A Guide to Snowmobiling in Algoma

Unveiling the Winter Wonderland

Updated: Aug 6, 2025 By Heather LaRue

Are you ready to carve your path across a pristine winter landscape and experience the exhilarating rush of snowmobiling? Look no further than Algoma Country, a snowmobiler’s paradise in Northern Ontario, Canada. This guide to snowmobiling in Algoma Country will help you plan an unforgettable adventure with information about buying Ontario snowmobile permits, how to access trail guides, and how to bring your snowmobile into Canada if you’re a U.S. visitor. Get ready to gear up and explore Algoma’s extensive trail network for an exhilarating ride in the wilderness.

Planning Your Snowmobile Trip

How To Buy An Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit

To access and ride OFSC trail systems, buying an Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit is mandatory. There are 3 types of permits you can buy:

Seasonal Permits – for sleds from model years 2000 or newer for the winter season from the date of purchase.

Classic Permits – for sleds from model years 1999 or older for the winter season from the date of purchase

Multi-Day Permits – for short-term access to OFSC snowmobile trails. These permits are available for a minimum of 2 consecutive days and are valid for the dates selected. There is an option to upgrade to a full-season permit at any time during the winter. These are available December.

Buy An Ontario Snowmobile Trails Permit

Snowmobile Trail Guide

To view all the Ontario Snowmobile Trails, use the Interactive Trail Guide (ITG). The ITG is a reference tool where you can view trail status in real-time, and see trail-accessible points of interest, fuel and amenities. This tool is useful to check snowmobile trail conditions, including openings and closures. It’s also available as a mobile app for IOS or Android.

If you are looking for a specific ride, like Algoma Country, you can order a District trail map from the Algoma Sno-Plan Affiliation or contact us at Algoma Country. Order a free paper map which will be mailed to you. The map shows the trail system and is supported by local sled-friendly businesses with fuel, food, and accommodations.

Order a Free Algoma Trails Guide

algoma snowmobile trail guide signage — Photo credit: Martin Lortz

How To Bring Your Snowmobile Into Canada

If you’re a U.S. citizen, and you’re ready to snowmobile in Algoma Country, you’ll likely enter Canada at the International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie. Be sure to bring the following:

Your registration and proof of insurance for your tow vehicle and trailer
Your registration and proof of insurance for your snowmobile(s)
Permits for the area you plan to ride
A passport, passport card, an enhanced driver’s license or a Trusted Traveler Program Card

Click here for what you need to cross the Canada-U.S. border

Ontario Snowmobile Rules

Ontario’s snowmobile rules are simple:

Ensure your sled is properly registered and insured
Ride at a safe speed
Reduce speed at night, in low visibility, if you need to cross a roadway or near residential areas
Do not ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs

snowmobile on trail with animal tracks — Photo credit: Martin Lortz

Algoma Snowmobile Trails

Algoma’s trails are located in District 13 the Algoma Sno-Plan Affiliation.

As mentioned, you can order a free Algoma snowmobile map to see trails and find amenities from sled-friendly businesses. The trail guide indicates staging areas, OFSC-signed loops, snowmobile gear and repairs, and connections to trails located North and West of District 13.

The Sled Algoma website lists sled-friendly places to stay, eat, and fuel up.

Rides You Might Like

The North Shore Loop – A Weekend Warrior Loop
Soo Highlands Loop – A Ride and Refuel Loop
All The Way There – The Ultimate Remote Wilderness Ride

Local Snowmobile News And Updates

To find out local trail updates like grooming, sled events and general sledder camaraderie, follow clubs on social media:

The District and the Clubs make our trails happen! If you meet any of the awesome people from our District and Clubs during your ride in Algoma, thank them for all the hard work they do to give us incredible snowmobile trails.

group of snowmobilers taking selfie — Photo credit: Martin Lortz

Drummond Island Ice Bridge To Canada

One of the coolest ways to access Algoma Snowmobile Trails! In the winter, the Ice Bridge to Canada is a gateway from Drummond Island, Michigan to St. Joseph Island, Ontario. It’s about a 12-mile (12 km) journey by snowmobile. The ice bridge only opens when the ice is deemed thick enough and safe. Pine trees are buried from Milford Haven on St. Joseph Island to Drummond Island to mark the line. The ice bridge stays open until ice conditions deteriorate. As this is a remote Canada-U.S. crossing, snowmobilers from both countries must report entry and re-entry to Canada Border Services and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

When entering Canada by snowmobile, you must report to a CBSA port of entry using the Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC). There are 3 designated sites for CBSA on St. Joseph Island:

Richards Landing: 1140 Richards St., Richards Landing, Ontario
Hilton Beach: 3130 Marks St. Hilton Beach, Ontario
Whiskey Bay: 6127 Fifth Side Rd., Hilton Beach, Ontario

Go directly to one of the designated sites and call the TRC to report your arrival, the reason for your trip and all information about the people travelling with you. You also must report any restricted or prohibited goods or items entering Canada.

The Visit Drummond Island Tourism Association website has all the information you need to learn how to report to CBP, about duties on imported goods and other circumstances.

The Detroit Free Press has an excellent article with a lot of details about crossing the Drummond Island Ice Bridge.

Snowmobiling And Ice Fishing

Don’t forget, you can snowmobile to many inland lakes for a day of ice fishing. Many of the sled-friendly places to stay are near the OFSC snowmobile trails. This is a great addition to a trip if you like to fish. You will need a valid Ontario fishing license and outdoors card.