ATV Trails in Quebec

Off-road riding in Canada comes down to three things: a machine that is properly registered and insured, the right permit or permission for the land you are on, and a trail that actually allows your vehicle type.

Register and insure the machine

Most provinces require your ATV or side by side to be registered, with a visible plate or decal, and covered by liability insurance before you ride club trails or Crown land. British Columbia, for example, requires off-road vehicles to be registered for Crown land use and riding unregistered carries a fine. Confirm the current requirement with your provincial registry, because the rules and fees do change.

Club trails need a trail pass

Organised trail networks are built and maintained by volunteer clubs, and they fund that work through an annual trail permit. Ontario has the largest network in the country, roughly 10,000 kilometres maintained by the member clubs of the Ontario Federation of ATV Clubs, accessed with their provincial trail permit. Quebec, the Maritimes and the Prairie provinces each have their own federations and passes. Buy the pass for the area you actually ride, because most of that money goes back into those trails.

Crown land and private land are different

• Crown land is often open to off-road vehicles, but not everywhere. Protected areas can sit directly beside open land, so check the local rules before you ride.
• Private land always needs the owner permission, every time, no exceptions.
• Municipal roads vary. Some towns have passed ATV-friendly bylaws that let you ride from your accommodation to the trailhead, many have not.

Check width limits if you ride a side by side

Many club trails set a maximum overall vehicle width, and bridges or tight sections may not clear a wide machine. Some clubs limit or exclude wider side by sides entirely, and most organised ATV trail systems do not permit dirt bikes. Always check with the local club before you trailer out.

Before every ride

• Helmet on, for you and every passenger.
• Registration, insurance and trail permit valid and with you.
• Tell someone your route and expected return time.
• Carry a paper or offline map. Cell coverage disappears fast in the backcountry.

Trail conditions, permit prices and access rules change season to season. Always confirm with the local club or provincial authority before you ride. If you spot outdated information on a trail page, let us know and we will fix it.