PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY LIVING

Peace and Power: The Thrill of Sledding Prince Edward County

Winter transforms The County.

Many would argue that the best way to experience winter in PEC is astride a snowmobile, blending the adrenaline of the ride with the hushed majesty of a region shrouded in white. With 150 kilometres of groomed trails to relish, there are enough trails in Prince Edward County to ride to your heart’s content.

“We have a nice network of trails, including the 50km-long Millennium Trail that runs from Picton to Consecon,” explains Jamie Forrester, President of the Prince Edward County Trail Riders Snowmobile Club, which for decades has been maintaining these trails on behalf of riders from all over the province. The dedication of the Trail Riders has ensured that, despite poor winters in the last few years that have seen relatively little snowfall and unseasonal thaws, Prince Edward County enjoys a month of sledding in one of Ontario’s most unique settings, with wineries and quaint villages and views of grey, storm-tossed Lake Ontario.

The tireless, behind-the-scenes work of the volunteer Trail Riders begins well before snowfall. “Before the first snowmobile can hit the trails, we have cut down trees and cut back brush, repaired run-off damage and bridges, and put in culverts,” Forrester explains.

Once snow blankets the landscape, members hop aboard the Club’s two grooming machines to put the trails in pristine sledding condition. They must go out routinely thereafter for maintenance. The result is a network of trails that does The County proud.

Snowmobiling is a covid-safe winter experience, and is a thrilling way to witness the beauty of snow-shrouded Prince Edward County. “The Millennium Trail is the backbone of our trail network. It’s a nice ride that, for most of its length, backs onto farmers’ fields and vineyards,” says Forrester. “But we offer pleasure rides as well, many that run off the Millennium Trail. We have, for example, a trail that runs from Picton to Waupoos, and another, a loop, to Sandbanks Provincial Park.”

Prince Edward County isn’t short of natural drama. Unlike in northern climes, where you can ride for vast distances without seeing anything but forest and frozen lakes, a ride in PEC might pass from light woods to pastures to wetlands and on to dense forest within a matter of minutes. The varied terrain is part of the appeal of sledding in The County. Equally attractive is the fact routes pass through or by restaurants, wineries, shops, and quaint communities that call out to sledders and beg them for a brief stop.

In addition to his role as President of the Trail Riders, Forrester is a Councilor and owns Log Cabin Point Cottages. As a result, he recognizes, perhaps better than most, the importance of snowmobiling for the local economy (it is, after all, the number one winter sport in Ontario in terms of dollars generated).

“Snowmobiling brings thousands of tourists to Prince Edward County on a good snow year,” Forrester explains. “You’ll often see the parking lots of restaurants and gas stations jammed with sleds once the snow arrives. That’s good for many local businesses.”

“When you get a good snowfall,” Forrester continues, “there is nothing better than a day exploring aboard a snowmobile.”

Slip into your snowsuit, hop on the sled, and explore a transformed Prince Edward County wrapped in a blanket of white.

For Trail Passes and Additional Information: ofsc.on.ca