OPP issues safety reminders as snowmobile trails open

An OPP officer on a snowmobile near Orillia, Ont.

The continuous snow that fell across central Ontario during the holiday season is great news for snowmobilers.

At the same time, with many trails opening across Simcoe County and beyond, provincial police are gearing up to make sure that snowmobilers ride safely.

“Orillia OPP officers and Auxiliary members started the year on a seasonally safe note, patrolling trails by snowmobile. Two RIDE checkpoints were conducted for the purpose of enforcement, as well as community engagement and education on safety on the trails,” said Orillia OPP in a Sunday social media post. “With the recent snowfalls in the area, it looks like Orillia OPP will be out on the trails plenty this season.”

According to the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) trail map, almost all trails in Simcoe County have at least limited availability.

On the other hand, most trails remain closed in Muskoka and Dufferin County.

“We have some trails open with a yellow status, while many remain closed with a red status. Please do not trespass, as this can cause damage to the trails, including crop damage,” said Dufferin OPP in its social media post. “Trespassing on trails is considered an offence even if you have paid for an OFSC trail permit.”

While trails with ‘limited availability’ are technically open, the OFSC reminds snowmobilers that they should be travelled with extreme care and reduced speed, as they may have ‘marginal’ riding conditions.

The province provided the volunteer-driven OFSC with $3.9 million in additional funding last month to ensure that all 30,000 kilometres of its trail network can be groomed and maintained.