NWOSTA – OFSC District 17 is one of the 17 districts that comprise the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC).

There are 8 volunteer clubs in our district and we cover a large geographical area: From Kashabowie in the east then west to Atikokan; Mine Center; Fort Frances; Emo and Rainy River; Atikokan south to the USA and north to Ignace, Sioux Lookout, Dryden, and Vermilion Bay. You can go further north to Ear Falls and Red Lake or west to Kenora to connect to Manitoba. The trail circles south through Sioux Narrows, and Nester Falls to Rainy River or Emo and another link to the USA with a total of over 770 km of A(top) trail and over 1600 km of club trails.

Circle Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park and the famed U.S. Boundary Waters Canoe Area for the Ultimate Cross-Border Snowmobile Adventure.

The Cross Border Circle Tour is a self-guided, 3-5 day tour encompasses over 400 miles of pristine wilderness and awesome trails! Novice and experienced snowmobilers alike have the freedom to plan their own itinerary and experience friendly communities and quality services along the way. Usually, you can ride for miles and not see another sled! Now, that’s an awesome ride!

The only U.S. customs office for entry into the U.S.A. is at Crane Lake, MN. As a result, if you would like to complete the entire cross-border circle tour, it should be completed in a counter-clockwise direction so that you can re-enter at the Crane Lake, MN customs location (accessed by trail L901M).

This year, with funding from the National Trail Coalition and OFSC, District 17 is installing a new bridge on the Atikokan

Sno-Ho trail & re-decking a bridge on the Kenora Sunset Trail Riders area. This project is over $86,000.00.

In the past, trail permit dollars were invested in the future of the sport in District 17 via the purchase of a new bridge for the A trail between Ignace and Sioux Lookout. Also much needed brushing and trail clearing in the Atikokan area and signage through-out the district. These clubs funded 20% of these endeavors, with the other 80% coming from OFSC, (trail permit dollars). That is why it is important to buy where you ride. Also the Board of Governor's of the OFSC reallocated two groomers to our district. One was added to the Atikokan fleet to service the Gunflint trail (L902M) and the other to replace the 1994 groomer in Dryden.

Clearly, trail permit dollars are going a long way towards providing sledders with quality trail development, improvement and maintenance. However, these accomplishments could not have been realized without the small corps of dedicated volunteers who, each year, put in many, many hours of their time performing these invaluable tasks.

Thanks to all the volunteers of OFSC District 17 for their outstanding efforts!!!!

© 2009 North Western Ontario Snowmobile Trail Association