yeah they have no problem leaving you stranded around here either and i've pulled out quite a few snowmobiles myself. i really don't understand the hatred snowmobiles have for ATVs, i get that a few bad apples can really ruin things for everyone but i really can't think of anything that would make me actually leave someone stuck especially if it's a remote area potentially putting their life in danger

 

We've had 4 major bridge projects over the last 10 years. All 4 times the ATV club has provided about 3/4 of the labor force and at least half the money. Built a small bridge, a 45' on steel I-beams, 60' on beams, and a 30' on beams. The last one was almost all ATV club members. There were two loops that had a rail trail running right in between them. One of the landowners closed access to the Northern loop that until recently made us have to trailer between the two areas. Part of the reason given by the landowner was that the snowmobile club bad-mouthed us. That doesn't help cooperation too much.

 

sounds about right, i've heard the same story many times around here and like i said i really don't understand where the hate comes from and it really seems to be very 1 sided, i've never heard stories of ATV riders treating snowmobiles badly yet we seem to just keep having to take the abuse

the funny thing is during summer it really is mainly ATV clubs putting out money and hours keeping the trails good, buildings bridges, clearing fallen trees and filling in bad ruts all of which i believe is actually a bigger benefit for snowmobiles then ATVs yet they still hate on us

 

Hey people. You're not understanding, so let me clarify. ATV's are not allowed on that trail on public land period, even when there is no snow. Yet they are allowed on all other public land trails at all times, even when the trails are groomed for snowmobiling. There is no logical answer that I can see. Snowmobile/ATV clubs should have consistent policies if they expect people to support them.

 

i'm not sure how public land works in the US but here public land is mainly owned by the crown and while there are some exceptions such as protected areas the land is free for all to use. snowmobiles here do try to keep ATVs off but there's really nothing they can legally do but they sure go out of their way to cause a lot of hassles

the main issue that pops up here is private land which snowmobiles clubs get access to and constantly bad mouth about ATVs to the land owners to keep us off. a lot of trail on crown land also cross private land at some point so it effectively limits ATV clubs

 

What province are you from?
Up here in Sault Ste, Marie even if your on a OFSC trail and on crown land without a OFSC trail pass they will fine you the price of a season pass. That's even if your on a sled.
The exceptions are if the OFSC trail is the only access to a camp or fishing lake. Then even a guy in a 4x4 truck can go for it if he's crazy enough.

We are lucky up here that the OFSC trails are 90% on crown land so ATVs can use them on the off season for free. I guess that's why we have no organized ATV clubs since there is not much point in it.
Who's going to pay a ATV club fee for trails that are already free.
I understand OFSC fees due to their $100,000 groomers , operators ,bridges and private land access negations.
ATVs on the other hand do not care what conditions the trails are in so there is just zero trail maintenance concerns. In fact the rougher the better. LOL

 

am in Ontario as well, they shouldn't be able to fine you no matter the season as long as your on crown land however OFSC wardens will give you a fine but it doesn't really mean much and is mainly symbolic but i suppose it might vary according to county bylaws

the reason ATV clubs are so unorganized is that you have 2 or 3 umbrella groups all competing with each other to get control of the clubs and then you have individual clubs that are greedy or in the case of large clubs such as HATVA they have no need to be apart of a larger organization. if the clubs would stop bickering we could create a massive trail system just like OFSC has and actually have a voice to compete with the anti ATV lobbying the OFSC does. Quebec is a great example, they have united their clubs and have a massive trail system with 1 pass and they actually seem to get along with the snowmobile clubs

 

The trail at issue is on County Forest land, which owned by the public. It goes from an existing ATV/Snowmobile trail through the County Forest land and to a town road which is open to ATV's. One reason given me for closing that trail to ATV riders was that it would dead end for them at the road. (The trail continues across the road onto private land for snowmobiles only.) The people who closed the county forest section to ATV's were not well enough informed to know ATV riders could go to and from that trail on the town road---there would be no dead end. Even after they were informed of that, they still wanted the trail closed to ATV's. I ride both an ATV and a snowmobile, and I can sympathize with snowmobilers not wanting ATV's tearing up groomed snowmobile trails. But, ATV'ers would like to be able to ride when there is no snow, which is most of the year.

 

You were asked in post #2 if it was year-round or not.

 

We have a ATV trail system and its free ,its call every OFSC trail on crown land once the Snowmobile season is closed.
I know guys who ATV from the Sault Ste Marie to Wawa Ont (150 miles) all of it is a OFSC trail and on crown land the whole way.
You can go much further (Maybe James Bay) but at some point it,s just time to turn around and head back. LOL

That does not included Park lands where no motorized recreational vehicle of any type or club trail can cross.

Could be different in other parts of Ontario where private land is more abundant then public crown land. Then you need a ATV club to work out "right of way" permission with land owners I would guess.