About 35 dog sled teams traveled to Mattawa, Ontario, for a regional sprint race held on February 7 and 8, 2026. The event brought together mushers from across Ontario and Quebec to compete in two-dog and four-dog categories on the local trail network.
The races took place on the Voyageur Multi-Use Trail System (VMUTS) with the main hub located near the Highway 533 access point. Competitors used the groomed, multi-use trails to race through the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains in timed heats.
Local businesses saw a significant increase in visitors, with some accommodations such as the Mattawa River Resort reporting near-capacity bookings for the weekend. Northern Ontario Travel and the event research note that sprint-style races are becoming more popular because they require less overhead than long-distance events and are more accessible to hobbyists.
While the event brought a boost to the local economy, some residents living near the trails reported heavy traffic and limited parking on Highway 533 and Pine Street. The Town of Mattawa received feedback from homeowners who found it difficult to get in and out of their driveways due to trucks and trailers parked on the road shoulders.
