by Donna Baylis | Jan 1, 2017 | Reference
Dufferin Grey ATV Club’s trails are approved for ATV, two-up and side-by-side riders only.
If you ride a motorcycle or dirt bike, checkout the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders (www.oftr.ca), Off-Road Ontario (www.offroadontario.ca), Simcoe County Off Road Riders Association (www.scorra.ca), as well as Motopark (www.motoparkracing.com) in Chatsworth for youth.
Ontario Federation of ATV Clubs (OFATV) and Dufferin Grey ATV Club (DGATV) are entirely separate from OFTR with separate legal landowner agreements. Check with OFTR to find out which trails you are permitted to ride.
If you ever get an ATV then you know where to find us!
See also:
Young Riders
FAQs
latest review: May 20, 2025
by Donna Baylis | Jan 1, 2017 | Reference
Here is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and links to topics of interest:
Q: How long is ATV Season? A: Answer
Q: What are the road speed limits? A: Answer
Q: Can I ride at night? A: Depends on the local by-laws. Please be considerate of local residents.
Q: Do you have an events calendar or google calendar? A: Answer
Q: What Events have you planned? A: Answer
Q: Should I worry about Invasive Species? A: Answer
Q: What about Side-by-sides? A: Answer
Q: Who are DGATV’s Sponsors?
Land Owners
Q: What is the benefit of being allowing ATVs to cross my land? A: [work in progress]
Maps
Q: Where can I get trail maps? A: Answer
Memberships
Q: What is the Ontario Federation of ATV Clubs (OFATV)? A: Answer
Q: What is the difference between a “membership”, “permit” and “pass”? A: The terms “membership”, “permit” and “pass” are often used interchangeably. “Membership” typically refers to annual permission to ride on the trails, which also gives you membership in a club of your choice.
Q: What documentation do I need to get an OFATV permit? A: Answer
Q: Where do I place my OFATV permit sticker? A: Answer
Q: How is my Membership Fee used? A: Answer
Q: When does my Membership expire? A: Your Membership expires one year (365 days) after the day you purchased it.
Q: Is there an early bird discount for renewal? A: Answer
Q: Where can I buy a trail pass? A day pass? A: Answer
Q: Where should my trail pass sticker be placed on my ATV or side-by-side? A: Answer
Q: What are the Benefits of Becoming a Club Member? A: Answer
Q: What is a Family Pass (links to OFATV.org page)? A: Answer
Q: Can I ride in other provinces with an OFATV annual membership? A: Answer
Q: What should I do with my pass? A: Carry your wallet card and pink sheet with you and place your permit sticker on your ATV in a visible manner on the left/front side of your machine so when wardens approach they can see it clearly. This makes for a lot smoother verification process when you are stopped. Otherwise, carry your day passes ready to present to a Warden when requested.
Trail Permits – New Bike / Replacement Sticker
Q: I’m getting a new atv. How do I go about replacing the sticker on my new machine? A: Get a replacement card.
Q: Does the trail permit go with the bike or the rider? A: The trail permit goes with the bike. If you have 3 bikes, then you need 3 trail permits. Carrying the permit in your pocket or wearing a laminate around your neck does not constitute permission for the bike to be on the trail.
Q: Can we ride at night? A: The rule of thumb is sunrise to sunset. However, each municipality can have different rules. Occasionally, DGATV sets up a night ride but that requires special permission and insurance.
Q: Are motorcycles or dirt bikes allowed on the trail? A: Answer
Regulations
Q: Are passengers on second seats added to regular ATVs permitted? A: Factory built two-up (2-up) riding is legal. Single-rider bikes with added-on seats are not legal to carry a passenger.
Q: What Ontario regulations are applicable to ATVing? A: See the following:
Q: What other rules and regulations apply to the trails? A: Here are some examples but the list is not comprehensive so check the local ATV by-laws before you ride. For DGATV trails see Other Links for local counties and municipalities. Know before you go!
Q: Where can find local by-laws? A: Here is a link to OFATV’s by-laws library available on GitHub. However, you should always take the township or county versions available on their respective websites as most up-to-date. See Other Links.
Places
Q: Where are local Accommodations? A: Answer
Q: What are the local Restaurants? A: Answer
Q: Where is the Parking? A: Answer
Q: Tell me about Grey County’s Harkaway Forest? A: Answer
Q: Tell me about Grey County’s Kimberley Forest? A: Answer
Q: Can I start in Orangeville? A: Answer
Q: Can I visit Owen Sound? A: Answer
New / Young Riders
Q: What advice do you have for a New Rider? A: Answer
Q: What about Young Riders? A: Answer
Q: What do I wear? (New Riders) A: Answer
Q: Any ATV Safety advice? A: Answer
About DGATV
Q: How do I Volunteer? A: Answer
Q: What does a Warden do? A: Answer
Q: Tell me more About DGATV. A: Answer
by Donna Baylis | Dec 31, 2016 | Reference
Where Do We Park?
Parking/staging areas are found in the following locations:
Dundalk — along the side of the CP rail trail line at the corner of Grey and Proton Streets. Look for marked parking at the rail trail near the Dundalk Legion at 109 Proton Street North. There is also parking at the arena, however, this requires driving through town to get to the trail. Dundalk is an ATV-friendly town although the residents request that bikes stay off the main street. Access to the side-by-side bypass trail.
Markdale — (i) Sideroad 120 south of Markdale; (ii) CP Trail Parking Lot, 205 Main St. West / County Road 12 west of Markdale with access to the side-by-side bypass trail; and (iii) Harkaway Forest on the Townline north of Markdale.
Orangeville — currently there is no official parking in Orangeville. Where Jim Brown Trucking (JBT) had provided us with use of their lot, circumstances have changed and the property is no longer available. Please respect our arrangement with the company because we appreciated their participation in the past and the future is as yet unwritten. If you are familiar with another suitable property and/or a land owner that might be willing to host a parking/staging area, contact DGATV’s Executive. Shelburne is the closest parking area.
Shelburne — south off Highway 89 west of Shelburne behind Bird Fuels card lock, west of the rail trail (4 John St.)
See also:
Accommodations
Restaurants
FAQs
by Donna Baylis | Dec 27, 2016 | Reference
Harkaway Forest is east of the Robson Road trail and is owned by Grey County.
A nature trail through hardwoods and evergreens, this 2 km multi-use trail is used by hikers, horseback riders; ATVs in the summer, and snowmobiles in the winter.
Harkaway Forest is open to hunters at certain times of the year.
For ATVs, Harkaway Forest trail is open from the day after Victoria Day weekend(1) (to accommodate the wild turkey hunt) to October 15th (or snow, whatever comes first).
Parking is located off the Townline just north of Markdale.
(1) revision made 10-Feb-2021: date revised from June 22nd
News Stories:
June 3, 2010 – Grey Allows ATVs in County Forest for Trial
by Donna Baylis | Nov 13, 2016 | Events
Our Season
In general ATV season on the public trails starts around May 1st (weather-permitting) and goes to November 30th or until snow cover.
However, dates depend on where you ride.
Harkaway Forest is closed to ATVs on October 15th (until June 15th).
Grey County roads close to ATVs on November 10th.
All other public trails stay open to ATVs until November 30th or snow cover, whichever comes first.
On the private trails at
Walters Falls, ATVs can be used year-round. It is recommended that appropriate safety precautions be taken in this remote location, especially in the winter. Tracks are recommended in winter. Ride with a companion and let people know where you are going. Cell phone service may not always be available.
Please keep an eye on our social media for confirmation of this seasonal schedule.
