ATV and snowmobile rules in Whitehorse
As per Whitehorse Bylaws, snowmobiles and ATVs must be registered and have a visible license plate when driving on trails and anywhere else within the City of Whitehorse, and operators must have a driver's license and public liability insurance.
Operators of snowmobiles and ATVs are urged to keep their machines on designated motorized trails. This will prevent damage to non-motorized trails and green spaces, and avoid conflict with other users.
Please help protect our environment by doing the following:
- Reporting offenders to the City's trouble line: 667-2111 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Taking & sending photos of offending off-road-vehicles to Bylaw Services at bylawservices@whitehorse.ca
Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) are prohibited to snowmobiles and ATVs year-round, whether covered by snow or not, as per Whitehorse bylaws:
ESAs are easy to recognize: most treeless areas are sensitive, especially south-facing slopes, as well as riparian areas. Be on the safe side, and keep your snowmobile or ATV on designated motorized trails.
Visit the City's webpage for maps of approved motorized trails: See http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=4210. Please be aware that this map is out-of-date. The new 2020 Trail Plan indicates that the map will be updated.
Click on the icons below for the City's East Yukon River (EYR) trail maps for the Riverdale area (approved by Council in January 2014), as well as the city-wide ATV map updated in January 2015:
Operators of snowmobiles and ATVs are urged to keep their machines on designated motorized trails. This will prevent damage to non-motorized trails and green spaces, and avoid conflict with other users.
Please help protect our environment by doing the following:
- Reporting offenders to the City's trouble line: 667-2111 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Taking & sending photos of offending off-road-vehicles to Bylaw Services at bylawservices@whitehorse.ca
Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) are prohibited to snowmobiles and ATVs year-round, whether covered by snow or not, as per Whitehorse bylaws:
ESAs are easy to recognize: most treeless areas are sensitive, especially south-facing slopes, as well as riparian areas. Be on the safe side, and keep your snowmobile or ATV on designated motorized trails.
Visit the City's webpage for maps of approved motorized trails: See http://www.whitehorse.ca/home/showdocument?id=4210. Please be aware that this map is out-of-date. The new 2020 Trail Plan indicates that the map will be updated.
Click on the icons below for the City's East Yukon River (EYR) trail maps for the Riverdale area (approved by Council in January 2014), as well as the city-wide ATV map updated in January 2015:
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February 2015 update:
As a result of the November 2014 amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act, the City of Whitehorse revised its Snowmobile and ATV Bylaws in February 2015 to maintain the requirements of driver's license, insurance, registration and license plate for snowmobiles and ATVs operated on trails or anywhere in the City.
Quotes from the City’s ATV webpage: http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/bylaw-services/all-terrain-vehicles
"Only ATVs registered (with a licence plate displayed on the ATV) with the Department of Motor Vehicles may operate within the City of Whitehorse."
"ATVs must only operate on motorized multiple use trails between April 1 and October 31 in any given year."
"City of Whitehorse Safe ATV Card – Now a Rider Requirement"
"ATV operators must be at least 16 years old and have a Safe ATV Card, driver’s license, insurance, and registration. To obtain your official City of Whitehorse Safe ATV Card, take the online test here. It’s easy!"
Quotes from the City’s Snowmobile webpage: http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/bylaw-services/snowmobiles
"Requirements to operate a snowmobile in Whitehorse:
• Valid Driver's License
• Safe Snowmobile Card
• Valid Public Liability Insurance
• Valid snowmobile registration (license plate must be mounted on snowmobile and be visible)
• Wear an approved snowmobile helmet"
"City of Whitehorse Safe Snowmobiler Card – Now a Rider Requirement"
"Snowmobile operators must be at least 16 years old and have a Safe Snowmobiler Card, driver’s license, insurance and registration. To obtain your official City of Whitehorse Safe Snowmobiler Card, take the online test at http://www.snowmobilecourse.com/canada/whitehorse"
"New areas within city limits have been identified as environmentally sensitive. Snowmobilers are now prohibited from riding in these areas. Learn where these areas are to avoid fines and reduce your impact on our environment."
Check the City's ATV and Snowmobile Bylaws below, with the February 2015 revisions:
As a result of the November 2014 amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act, the City of Whitehorse revised its Snowmobile and ATV Bylaws in February 2015 to maintain the requirements of driver's license, insurance, registration and license plate for snowmobiles and ATVs operated on trails or anywhere in the City.
Quotes from the City’s ATV webpage: http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/bylaw-services/all-terrain-vehicles
"Only ATVs registered (with a licence plate displayed on the ATV) with the Department of Motor Vehicles may operate within the City of Whitehorse."
"ATVs must only operate on motorized multiple use trails between April 1 and October 31 in any given year."
"City of Whitehorse Safe ATV Card – Now a Rider Requirement"
"ATV operators must be at least 16 years old and have a Safe ATV Card, driver’s license, insurance, and registration. To obtain your official City of Whitehorse Safe ATV Card, take the online test here. It’s easy!"
Quotes from the City’s Snowmobile webpage: http://www.whitehorse.ca/departments/bylaw-services/snowmobiles
"Requirements to operate a snowmobile in Whitehorse:
• Valid Driver's License
• Safe Snowmobile Card
• Valid Public Liability Insurance
• Valid snowmobile registration (license plate must be mounted on snowmobile and be visible)
• Wear an approved snowmobile helmet"
"City of Whitehorse Safe Snowmobiler Card – Now a Rider Requirement"
"Snowmobile operators must be at least 16 years old and have a Safe Snowmobiler Card, driver’s license, insurance and registration. To obtain your official City of Whitehorse Safe Snowmobiler Card, take the online test at http://www.snowmobilecourse.com/canada/whitehorse"
"New areas within city limits have been identified as environmentally sensitive. Snowmobilers are now prohibited from riding in these areas. Learn where these areas are to avoid fines and reduce your impact on our environment."
Check the City's ATV and Snowmobile Bylaws below, with the February 2015 revisions:
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Print and distribute these City of Whitehorse 2015 ATV and Snowmobile pamphlets:
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