Dear Club Members, Volunteers, Landowners, and Snowmobilers,
With warmer forecasted temperatures and rain expected in the coming days, it appears our 2026 snowmobile season is quickly drawing to a close.
On behalf of the UCSR Board, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who contributed to making this season a success. From our dedicated volunteers and grooming teams, to our supportive landowners and passionate snowmobilers, your commitment to organized Snowmobiling continues to make our trail system possible.
We would also like to recognize the resilience and cooperation of our clubs throughout the OFSC trail reduction exercise last summer & fall. This was a difficult task to undertake and with the help of $3.9Million in provincial government funding, it was reversed just before the season started. As you can imagine this created extra work for all clubs, and in the end the clubs were able to open the majority of the 3390 kms of trails for the ‘25-‘26 snowmobile season.
This season started on schedule, and, unlike recent years, we avoided the typical mid-season melt. As a result, snowmobilers were able to enjoy some of the best and most consistent trail conditions we have seen in several years. The winter of 2025/2026 will certainly be remembered for the great riding, shared adventures, and lasting memories created across our trail network.
A special thank you goes out to our grooming operators and grooming coordinators who worked countless hours—often overnight and in changing weather conditions—to deliver safe and enjoyable trails. This season also represented an important step forward as we transition toward a district-wide grooming approach. While changes like this take time, the cooperation between clubs, grooming operators, and volunteers has helped strengthen our ability to deliver consistent trail conditions across the region.
We would like to take time to recognize our landowners. Without your continued generosity, support and willingness to allow trails across your property, the interconnected snowmobile trail network across Eastern Ontario simply would not exist. Your partnership is essential to the future of our sport.
Volunteers remain the foundation of our trail system. Across 16 clubs, we are incredibly fortunate to have approximately 1,000 dedicated volunteers supporting our 3390Km trail system while serving more than 10,000 permit buyers across the district. This demonstrates just how important volunteer involvement is to the sustainability of our sport. Many clubs are in desperate need of volunteers to take on leadership roles. Attending your club’s meetings, getting involved, and stepping forward for an elected leadership position will help ensure our clubs remain strong for years to come. Growing our volunteer base helps ensure we can continue delivering quality trails for everyone to enjoy. There are many steps involved in creating our trail system, you may be just what your club is looking for.
The work that goes into building and maintaining our trail system continues year-round. As we move into the off-season, we encourage snowmobilers to get involved with your local clubs. Please take some time to help with trail tear down & clean up, summer trail projects, brushing, bridge work, and trail preparation. These are all important ways snowmobilers can contribute to the continued success of our trail network in the off season. Your increased efforts and the ongoing collaboration between clubs, volunteers, landowners and the district all remain an important part of keeping our trail network in place for the future.
Many hands make light work.
Finally, Many Thanks to all snowmobilers who purchased a trail permit this season. Permit sales remain our primary source of funding that allows clubs and the district to maintain infrastructure, operate grooming equipment, and keep trails open for everyone to enjoy.
Thank you again for your support, dedication, and passion for snowmobiling. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the trails next winter.
Have a great summer!
Tim Krause
President
UCSR
