Wawa is the best overall area I have ridden. Trails are wide, smooth, and FAST. There are a couple great loops north of Wawa. There is a 100 mile loop north of Dubreuilville that is the best I have seen anywhere in Ontario. The trail is an old logging road through the hills. Very large hills, maybe small mountains could be used as a description. Great views. If the option is between southern Ontario and Wawa, Wawa is the winner by far. I ride the Wawa area 1 or 2 trips a year and it is a 9 hour drive for me. I would not waste your time in the Exeter/Mitchell area. You will be greatly disappointed. As for Owen Sound, I have never rode there but judging by all the side roads on the Topographical maps I would think it would be disappointing also. If you have never been to Northern Ontario, then these places may seem okay. The biggest complaint I have is that you are always stopping to cross a side road. You rarely go more than 2 miles without stopping. It drives me nuts. I ride once or twice in southern Ontario and that is enough. I live an hour from Exeter and I probably had 20 days off this year where I could have rode that area and I did it twice. That is enough for 1 year.

When riding in northern Ontario, you can sometimes ride for an hour or more before you have to stop and cross a road. Some lakes you cross are 40 miles long! There is tons of offtrail riding on the power lines in Northern Ontario. I sometimes wish I had a longtrack sled to ride some of those areas. If you want some detailed info about the Wawa area PM me and I can give you my number and you can call me and I will give you all the info on where to go and not to go and places to stay and distance between fuel stops, etc. I guarantee if you go to Wawa, you will return every year.

 

[team wisz]

you can check out trail conditions on ofsc.on.ca that ia the official website for ofsc trail conditions in all of ontario. wawa is listed as open now,but there are still alot of limited conditions in that area.but if i had a choice between wawa and owensound i probably would go to wawa in all honesty.but i know alot of the reports i have heard say that the conditions aren't very good.i myself havn't been there this year.

 

[JasonF]

Thanks for all the help guys, I will take you up on your offers when we finally decide whats going on. It may not be this weekend now as I'm still trying feverishly to get my sled going again, right now it looks like a bad conection in my volatage regulator.

 

[permafrost]

Jason my advice is too head to the Soo and unload there. Then head north to Halfway Haven and doo untouched logging road and off trail assaults from there as a base. If you need more info feel free to PM me.

Permafrost

 

[sledman92]

I just talked to a guy that said that the conditions to Halfway Haven fron the Soo are not too bad..We are supposed to get dumped on tonight and tomorrow so is Wawa should be good riding..We are heading to Halfway on Sunday ............

 

[FreezerBurnt]

go here and find out up to date trail info

There is a lot of guys that ride up in that area of Ontario which is only a couple hrs north of the Soo

Wawa,Dubreuiville,Horpayne Hearst etc

 

[JasonF]

Thanks Perm, Sledman and Freezie
I couldn't get my sled done in time for a trip this weekend so it looks like it will be a Thurs-Sun trip this upcoming week. If anyones wants to hook up with ScottMc, Renegademike, possibly Sledheaddude800, and I just let me know, still not sure what town we will be in but it will be somwhere just north of the Soo.