The Scoop On Your Haliburton Snowmobile Tour…
Photo © by Craig Nicholson
Related: Snowmobiling Cottage Country
Haliburton Highlands Ontario snowmobiling here I come. I’d just completed three week of superb Quebec snowmobiling with great snow conditions. That experience had raised the bar on my trail expectations considerably as we trailered to stage Ontario snowmobiling day rides out of Pinestone Resort in Haliburton Highlands, part of Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Region.
I’d been hearing reports that the snowmobile trails groomed by the Haliburton County Snowmobile Association (HSCA) are top notch and so we were on our way to ride our snow machines in Haliburton to find out for ourselves…
Photo © by Craig Nicholson
Haliburton Highlands Ontario Snowmobiling Means Great Grooming
I won’t keep you in suspense about Haliburton Highlands Ontario snowmobling. We rode trails groomed by the Haliburton County Snowmobile Association (HSCA) that more than measured up to those in Quebec. Then HSCA President Paul Gaudin and his team of paid operators had their grooming nailed.
When I asked Paul what the secret was to keeping their trails in such good shape, he replied: “We started grooming early and never stop – we groom every night. Even through the weather ups and downs we’ve had this season, we’d be out packing, packing and re-packing our trails to build up the most durable base possible, so it’s endured through the worst Mother Nature could throw at it.”
Photo © by Craig Nicholson
Now that snow conditions have improved, the HSCA can groom that solid ice base flat as a board. Two major benefits for snowmobilers are that HCSA trails are generally in better shape at day’s end, and that nightly grooming makes them smooth again so snowmobilers can enjoy a table top ride every morning for Haliburton Highlands Ontario snowmobiling.
Don’t get me wrong. Not all of the HSCA’s 380 kilometres of trails were stellar yet. The club had its share of issues with swamps, bogs and water holes that just didn’t freeze properly. So some of their secondary trails were still a challenge, especially trail connections to Dwight and Dorset in east Muskoka.
But overall, the main trails going south to Fenelon Falls & Lindsay (Kawartha Lakes Snowmobile Club), east towards Lake St Peter (Paudash Trailblazers) and northeast to Whitney (Maple Leaf Snow Skimmers) were a pleasure to ride on our visit – and kudos to all the neighbouring OFSC clubs for getting the job done too!
Photo © by Craig Nicholson
Haliburton Highlands Ontario Snowmobiling Staging From Pinestone Resort
Staging out of Pinestone Resort was also a pleasure. Pinestone provides everything a snowmobiler needs… lots of truck & trailer parking, friendly staff, comfortable beds, on site bar (and delicious) restaurant, indoor saltwater pool & sauna, and a variety of accommodation choices ranging from motel-style rooms to villas and chalets. Oh, and did I mention that HCSA Trail 7 runs right through the property? By the way, the nearest gas is in the Village of Haliburton, accessed from the rail trail B103.
Typically, you can stage several day rides out of Pinestone Resort for Haliburton Highlands Ontario snowmobiling. A good one is to Whitney and Lake St Peter through Algonquin Park. A second is south and east including Gooderham, Fenelon Falls, Kinmount and Minden. And a third, as already mentioned, is northwest into Muskoka. Once all the HCSA trails are available, there are also local loops around Haliburton itself.
Photo © by Craig Nicholson
Based on my three days of exceptional Haliburton Highlands Ontario snowmobiling, I can certainly recommend a sledding excursion to this area. And I’m certain you’ll enjoy staying and staging out of Pinestone Resort as much as I did. And best of all, you can trailer to Haliburton from the Greater Toronto Area for your snowmobile tour in less than three hours – a perfect start to a memorable three-day Ontario snowmobiling getaway!
Ontario law requires a snowmobile entering an OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trail to display a valid Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit.
Like This Post? Follow Me on Facebook
Check out more snowmobile tours!
The tips and advice in this blog are the opinions of the author, may not work in every situation and are intended only for the convenience and interest of the reader, who has the personal responsibility to confirm the validity, accuracy and relevancy of this information prior to putting it to their own use.