Off-Highway Vehicles

Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use is a
common recreational activity and great
way to enjoy the outdoors! The
Municipality maintains several staging
areas to facilitate and promote safe and
legal OHV use by Fort McMurray residents.

Find Designated OHV staging areas

There are endless opportunities for motorized recreation in the region, outside of the Fort McMurray Urban Service Area. Quads, dirt bikes, side-by-sides and all off-highway vehicles (OHVs) are not allowed to be used anywhere within Fort McMurray, except for Municipal roads in Abasand. Doing so, creates a very serious safety risk for riders, drivers and pedestrians. 

Ride safe, ride responsibly, respect the boundaries and have fun in the backcountry! 

OHV Tips- Fort McMurray

 

 

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OHV Trails 

There are many OHV trails on crown land (provincial land) in the region. The best way to access these trails around Fort McMurray is at one one the OHV staging areas. Find more information about OHV use and trails on provincial land on the Government of Alberta's website. 

The McMurray Sno-Drifters maintain and operate snowmobile trails in the region. To view trail maps, purchase a pass and learn more, visit snodrifters.ca or their Facebook page. Learn more about winter OHV use and safety. 

There is a very active OHV community in the region. Anyone new to the hobby or looking for a group to ride with is encouraged to check out one of the local OHV community groups, like the Wood Buffalo Recreational Riders Association. 

OHV Safety 

OHVs can be a lot of fun, but they can also be very dangerous if operated unsafely. Ride safe, ride right and throttle up your knowledge of OHV safety and laws.   

  • Check the weather 
  • Check for fire bans and OHV restrictions   
  • Plan your route in advance 
  • Ride in a group or tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back 
  • Check tire pressure and make sure your OHV is working properly
  • Pack an emergency kit  

*Please refer to the Abasand OHV Pilot Project section for the laws and requirements to operate an OHV on municipal roads in Abasand. 

 

  • OHVs are not allowed on highways or any road in the region, except for municipal roads in the Abasand neighbourhood. 
  • OHVs are not allowed on municipal greenspaces, parks and urban trails.  
  • In Alberta, every OHV used for off-road travel must have:
    • valid insurance and registration
    • valid licence plate, affixed in a visible location
    • working head and taillights
    • a proper muffler and spark arrestor, with no modifications to the muffler system that increase vehicle noise
  • Riders under the age of 14 must be under direct supervision of an adult.
  • Riders must wear a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) compliant helmet. 
  • Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for the minimum age of riders and number of passengers for your vehicle.
  • Operating any OHV or vehicle while impaired is against the law.
  • Follow all signs and posted notices.

 

Visit the OHV Bylaws & Enforcement section to learn more. 

 

 

  • Ride responsibly, and within the skill and ability of your group.
  • Ride with caution; hills and other natural hazards can be dangerous.
  • Stop regularly to clear hotspots on your OHV. Keep your machine free of debris to prevent the start of a wildfire.  
  • Share the trail. Use caution and reduce speeds when encountering other trail users and nearing intersections
  • Avoid travel on wet trails. Most trail damage occurs after rainfall and snowmelt when trails are wet and soft. Be prepared to change plans and/or turn around if conditions are bad.
  • Always have your headlight on; it is just as important to be seen as to see. Use caution and stay on trails when operating in reduced visibility.

Abasand OHV Pilot Project

Always check if an OHV Restriction or Fire Ban is in place before riding.

Council approved the Off-Highway Vehicle Pilot Project Bylaw, giving the green light for OHVs to travel on municipal roadways in Abasand until May 1, 2026. 

The pilot project encourages safe and responsible OHV use, while including better enforcement and compliance measures. All riders must learn and follow the rules to ensure compliance and safe use.

OHV use is allowed on municipal roads in Abasand when travelling to and from homes to the designated staging area or Abasand gas station. Riders cannot drive their OHV to a neighbour’s home, park, school or other areas in Abasand. OHVs aren’t allowed to be driven from backyards to the trails.

OHVs cannot be used on private roads and in parking lots, unless the owner has directly permitted it. Condominiums are located on private roads and parking lots, except for Abasand Dr.

Check the Abasand OHV Pilot Project map to find the OHV approved roads, private roads and neighbourhood boundaries.

Regulations and Laws for Abasand

For everyone’s safety, all regulations and laws in the OHV Pilot Project Bylaw and the Traffic Safety Act must be followed while operating an OHV on a municipal road in Abasand. An overview of some of the key rules are below and included in the Abasand OHV Pilot Project brochure.
  • Max 30 km. OHVs cannot exceed 30 kms an hour and must follow all lower posted speed limits while traveling on the road. Drive cautiously, obey all stop signs and regular traffic laws.
  • Helmet on. All riders and passengers must wear helmets that meet Alberta’s safety standards for motorcycles, unless the OHV has a roll over protection system.
  • Buckle up. Seatbelts must be worn by the driver and passengers if the OHV is equipped with them.
  • Ride right. A Class 5 license or greater is required to ride on municipal roads. OHVs need to be registered with insurance and a visible license plate. Travel with documents.
  • Be seen. Turn on headlights and taillights. If the OHV has turn signals use them; if not, use hand signals.
  • Be mindful of noise. All OHVs must have a working muffler and not cause unnecessary noise.
  • One at a time. OHVs must travel in single file and not pass in single lanes.
  • Be wildfire wise. Always bring a shovel, pail or fire extinguisher. Ensure OHVs have a functioning spark arrestor and make frequent stops to remove debris from hot spots.
  • Seats for all passengers. Passengers must be at least six years old and weigh more than 18 kgs. OHV manufacturer specifications must be followed, which may include more restrictive age limits.
  • Keep roads clean. Don’t track excessive mud and debris onto roads.
  • Tow safely. Hitch trailers must be secured and under 1.83m long. Make sure they’re well lit.
  • No street parking. OHVs must be parked and stored on private property.
  • Wheels only. Snowmobiles are not allowed on roads and aren’t included in the pilot project.

Urban Service Area Off-Highway Vehicle Strategic Plan

The Urban Service Area Off-Highway Vehicle Strategic Plan provides a roadmap to encourage safe and responsible OHV use in Fort McMurray. This plan is used to guide Municipal services and initiatives, such as the Abasand OHV Pilot Project.

 

FAQs

 You need a Class 5 License or greater. Your OHV must be registered with insurance and a visible license plate. Always travel with your documents.

You must wear a helmet that meets Alberta’s safety standards for motorcycles, unless your OHV has a roll over protection system. You must also wear a seatbelt if your OHV is equipped with one. Riders must learn all the rules and regulations before driving their OHV on the road.

 

We are aware that there is regular illegal OHV use in Abasand. With OHVs now allowed on designated roads, riders have a safe and legal way to access the trails through the staging area, which is intended to stop OHV use in parks, greenspaces and on urban trails. There are strict rules and laws that all OHV users must follow while driving on a municipal roadway.

 

The OHV Pilot Project Bylaw also includes better enforcement and compliance measures to prevent dangerous riding.

 

No. The Abasand perimeter trail and the greenspace between homes and the forest is in the Urban Service Area of Fort McMurray and OHV use is not allowed. OHV trails and the forested area must be accessed through the Abasand OHV Staging Area.

 

The Pilot Project is intended to encourage safe and responsible OHV use by allowing riders to travel on municipal roads to and from the staging area.

 Abasand was selected for the pilot project as it has clear neighbourhood boundaries and access to OHV trails through the designated staging area. The pilot project will be used to assess the feasibility of making this a permanent bylaw for Abasand and expanding OHV use on municipal roads in other neighbourhoods.

 

The OHV Pilot Project Bylaw will be in effect until May 1, 2026. Although, there is a possibility this timeline will change depending on how the pilot project is going. Continuous feedback and reporting throughout the pilot project are being collected.

 

Community members can share their feedback throughout the entire pilot project through the online engagement tool Participate Wood Buffalo or by contacting Pulse. There will also be more in-depth public engagement opportunities at the one-year point and before the bylaw expires.

 

The pilot project is being used to assess the feasibility of permanently allowing OHV use on Abasand roads and to expand OHV use to other municipal roads outside of Abasand. These changes would require Council approval of new or updated bylaws.

While OHVs are allowed on municipal roads at any time of day, they should not be causing unnecessary noise as per the bylaw. If you believe an OHV is causing excessive noise, you can report it to Pulse and share this feedback on Participate Wood Buffalo.

 

Contact Us

PULSE
Submit a request

Phone: 780-743-7000
Toll free: 1-800-973-9663

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