Where And When To Ride
The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has provided a website www.gosnowmobiling.org that provides detailed information on snowmobiling in general (Where to Start), where to snowmobile, snowmobile dealers and rental outlets as well as on events and associations.
Whether it’s your first time snowmobiling, or you’re a seasoned pro, helpful questions and answers have been compiled under the section “Where to Start” that will hopefully make you want to run out, get a snowmobile, and look to the sky for snowflakes such as:
- Where do I go snowmobiling?
- Who can I snowmobile with?
- Do I need a license or permit to ride?
- Do I need to take a safety driving class before I snowmobile?
- How many snowmobile manufacturers are there?
- What types of snowmobiles are out there?
- Where do I purchase a snowmobile and how do I know which one is right for me?
- Where is the best place to look at snowmobiles?
- What type of clothing do I need?
- How much does it cost to buy a snowmobile and accessories?
- How do I know if there is enough snow for snowmobiling?
- How do I maintain a snowmobile?
- What are the implications of modifying my snowmobile exhaust system?
The “Where to Snowmobile” section contains links to websites for hotels and lodgings, official tourism sites as well as to the provincial and territorial snowmobile association websites. For Canadian jurisdictions, some of the key differences in legislation relate to insurance requirements, the minimum age to operate a snowmobile, the need to wear a helmet, vehicle registration and whether trail permits are mandatory.
While the provincial/territorial websites provide detailed requirements specific to their area, the following provides a national overview:
Trail Conditions
While trail conditions can change quickly based on weather, snow conditions and the amount of snowmobile traffic, most provincial and territorial websites provide information on the conditions or status of trails through their online trail maps. The status may show availability and/or the status of trail grooming. Please refer to the CCSO Member Organization page for the individual website links.
Two websites that provide general trail conditions are: