Quebec trail pass

[Froggy]

My sled loving friends, If you want to get in on the early bird pricing for the trail pass you still have time for this price and the next early bird price before the full price in December occurs. see attachment for pricing. Think snow!

 

[Mooseman]

They don't screw around with permits sold on trail. Wow! Ontario used to do this but not quite as expensive. They have since stopped this when they went to online only sales.

Regardless, those are crazy expensive, even if you deduct the insurance ($32.77CAD) which can be refunded if you're from another province/state and have private insurance but is apparently a lengthy process. Ontario are $221.50CAD (including fees) before Nov. 1 and $301.50CAD after.

I was thinking of getting a Quebec trail pass, I don't think so anymore!

 

[RAMSOMAIR]

Ontario passes are underpriced

 

[Froggy]

Ontario passes are underpriced

Yes they are underpriced but what can the OFSC do when the MTO is going to force them into bankruptcy. It's a very bad situation that they are being put into.

 

[RAMSOMAIR]

I agree 100%. The model needs to change FAST. It may already be too late unfortunately.

 

[earthling]

Quebec pays their groomers on their popular trails, this is a bigger deal than it sounds as it opens the door for insurance and other benefits., Their trails are much better because they get a LOT MORE snow. They have separate, maintained trails in popular places for snowmobiles and ORVs (winter SxS and ATV). The whole network of trails just comes off as more professional with regular gas stops, nice warming shacks, and if you are on a big trip, plenty of facilities along the way to take a night at a hotel. Their trail permits are worth the price of entry. Many Ontario residents, especially those out east, buy the Quebec permit rather than an Ontario one. Ontario has lots of great trails but really you have to go up north to get to them. The southern trails are a mishmash of good and bad, few are great (for more than a few kilometers) and the good ones absolutely get roasted on weekends by city folks.

 

[RAMSOMAIR]

Agree

 

[thrasher]

I don't think that Ontario has a problem of pricing our trail passes to low. I think they have an allocation of resources problem. We shouldn't be opening and maintaining trails in South Western Ontario, where they get a dump of snow, gets groomed, and is gone in a week. All those riders eventually head north to North Bay, Sudbury, Bancroft, Pembroke, and beyond to use those trails. Their pass money should move north to support those trails that they use anyhow, and get beat up quickly. We could pay our groomers too. No one heads much below Barrie or Peterborough to ride, unless you live in that region. We go where the snow is, and that's north. Instead of spending money on trails south that have the life expectancy of a mosquito, we could have much better groomed trails where the majority of sledders go. Also, all the groomer equipment south that's not being used, except by rust, could then head north to have a much more reliable and robust system. Just my opinion, not wanting to start any arguments here.

 

[Mooseman]

I just read that the MTO has denied the OFSC a 7% permit fee increase. And because of this, I just found out that the OFSC are cutting trails.

From Google AI:

The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) and its member clubs are closing or reducing portions of the trail network for the 2025–2026 season due to a budget shortfall. The closures are a cost-cutting measure in response to rising expenses and a drop in permit sales revenue.

Financial challenges
According to the OFSC, the trails are being affected by a mismatch between rising costs and flatlining revenue.

• Increased costs: Over the last five seasons, expenses have increased by approximately 52%, from $17.8 million in 2021 to $27.1 million in 2025. Factors include higher prices for fuel and grooming equipment, as well as capital investments in infrastructure.
• Stagnant revenue: Revenue from permit sales, the organization's main funding source, has decreased by about 6% over the same period. Permit sales are heavily dependent on weather, and recent winters have been less favourable.
• Permit fee freeze: The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) denied a permit fee increase for the 2025 season, contributing to the revenue shortfall.

Trail closures and reductions
To address the budget shortfall, the OFSC is cutting the overall size of the provincial trail network from 30,000 to 25,500 km. The closures are being implemented at the local club level.

• Focus on quality over quantity: The strategy is to close underutilized, duplicate, or seldom-available trails to prioritize resources on the most important routes.
• Local impact: The closures are affecting different regions in various ways.
  • Northern Ontario: The Marathon Sno-Kickers Snowmobile Club was told to cut 600 km of trails. The initial plan would have cut off several communities from the provincial network entirely.
  • Sault Ste. Marie: Clubs in this area are also reducing trails, including major loops that impact winter tourism.
  • Grenville: The Grenville Snowmobile Association has announced the closure of its G49 and G50 trails.
  • Muskoka: The Happy Wanderers Snowmobile Club is closing a 17 km section of Trail 44 that had been closed for several years.
• Volunteer frustration: Some volunteers have expressed frustration with the situation, noting that the decisions are provincial cost-cutting measures and not a reflection of local demand.

No one heads south below hwy. #7 to ride, unless you live in that region. We go where the snow is, and that's north. Instead of spending money on trails south that have the life expectancy of a mosquito, we could have much better groomed trails where the majority of sledders go. Also, all the groomer equipment south that's not being used, except by rust, could then head north to have a much more reliable and robust system. Just my opinion, not wanting to start any arguments here.

No argument here. I've always noticed that trails in the south peninsula (SW of Orillia) rarely ever open, even during good seasons. I notice more when they do open. Eastern Ontario is slightly better but the last couple of seasons were garbage. I still have the RAP on my bucket list and hope those trails survive.

It is suggested that people buy their permits after Dec. 1 so as to increase revenue. Knowing the above, I may do that. It's still a bargain compared to QC. And maybe after Dec. 1 we'll have a better idea of snow predictions.

 

[STAIN]

i just purchased my Quebec early pass. Hopefully I can go 4-5 times