For Sled Heads: Snowmobiling in Prescott Russell

As soon as the white stuff blankets Southeastern Ontario, the excitement for snowmobiling revs up. In Prescott Russell, the Eastern Ontario Snowmobile Club (EOSC) maintains an impeccably groomed trail network of close to 400 kilometres. The region caters to riders with restaurants, accommodations, restaurants, and rentals dotting the major routes. The real draw, however, are the ribbons of routes that meander through forest-and-farmland backcountry. 

Ready to ride? With the help of Chuck Boyer, EOSC Club President, we put together a list of everything you need to know about snowmobiling in Prescott Russell.

Looking for info? Start here

The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs maintains the official, up-to-date trail conditions for the whole province including Prescott Russell. See the https://ofsc.evtrails.com/# on their website. The EOSC’s Facebook page is a treasure trove of beta too, including details about club-led events and other local happenings like the Vintage Snowmobile Rally & Breakfast in Vankleek Hill.

Rentals and Sales

Don’t have your own sled? Rent one at Loiselle Sports in Limoges or shop for your own ride at Maximum Powersports (Hawkesbury), Rockland Marine or Rockland Wheels (Rockland), Quad Expert (Cheney) and VR Campbell (Alfred). 

Go Here

The Prescott Russell Recreational Trail, has 72-kilometre of groomed tracks that give you prime viewing of fauna, agricultural lands, and forest. It runs between Hammond in the west and St. Eugene in the east.

Forêt Larose is a gorgeous 27,000 acre woodland—with an impressive 18 million trees—situated in the middle of Cheney, Hammond, Bourget, Casselman, and Limoges. To explore the forest, you have the options of three trails: #35, #39, and #A312.

Many snowmobilers head to Carillon Hydropower Generating Station on the Ottawa River in Pointe-Fortune. According to Chuck, those who ride the A220Q trail heading east, according to Chuck, enjoy a “beautiful trip through Voyageur Provincial Park and finish at the dam in Point-Fortune. It’s a great place to take photos.” (Of interest: The dam’s spillway is located in Ontario, while the turbines are in Quebec.)

One of the must-experience destinations in EOSC’s trail network is Oasis RV Resort in Limoges. In wintertime, the Rocque family pulls out all the stops for snowmobilers. “They have entertainment, a full bar and restaurant, and a fire pit that’s always roaring. The atmosphere is incredible,” says Chuck. With the trail going through the Oasis property, it’s hard to miss!

Eat + Drink

As you travel the trails in Prescott Russell, you’ll come across many eateries and breweries. In Embrun, stop in at Homestead Pub for their delicious pub grub. If you fancy a wheel, try Boboul Pizza in Limoges. Chain restaurants are also happy to welcome you: In Rockland and Embrun, try Boston Pizza; in Hawkesbury, there’s Saint Hubert, McDonald’s and Tim Horton. 

Fancy a beer? “Breweries are the hotspots for sure,” says Chuck. Broken Stick Brewing Company in Hammond is the country’s first brewery located on a golf course. (They’ve partnered with Hammond Golf Restaurant, so you have one stop to whet your whistle and fill your belly.) In Vankleek Hill, you’ll find the OG of craft breweries, Beau’s. Sample their lineup and grab a snack or sandwich too. 

Shelter

There’s nothing like a deep sleep after a full day of snowmobiling. You can ride straight into Hammond Hill, a 62-acre eco-resort featuring thoughtfully appointed trapper shacks, pioneer cabins, and tiny homes. (Note: Broken Stick Brewing Company is just up the road so it’s a win-win situation.) Place 19-67 is in Plantagenet and offers delightfully updated rooms and great hospitality. There’s a restaurant on site too. You might also consider staying at the recently refurbished RestoParc Motel in Casselman. When feeling peckish, you can grab something at Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, and Pizza Hut next door. Over in Hakwsbury, bed down at the tried and true Quality Inn & Suites. 

Itineraries

The EOSC is part of the Upper Canada Snowmobile Association, and they’ve put together handy trip suggestions for you, starting with two mini trail loops. To sample snowmobiling in Prescott Russell, try “Possibilities for Adventure Are Endless,” a 154-kilometre, 4.5-hour jaunt through Plantagenet, Vars, Bourget, Sarfield, Casselman, Clarence Cree, St-Pascal-Baylon, Lemieux and Limoges. Consider also the slightly longer and wider-ranging “Ride Eat Rest”, that takes you through Prescott Russell and SDG Counties: Moose Creek, Casselman, Bourget, Plantagenet, Vankleek Hill, and Alexandria. 

For more time on your machine, do the “French Connection Loop”, a 310-kilometre, two-day ride. You’ll hit up an impressive number of communities: Morrisburg, Winchester, Metcalfe, Carlsbad Springs, Hammond, Plantagenet, Vankleek Hill, Alexandria, Monkland, and Ingleside.

If and when you want to expand the range of your adventures, consider riding EOSC trails in Prescott Russell and also linking up to networks maintained by other clubs, including Nation Valley Snowmobile Association, Glengarry Snowmobile Club, Club Êtoile Dorée de Dalhousie (Quebec), and the Carleton Regional Snowmobile Club. So little time, so much to explore!