CRAIG’S TOUR

ome of my most amazing sledding on serious miles in Northeastern . lodgings like the aforementioned Quality has occurred on snowmobile Three hundred kilometer days are a breeze Inn, (), as well as trails on various logging roads, and with March’s longer daylight hours, the North Adventure Inn (Cochrane), the abandoned rail lines, utility upwards to 400 klicks is easy for avid Companion Hotel (Hearst), Comfort Inn, Scorridors and forest access corridors. So riders. Snowmobiling simply doesn’t get (), Cedar Meadows Resort just imagine if these routes were connected any better than this! () and the Elk Lake Eco Lodge. to each other in one seamless trail network. I highly recommend these trail accessible Great Lodgings, Great Trails Well, dream no more because this is exactly accommodations, which really enhanced what happens within the 4,700 kilometres of Our Snow Goer Canada touring crew, our touring experience (For more on these snowmobile trails in Ontario’s Wilderness consisting of Dan Carty, Glenn King, Jim lodgings, see Our Tour Itinerary.) Region, comprising Districts 14 and 15 Reavell, Don Webb, Marsha and I, trailered As usual, we took the long or indirect way of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile to New Liskeard’s popular Quality Inn to on most days, allowing us to cover greater Clubs (OFSC). start our journey. Seven days of glorious distances. For instance, the direct trail We found kilometre after kilometre riding and 2,188 kilometres later, we distance between Hearst and Kapuskasing of the widest-open, most horizon- returned to the Quality Inn, a completely on TOP (Trans Ontario Provincial) Trail A stretching, adrenalin-pumping and eye- satiated and contented group (see Green is about 120 kilometres. We made it a 376- popping sledding anywhere. Thanks to area on sketch map). Along the way, we klick journey by riding Hearst’s remarkable this unrivalled network, anyone can put stayed at various snowmobile-friendly network of local trails in the morning, then CRAIG’S TOUR more of the same around Kap later in the day. By choosing various less traveled routes on this tour, we not only added about 600 kilometres to our final tally, but we also explored great local trails that many touring riders never see. One major benefit is that most of these routes are in excellent shape, even when the nearby TOP trails may show some traffic wear. Another advantage is not having to ride all the same trails on the return ride (For trail details, see Our Tour Itinerary.) My only disappointment on this tour Stake line goes under the highway bridge to cross the Mattagami was finding the Butler Lake Truck Stop, River at . The presence of many bridges helps keep trails open longer. previously located 38 kilometres north of on TOP A, closed and for sale due to a fire. Not only did this for late spring riding, for your trip to longest virtually uninterrupted stretch of are a must and we also rode with handle We enjoyed these trails so eliminate a convenient gas stop, it also (extremetourscochrane.net), trail you’ll ever ride! bar muffs. Marsha also really appreciated much that on our last day, we rode her Ski-Doo’s heated seat! 280 kilometres between Elk Lake and left my sweet tooth craving their delicious or for exploring the . TOP Prepare for Cold snowmobilers to ride. Some centimetres Temiskaming Shores (87 km direct by TOP Chelsea buns unfulfilled. But the good A103 north from Cochrane is mostly Remote Trails of fresh snow over several nights during news is that these bakers-extraordinaire logging roads for the 145 kilometres One consideration for touring these A) by snowmobiling west to Gowganda our tour put the icing on the cake, which have opened a new place called the to the Extreme Tours Base Camp at northern trails is the distinct possibility From Timmins, we chose to ride on TOP A107C before looping north is another thing you can typically count Kenogami Kitchen and Gas Bar accessible . It’s an easy 2.5 to 3 hour ride, of confronting colder temperatures TOP C south. L143 is another good back through and then on in : unpredicted from the A trail at Kenogami Lake, so I’ll where you’ll want to fuel up and grab a than you may be used to. Prior to our alternative that’s about 50 klicks shorter, riding local trails as much as possible to nocturnal dustings to make your next get my fix next time! bite before hitting Abitibi Canyon. There, tour, the mercury predictions were for but we do love the whoop-dee-doo’s return to the Quality Inn. day’s ride even more exceptional. only three kilometres from the base camp, a comfortable -5˚ Celsius daytime high, and sweeping hills of that TOP C power Abitibi Canyon Simply The Best But don’t just take my word for it. 11 kilometres of ravines and canyons, with -12˚ overnight lows. But on at least line! Unlike TOP A from Temiskaming During this tour, we chanced to encounter On Day Two and Three, we stayed challenging hills, steep climbs and deep two days, the thermometer actually read Shores to Hearst, which basically Throughout this tour, we heard locals Robert & Elaine, acquaintances overnight at the North Adventure powder are as close to mountain riding as -24˚ Celsius in the morning, with wind parallels Highway 11 and accesses its complain about how little snow they had. who avidly tour La Belle Province each Inn, Cochrane. As well as being an can be found in Ontario. You may want to chills down to -35 — and this before many communities and services, TOP C Certainly, all of Eastern Canada suffered winter. This was their first visit to Ontario. outstanding overnight stopover, the North leave Cochrane early to allow a couple of factoring in any extra chill from our and TOP C106A are remote wilderness less coverage for the winter of 2010 than Unsolicited, they gave Northeastern Adventure is also a good staging hotel hours of playtime in the canyon. moving sleds, ouch! Remember, many trails, albeit as well groomed as any normal. But it’s all relative, isn’t it? Yes, Ontario snowmobiling an enthusiastic Afterwards, we followed A103 south of these trails are wide open, with few others. With only Mattagami and Northeastern Ontario may have had less two-thumbs-up while stating that: “This corners and twisties to warm you up. So Matachewan directly en route, there depth than usual, but that’s still more than TOP F Open for 2011 along a “piston alley” hydro line for 80 amazing trail network is better than klicks to Smooth Rock Falls before taking be sure to take more layers than usual, are about 100 kilometres between each many other places get at any time. Beside, anything we usually find at home!” Robert Good news for riders who wish to a roundabout route back to Cochrane. TOP and have space to store them, because fuel stop — very makeable distances more or less didn’t seem to matter to the and Elaine will be spreading the word in complete the Big Loop Tour that A103 from start to finish is an incredible like us, you may want to strip off some for most sleds. But be aware that cell snowmobile clubs of Districts 14 and 15; Quebec about their new discovery and are includes the Northern Corridor plus length of trail: over 200 kilometres with when the temperature climbs to -5 in the service may not be available and carry they soldiered on, doing their customary already planning a trip to Northeastern circling south through Hornepayne, only a handful of Stop signs — perhaps the afternoon. Good hand & thumb warmers a good towrope, just in case. job of making great trails for visiting Ontario next winter…and so should you! Chapleau, Foleyet and Timmins – the TOP F trail between Missanabie Special thanks to Claude Aumont and Chapleau is open this winter! and Jamie Dallaire for assistance with this tour. Craig’s tours are made possible by BRP (Ski-Doo), Dunford’s of Havelock, FXR Racing, Murphy Insurance, Shell Advance Snow Ultra Oil, Triton Trailers, and Woody’s. Craig Nicholson is the author of “Canada’s Best Snowmobiling — Your Ultimate Ride Guide”. His syndicated column “The Intrepid Snowmobiler” appears in newspapers throughout North America. He also hosts “The Intrepid Snowmobiler on Radio” and appears regularly on One of many scenic views from the trails. Snowmobile Television. For more info,click Lookout on TOP C just north www.intrepidsnowmobiler.com of Gogama. PLAN YOUR TOUR Who To Contact closed, so if you need gas before the 191 DAY SIX km to Matheson, stop at Kirkland Lake), • Ontario’s Wilderness Region - Ride from Kapuskasing to Timmins Cochrane. Lunch: Ramore. www.OntariosWildernessRegion. (about 8 hrs.) Ride 331 km via TOP A com or 1-800-461-3766 Where To Stay: North Adventure Inn east/L125east/TOPA east/TOP A103north/ • Ontario Tourism - www. 705-272-6683 or www.northadventureinn. L101east/TOP A105Q west/TOP A south/ gorideontario.com or 1-800- ca. Built specially for sledders, this unique L103west/TOP A106C south/TOP C south. ONTARIO (1-800-668-2746) hotel even offers “igloos” along with a Fuel: Smooth Rock Falls, Timmins. Fuel & • OFSC (for maps, permits and trail choice of various room configurations. With Lunch: Cochrane.

info) – www.ofsc.on.ca ample parking, a heated sled garage, and a Where To Stay: Cedar Meadows deep outdoor hot tub, the North Adventure Resort & Spa 1-877-207-6123 or www. Maps Needed Inn also provides excellent meals in its on • OFSC District 14 Trail Guide cedarmeadows.com. Quebec-style inn with site restaurant and has a lively pub. Direct • OFSC District 15 Trail Guide well-appointed rooms, on site restaurant trail access via TOP A106C (just south of • Ontario Federation of Snowmobile & bar, plus secure sled parking. Be sure to intersection of TOP A106C and TOP A), Clubs Provincial Trail Guide leave time to visit on site zoo! Ample space the hotel is located on Highway 11 just west for trucks & trailers. Direct trail access off of town (on north side). Fuel up at new Our Tour Itinerary TOP C just north of intersection with TOP Canadian Tire located 2 km east of hotel Notes A111C. Fuel south on TOP C about 3 km. 1. Toll free phone numbers are included just off TOP A. Note: new owners have only when they connect directly to taken over since this tour. DAY SEVEN the hotel (as opposed to an off site DAY THREE Ride from Timmins to Elk Lake reservation system). (about 7.5 hrs.) Ride 275 km via TOP Ride from Cochrane to Abitibi Canyon and 2. TOP = Trans Ontario Provincial; L = C south/TOP C106A east/TOP A south. back (about 6 hrs. return via A103 to Smooth Club Trail Fuel & lunch: Mattagami. Other fuel: Rock Falls – plus, add play time in canyon). We Matachewan, Elk Lake. Tour Info rode over 8 hrs. and 334 km via TOP A/TOP 2,188 kilometres. Average Fuel Economy A103/ TOP A east/TOPC south/TOP A106C Where To Stay: Elk Lake Eco Centre for 2010 Ski-Doo GSX SE 1200 4TEC: north. Fuel & Lunch: Extreme Tours Base Camp. 1-877-678-2248 or www.elklakeeco.com. 6.73 km/l. Average Fuel Economy for 2010 Other fuel: Smooth Rock Falls, Cochrane. Main lodge with restaurant, giant fireplace Ski-Doo 600 ETEC’s (2010 models on and top-notch outdoor hot tub. Six modern Where To Stay: North Adventure Inn 705- this tour included 2 Renegades; 1 MXZ, 1 chalets close by with individual bedrooms, 272-6683 or www.northadventureinn.ca. MXZ RS, 1 GSX LE): 7.52 km/l. Average two bathrooms, plus living room and oil consumption for ETEC sleds: 5.25 litres DAY FOUR kitchen area. Sled parking in secluded (416 km/l). Total cost per person per day: lot beside chalets (turn left from main Ride from Cochrane to Hearst (about 7 $165 (includes lodgings, meals, sled & parking lot and take 1st right). Okay to drive hrs) Ride 278 km via TOP A west. Fuel: truck fuel, sled oil, pro-rated permits). sleds to main lodge door for registration, Kapuskasing, Hearst. Lunch: Kapuskasing. DAY ONE despite “no motorized vehicles” sign, but Where To Stay: Companion Hotel Motel not to park there for long. Located on the Trailer to Temiskaming Shores (drive 1-888-468-9888 or south/west bank of the Montreal River just time from Greater Toronto Area: 6 - 7 www.companion-hotel-motel.ca. Two hot south of Elk Lake with direct trail access hours.) tubs, sauna, heated sled garage and on site from TOP A. Fuel in town: follow TOP A Where To Stay: Quality Inn 705-647- restaurant and bar make this hotel a must- stake line on river to north side of bridge 7357 or www.qualityinnnewliskeard.com. stay. Good on trail signage leads to direct underpass, then exit up the west bank. The region’s most popular staging hotel trail access from TOP A (cross railway st DAY EIGHT is located on Highway 11 with direct trail tracks near town and take 1 local trail access via A107Q. This full service hotel on left, which leads to fuel/convenience Ride from Elk Lake to Temiskaming store and to the hotel at the end.) Shores (about 7.5 hrs.) Ride 280 km via has massive parking for trucks and trailers, TOP A north/TOP A107C west/L136 north/ plus all the amenities for snowmobilers: on DAY FIVE site restaurant/bar, indoor pool, sauna and TOP C106A east/TOP A north/ L162 east/ (great) hot tub, games room, sled parking in Ride from Hearst to Kapuskasing L161 south/TOP A south/TOP A108Q east/ front of rooms, and fuel/convenience store (about 9 hrs.) Ride 376 km via TOP L190 south/L189 south to Wabi River/TOP next door. The best place to start your tour! A west/ L163east/L165 east/L159 A south (right on Wabi River)/TOP A107Q east/TOP A west (back to Hearst)/ east (left off Wabi River). DAY TWO L155 east/TOP A east/L123east/TOP Where To Stay: Quality Inn 705-647- A west/L127west/TOP A west. Fuel & Ride from Temiskaming Shores to 7357 or www.qualityinnnewliskeard.com lunch: Hearst. Other fuel: Moonbeam. Cochrane (about 7 - 8 hrs.) Ride 314 km (see Day One). via TOP A107Q/TOP A north (turn right on Where To Stay: Comfort Inn 705-335-8583 Wabi River)/TOP A108 north/TOP A north. or www.choicehotels.ca. Located on north DAY NINE Fuel: Matheson (note: Butler Lake was side of Highway 11 across from TOP A. Trailer Home.