Snowmobiling is big business in Ontario

Craig Nicholson
The Intrepid Snowmobiler

Many people are surprised to learn that snowmobiling is big business. Sure, it began over 40 years ago as seasonal recreation operated out of the garages and basements of a few local snowmobilers. But today, what’s known as "organized snowmobiling" is Ontario’s premier winter tourism product, with snowmobile trails that generate $1 billion in economic impact annually. Because of its predominantly snowbelt location, snowmobiling primarily benefits small town and rural Ontario. In many regions, snowmobiling sustains the hospitality industry through what would otherwise be a dormant season.
So it’s not surprising that organized snowmobiling posts other big numbers too. The 43,000 km. snowmobile trail system operated by the non-profit Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club (OFSC) is the world’s largest recreational trail system. These unique winter transportation routes link most snowbelt communities and allow travel by snowmobile from Manitoba to Quebec. There are more kilometres of snowmobile trails in Ontario than there are kilometres of provincial highways, yet they are largely out of sight to the public, being located mostly in the back woods and hinterlands.
It costs OFSC clubs about $22 million to keep trails open and maintained each winter, even though revenue from the trail permit required to enter the trails tops out at about $15 million. The $7 million shortfall is made up by volunteer contributions and fundraising. It’s estimated that club volunteers donate over 750,000 hours annually to maintain and operate the system. Funny how there’s not enough from that $1 billion impact or the associated $75 million or so in provincial tax revenue for the government to make up that annual shortfall!
Since 1985, OFSC clubs have invested over $342 million into trail development, improvements and operations, making Ontario a premier snowmobiling destination.
A fleet of 330 industrial sized groomers, similar to those found on ski hills, resurfaces these snowmobile trails. At a cost of about $150,000 each, they log well over 100,000 cumulative hours on the snow each winter, using about 700,000 litres of fuel.
Sixty per cent of OFSC trails are on private land. Over 15,000 generous property owners donate the use of a portion of their land for a snowmobile trail each winter to help their local club and contribute to the betterment and well being of their home communities.
Last winter, about 170,000 family snowmobilers enjoyed this OFSC trail network, riding a total of about 150 million km. Yet with all of this activity, only eight fatalities occurred on OFSC trails. That’s .000000053 fatalities per kilometre, a number so low as to be statistically insignificant, despite public perception about snowmobile safety.
So who are these snowmobilers? They are your friends and neighbours, working family folks just like you. In fact, 75% of snowmobilers are married, a higher proportion than the general population. Their average age is 42, but 37% of riders are over 50. While 44% have children under 16, overall, snowmobilers have .08 children still living at home. Snowmobilers are outdoor enthusiasts: 76% enjoy swimming, 70% participate in boating and fishing, while 65% go camping.
While all this data is interesting, what’s more amazing is that snowmobiling exists primarily because snowmobilers make it happen. They formed the clubs, they volunteer to help, they buy trail permits to support the clubs and they get out on the snow each winter to enjoy the trails.
But all of this support and enthusiasm begs the question: is snowmobiling, as we know it today, sustainable? My guess is no, without some form of secure government funding and lots more community and business support. But then who would have imagined that it would even have come this far? Until next time, remember that snowmobilers care about the environment too. For Trail Condition Reports check out .
Craig Nicholson is a regular contributor to Snow Goer, Canada's Snowmobiling Magazine. The Intrepid Snowmobiler also appears on radio and on Snowmobiler Television. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author.