In 2015, the City of Owen Sound was approached by Dufferin Grey ATV Club (DGATV) and South Bruce Peninsula ATV Club (SBPATV) to request access to the city for food, fuel and accommodation, and to create a road link between the two clubs.
In 2016, the city created a temporary by-law allowing all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-road vehicles (ORVs) on certain streets within the city. This makes it possible to cross through the city and ride to the Bruce Peninsula.
Copies of the map and by-law are available at www.owensound.ca.
Note that the CP Rail Trail from Sunny Valley Road northward into Owen Sound is not currently open. Part of the trail goes through the Niagara Escarpment and needs special permission, which is being requested. Additionally, Grey County is developing a Recreational Trails Master Plan and will not consider approving the trail until after the report is made available in the autumn.
In the interim, Owen Sound, Georgian Bluffs and the Township of Chatsworth have by-laws in place detailing where ATVs are permitted on certain roads. Grey County has also passed a by-law that will permit use on certain County roads. These by-laws will allow an ATV rider to access the amenities within Owen Sound while the CP Rail Trail and other property requests are being considered.
Links to the by-laws:
https://www.georgianbluffs.ca/en/resourcesGeneral/PDFs/ByLaws/By-law_27-2016_ATV_By-law.pdf
If you would like to participate in Grey County’s Recreational Trails Master Plan process, please contact Sarah.Johnson@grey.ca.
News Stories:
June 15, 2016 – Owen Sound’s ATV bylaw gets green light
