The Algonquin West ATV Club (AWATV) has suspended all trail operations in the Kearney, Ontario area for the winter and spring season. The suspension runs through April 30, 2026, with a scheduled reopening on May 1, 2026 (weather permitting).
Club officials say this five‑month break is a routine management practice to protect trail integrity over the long term. The closure is intended to protect trails during the winter freeze and — especially — the spring thaw (“mud season”), when soft ground is vulnerable to rutting and washouts. During the closure volunteers plan to complete repairs that require stable ground, including a bridge/culvert failure on Trail 36 and several washouts on Trail 42.
The Ontario Federation of ATV Clubs (OFATV) maintains that memberships and trail permits are non‑refundable under its policy; seasonal closures are part of how clubs define a riding season and membership terms. The Town of Kearney is a municipal stakeholder in local ATV trail management, but no official municipal statement explicitly endorsing this specific closure was found in the sources reviewed. Local businesses that rely on trail traffic — for example, Rickward’s Small Motors Inc. and Edgewater Park Lodge — typically see reduced trail‑related tourism until trails reopen in the spring.
Riders can check current trail status using digital mapping tools such as the QuadON app; the club’s notices and mapping currently show the AWATV trails as closed. While May 1, 2026 is the target reopening date, club officials caution that the actual timing depends on ground conditions — in particular, when the frost comes out of the ground and the trails are stable enough for repair and riding. Using trails before they are ready can cause expensive damage and risks upsetting private landowners who allow the club to access their property.
For official updates, consult the Algonquin West ATV Club website and club news, and check the OFATV/QuadON trail status before planning rides.
