Off-road fun for all

Park to Park provides 230 km of multi-use trails

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THE MUSKOKAN - It’s hard to deny the fun of motoring through the woods on an ATV — going where few have been, seeing sights few have seen, and just generally enjoying the wilderness experience. Sure there are other quieter ways to connect with nature, but none that appeal to as many people of all ages, fitness levels and skills.
Motorized vehicles are the great equalizer when it comes to making tracks. The problem is finding a place to go, where there’s not only room to roam but where four-wheeling is not only allowed, it’s welcomed.
Enter Park to Park, a network of 230 kilometres of multi-use trail running from Parry Sound to Huntsville, and connecting four provincial parks along the way, including Killbear, Ostler, Arrowhead, and Algonquin.
“The original initiative was put together basically by the Town of Parry Sound and the Town of Huntsville around 1998,” explained Peter Searle, general manager of the Park to Park Trail Association. “It was to create a link between the two towns… as a way to get from one area to another as a draw (for tourism).”
Making use of already existing municipal and provincial trails, the non-profit group used various government funding sources to build bridges, drainage, signage and make other needed upgrades to the trails, which they connected using road links.
At the beginning of 2011, Park to Park had completed its mandate, connecting the final link in their multi-use trail system.
“We see a huge variety of users from equestrian riders to hikers to cyclists to motorcyclists… ATVers, then of course in wintertime we do get sledders, the occasional dogsledder and cross-country skier, and snowshoers,” listed Searle. “The most unique user I had this year, and I know they were out, was I had somebody call up who wanted to take a motorcycle with a sidecar on the trail.”
Access to the trail system is free for non-motorized users, so there is no way for this usage to be tracked, but ATV and motorcycle passes number over 1,000 a season, said Searle.
Though the trail connects the four parks, it doesn’t actually run through, as ATVs are not allowed in provincial parks. ATVs are also prohibited on the roadways of some of the municipalities the trail system traverses, including Parry Sound, Huntsville, Lake of Bays and Algonquin Highlands. This means ATVs are confined to the off-road portions of the trail system in these municipalities, and cannot use the road links that allow access between trails.
“Huntsville is looking at allowing ATVs on the roads for certain sections as a pilot project,” said Searle, who added he expects to be before council in the near future to help promote this for next season.
“We all believe, that’s Park to Park and I know Algonquin West (ATV club) believes, that having a route into town is going to be an economic boom for the whole region,” he said.
However, Searle would prefer to eventually make use of unopened road allowances and other municipal and provincial land to move the whole 230-kilometre trail system off road.
“That is a goal,” he said. “Anywhere you normally have to get on road I’d like to see off road. If I’m on an ATV… or if I’m on a bike or if I’m walking, I would rather be away from car traffic. It’s also a lot more enjoyable to be off walking in the wilderness.”
Even with a now established multi-use trail system, there are still some detractors, said Searle. But he believes providing ATV riders with a designated trail system is the way to go.
“They’re here to stay; they’re not going to be going away,” he said. “If somebody is not involved with maintaining and promoting trails, it’s just going to be people going anywhere they want… If you don’t know where you can go, you’re going to go where you think you can go. This way it’s signed and they know it’s a trail they can use.”
Going forward, Park to Park is looking towards municipal budget dollars and provincial grants, as well as corporate sponsors to fund maintenance and upgrades to the trail system. Honda Canada has generously provided the group two 500 Rubicon ATVs for trail work and public relations. The sale of passes also helps.
Motorized day passes are $23, week passes are $56 and for $120 you can get a year-long season pass, which excludes the winter-use window from Dec. 1 to March 31. The group is also working with Explorer’s Edge, the area’s regional tourism organization, to offer Stay and Play packages. If you stay at one of the participating accommodation providers, you receive a discount on a Park to Park trail pass. For more information on Park to Park, visit parktoparktrail.com.

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