Using Snowmobile Trails in the City of Ottawa

The City of Ottawa and the Upper Canada Snowmobile Region has entered into a five-year license of occupation agreement to make city lands seasonally available in the winter to clubs and their members for the purpose of snowmobiling activities.

The use of the city’s lands is subject to:

• City of Ottawa All-Terrain Vehicles and Other Vehicles By-law (By-Law 2019-421,), as applicable in the Osgoode area;

• Highway Traffic Act of Ontario;

• Motorized Snow Vehicles Act of Ontario;

• Off-road Vehicles Act of Ontario;

• Trespass to Property Act of Ontario; and

• Occupiers’ Liability Act of Ontario

Snowmobilers are reminded:

• to follow the snowmobiler’s code(s) of ethics;

• exercise caution and show courtesy to other users as the Lands are shared;

• to not perform activities that may be considered a nuisance;

• to comply with safety protocols for snowmobiling when passing, which include slowing down to "dead slow", when in the proximity of other users;

• to reduce speeds to safe levels during times of limited visibility or inclement weather to ensure their safety and the safety of others; and

• to adhere to the prohibited access and reduce speed zones as indicated on the trails and where available pathway/trail- specific maps.

The agreement with the city of Ottawa established some new rules for using snowmobile trails within the city limits. These are:

• When requested to do so by a police officer or a municipal law enforcement officer, a person operating a motorized snow vehicle on the Lands will provide proof of valid membership (Ontario Trail Permit) to a recognized motorized snow vehicle club recognized by the City;

• No person shall operate a motorized snow vehicle on the Lands unless he or she is a valid member or valid affiliated member (Ontario Trail Permit);

• No person shall operate a motorized snow vehicle at a greater speed than:

  • for a designated highway:

    • 20 kilometres per hour, if the speed limit under the Highway Traffic Act for that part of the highway is not greater than 50 kilometres per hour, and

    • 50 kilometres per hour, if the speed limited under the Highway Traffic Act for that part of the highway is greater than 50 kilometres per hour;

  • for a designated unopened road allowance, the speed limit indicated on a sign posted on site;

  • 20 kilometres per hour when within a village between the hours of 2100 and 0900

• No person shall operate a motorized snow vehicle on City lands outside the OFSC Prescribed trail network;

• No person shall operate a motorized snow vehicle on the Lands if the exhaust system has been modified.

• No person shall operate a motor vehicle (other than a motorized snow vehicle) on any of the Lands unless:

  • it is required for maintenance pursuant to the agreement,

  • it is for emergency response purposes, or

  • prior permission has been obtained from the City.

• Permission to operate a motorized snow vehicle on the Lands does not constitute evidence that the City agrees to open or to assume for maintenance purposes the Lands;

• All persons use such Lands at their own risk; and

• Any permitted use is non-exclusive and any person operating a motorized snow vehicle shall have due regard for other users and shall use caution when passing other users.