The World’s Best Snowmobile Destination: Northern Corridor Du Nord

If you’re looking for the ultimate snowmobile adventure, look no further than the Northern Corridor of Ontario, which includes the communities of Cochrane, Smooth Rock Falls, Kapuskasing, Hearst, and Hornepayne. This area boasts over 1,700 km of exceptionally maintained and groomed trails, scenic views, wildlife encounters, and best of all one of the longest snowmobile seasons in the world! Whether you are a new rider or a seasoned sledder, you will find something to suit your taste and challenge your skills in this snowmobile paradise.

Why is this area the best snowmobile destination?

There are many reasons why this area is considered the best snowmobile destination in the world, but here are few of the main ones:

Photo by Virgil Knapp

• Snow quality and quantity: This region receives an average of 300 cm of snow annually, which means you can enjoy a long and reliable snowmobile season from December to April. In the backcountry it’s also common to have light and fluffy snow, perfect for carving and boondocking.
• Trail diversity and accessibility: The trails in this area are diverse and well-connected, offering a variety of terrain and scenery. You can ride on wide and smooth corridors, twisty and technical trails, or venture into the backcountry for some deep powder and hill climbing. You can also access all the services a snowmobiler needs along the way, such as gas stations, restaurants, hotels, dealerships and even the Polar Bear Habitat and Vintage Snowmobile Museum.
• Snowmobile friendliness and hospitality: The communities in this area are very welcoming and supportive of snowmobilers, offering many amenities and facilities to make your ride more comfortable and enjoyable. You will find snowmobile-only parking, helmet, and gear drying racks, trail side warm up shacks, on-trial community directional signage, and more at many local businesses. You can also interact and visit the friendly and knowledgeable local snowmobile clubs including the popular Clubhouse of the Moonbeam Snowmobile Club.
• Snowmobile culture and history: This area has a rich and proud snowmobile culture and history, dating back to the early days of the sport. You can learn more about the pioneers and legends of snowmobiling, the dozens of OEM brands that existed, and the even when Levi Lavallee dropped the puck at centre ice, by visiting the local Cochrane Classic Vintage Snowmobile Museum. You can also experience the diverse and vibrant cultures of the Francophone, Anglophone, and Indigenous communities that live in this area, by sampling their cuisine, music, art, and traditions.

Legendary snowmobiler Levi Lavallee drops the puck in his hometown of Cochrane, Ontario. Photo by Mike Jacobs

How can I plan my snowmobile trip to this area?

If you are interested in planning your snowmobile trip to this area, you can find many resources and information online, such as:

• NorthernOntario.travel, the official magazine of Northern Ontario tourism, which features many articles, videos, and guides on snowmobiling in this area, written by experts, enthusiasts of local from the north including dozens by your truly.
• Destination Ontario website’s Motorcycling, ATVing and Snowmobiling section, which offers exploration resources that will inspire you to adventure in our vast and expansive province.
• Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), the provincial organization that oversees the snowmobile trail system in Ontario, provides trail permits, tour information, safety & regulation details and online interactive trail guide with trail conditions and route planning functionality.
• Northern Corridor Du Nord the regional organization that represents the snowmobile clubs and trails in the Northeastern Ontario, which covers the area of Cochrane, Smooth Rock Falls, Kapuskasing, Hearst and Hornepayne. You can find the social pages and websites of the local clubs, as well as the latest news and events in this area.
• World’s Best Snowmobile Destination, the website that showcases the snowmobile friendliness and excellence of this area, which features a video series by JP Braaaper, the ambassador for the snowmobile friendliness series, who gives tips and tricks on how to make your snowmobile trip more enjoyable and memorable. You can watch his videos here.

What are some of the best snowmobile tours?

Photo by Mike Jacobs

I’ve spent a ton of time over the years exploring this area and the list of must do and must see is long but in order to get you started here’s three.

• The Abitibi Canyon Loop, a 300 km loop that takes you to the spectacular Abitibi Canyon, where you can see the massive hydroelectric dam, the frozen waterfalls, and endless boral forest. This loop is considered one of the best snowmobile rides in the world and is suitable for intermediate and advanced riders. Services available at Base Camp Abitibi.
• The Northern Corridor Adventure Tour, a 1645 km tour that takes you from Cochrane to Hornepayne and back, combining some of the best local trails along with the main TOP A trail that connects all the communities and services together. This tour is ideal for overnight “saddle bag” riders looking to log big miles and see it all.
• The Gateway to the North Tour takes you along some of the best and widest trails in the area as well as through Greenwater Provincial Park. You will have the opportunity to ride by, pull up and take a great photo at the Worlds Best Snowmobile Destination trail side billboard. I recommend veering off onto the L103 to the Greenwater lookout.

Conclusion

Photo by Mike Jacobs

We don’t remember days we remember moments and this area will leave you with plenty of memories! The Northern Corridor Du Nord offers everything you need and want for the snowmobile adventure of a lifetime. From the snow quality and quantity to the trail diversity and accessibility, to the snowmobile friendliness and hospitality, a snowbank of snowmobile culture and history, this area has it all. So, what are you waiting for? Book your snowmobile trip to this area today and discover why it is the world’s best snowmobile destination. You won’t regret it! See you on the trails!

NOTE: This is sponsored content produced in partnership with Destination Ontario.