Snowmobile trail permits now available for purchase

Despite rising costs and falling sales, Ontario snowmobile trail permits will not increase in price this season. Madison Marier has the latest.

The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs opened permit purchases this month for the upcoming season at the same price as last year, despite a six per cent decrease in sales in the last five seasons.

The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs said expenses have increased from around $17 million in 2021 to around $27 million in 2025.

“We had historically operated around 30,000 km of trails; this year, we will operate about 25,500 km,” said Ryan Eickmeier, the federation’s CEO.

Removing some trails

“What that will mean is we’re looking at removing trails that have historically been unavailable to permit buyers, have historical cost challenges or infrastructure challenges, and also trails that are just not frequently ridden.”

Trails across Ontario have been condensed. In the Sudbury district, around 150-200 km have been removed, spread across 10 clubs in the region.

“We’re trying to concentrate our permit dollars and permit revenue into the trails that are most frequently ridden,” said Eickmeier.

Sudbury Trail Plan president James Saville said the focus was on removing trails that weren’t being used that often.

“So we’re down to about 1,500 kilometres now,” Saville said.

Eickmeier said the biggest expense to the volunteer operation is the cost of materials, like steel and trail maintenance. Last year, they groomed 758,000 km of trails.

“I think the grooming is actually going to be better this year,” he said.

Trails that really matter

“We can put our efforts into the trails that really matter and the ones that have the most ridership. So I think overall, it’s going to be a more positive experience for the rider,” said Saville.

“Quality over Quantity,” said Eickmeier.

“It will take a dozen years plus for your average snowmobile to ride our entire network, and most never endeavour to do that. So, I think those that actually do go out and try to ride the whole province over a number of years, do appreciate that we have trails that just don’t have the same value.”

He said the cost of the season is weather-dependent; the more it snows, the more permits will be purchased, allowing the clubs to combat the rising costs of goods that is straining the organization.

Eickmeier said that the north leads the south in trail availability and favourable conditions. However, southern Ontario subsidizes the north in permit purchases.

In our region, Eickmeier said Timmins sells the most permits at around 6,000-7,000, followed by North Bay with 5,000-6,000. Sudbury sells 5,000 permits and Sault St. Marie sells 2,000-3,000 permits.