The trails around Woodridge, in southeast Manitoba, may be in great shape after the winter, but riders will need to be patient a little longer before revving up their engines.
Gary Hora, longtime president of the Woodridge ATV Sandhogs and head of the Manitoba ATV Association, says the trails came through the winter in solid condition, but wildfire concerns have put a temporary stop to daytime backcountry travel.
“Actually, the trails held up pretty good overall for the winter,” Hora said. “We had a bit more snow than last year, which helped. The snowmobilers were happy, and the trails fared quite decent. The only issue was a heavy, wet snowfall in December that brought down a bunch of tree branches. Took us a couple of weeks to clean that all up, but we got it done.”
Despite the early-season prep work paying off, fire danger is now the main concern. Provincial rules went into effect May 2, restricting all motorized travel in the backcountry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
“Yeah, we got everything cleared and opened for the riding season, but now we’re kind of in a holding pattern. Hopefully, we get some rain soon, because without it, things are just getting drier by the day.”
Most local riders are playing it safe and are following the rules.
“From what I’ve seen around Woodridge, everyone’s abiding by the restrictions. Some are getting in some evening rides, which is allowed, but honestly, most are probably just holding off because it’s too risky right now.”
Conditions in the Sandilands area, which includes Woodridge, have been extremely dry, Hora said, with very little to no recent rainfall.
“We’re going to need a couple of inches of good rain before they consider lifting the ban,” he explained. “The humidity’s so low now it’s drying out even the green grass and new leaves. It’s that bad.”
Even non-motorized users like hikers and bikers should be extra cautious.
“Everyone needs to be mindful,” Hora said. “I don’t think they’re lighting campfires or anything, and probably not smokers either, but still, it only takes one careless move.”
New ATV app once trails open
When conditions do improve, riders will be able to take full advantage of a brand-new ATV app from ATV Manitoba, developed with mapping company Map Gears.
“It’s similar to the Polaris Ride Command app but specific to Manitoba,” Hora said. “It shows trail status, whether it’s open, closed, dusty, wet, whatever. You can see it in real time and even track your ride.”
The app is GPS-based, so it works even in areas without cell coverage.
“You can record your ride, and it’ll upload once you’re back in service,” he explained. “It’s a great tool, not just for riders but for search and rescue, too. And it helps us track trail usage so we can better manage the system.”
In the meantime, Hora says their club is using the downtime to prep for summer improvements.
“We’ve got a bunch of projects lined up to make the trails even better. Right now, we’re just gathering materials and organizing contractors. As soon as we get the green light, we’ll be back out there working.”