Download - TRAILs - novascotia.canovascotia.ca/natr/ohv/handbook/pdf/6trails.pdf · All Terrain Vehicle Association of Nova Scotia 1-877-288-4244 Snowmobilers Association of Nova Scotia 902-425

TRAILsSIGNAGE

KnowtheSigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

WHEREYOUCANRIDE

RoadsandHighways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

DesignatedTrails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

EstablishedTrails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

PrivateLand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

PublicLand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

NO-RIDETIMES

WetSeason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

FireSeason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

NO-RIDEZONES

DrinkingWaterSupplyAreas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

VulnerableNaturalAreas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

LandThat’sSetAside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

MoreInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

SIGNAGE44 TRAILS

TrailsNovaScotiaClick www.trails.gov.ns.ca/

DesignatedTrailsClick www.gov.ns.ca/natr/ohv/designatedtrails.asp

Ifyoudon’tknow,don’tgo.

KNOWTHESIGNS

OHVclubspostsignsonmanytrails.However,sometrailshavenosigns.Followsafe-ridingpracticeswhethertherearesignsornot.

Stop• cometoacompletestop• lookinalldirections• gowhenthetrailisclear

StopAhead• begintoslowdown• stopsign100mto120mahead

Slow• hazard100mto120mahead

UseAtYourOwnRisk• marksanentrypointtoatrail• usecautionatalltimes

StayOnTrail• stayontheOHVtrail

Directionarrow• curveahead

AllTerrainVehicleAssociationofNovaScotiawww.atvans.org1-877-288-4244

SnowmobilersAssociationofNovaScotiawww.snowmobilersns.com902-425-5450ext.324

NovaScotiaOffRoadRidersAssociationwww.offroadriders.ca

WHERETOFINDTRAILSINNOVASCOTIA

SIGNAGE 45TRAILS

TrailClosed,DoNotEnter,orPrivateProperty–NoOHVsAllowed• stayoffthistrail

Bridgehazardmarkers• slopedlinesshowyou

wheretodrive

RailroadCrossing• crossing100mto120mahead• stop,lookinbothdirections,and

listenwhenyougettothetracks• drivedirectlyacrosswhenthe

tracksareclear

IceCrossing• checkice,seepage 26• drivewithcare

CorridororTrailMarker• drivewithinthecorridor

OHVDesignatedTrail*• youneedatrailpermit,

seepage 47• signshowswhichOHVs

candrivethistrail• signsarepostedalongtrails

expectotherusers

Routemarkers• signspostedalongthetrails

toshowtheyarepartofamanagednetworkoftrails

WildernessArea• nounauthorizedvehicles

A IL

WHEREYOUCANRIDE46 TRAILS

Novascotiahasmanytrailridingopportunities.Therulesarethesamewhereveryouride:

• stayonthetrails.

• Obeyallsigns.

• Keepaneyeonyourgroup.

• Respectlandowners’wishes.

• Carryyourregistrationandinsurancecards.seepage 42.

• FollowtheprovincialOHVCodeofConduct.seepage ii.

Here’swhereyoucanride:

• forestaccessroadscontrolledbytheDepartmentofNaturalResources

• K-classroads*controlledbytheDepartmentofTransportationandInfrastructureRenewal

• privateroadsthataredesignedtobeaccessible,orareaccessibletothepublicforOHVusewherethelandownerhasgivenwrittenpermission*

• ditches*ofhighwaysundertheseconditions:

• indaylight,eitherwithoragainst the flow of traffic

• atnight*,inthesamedirection as the traffic on the samesideoftheroadastheditch*whereyouaredriving

• aroadorhighway*outsideacity,town,orvillagethatisimpassablebecauseitiscoveredwithsnowANDitisnotnormallycleared

Youmusthaveavaliddriver’slicence*todothis:

• loadorunloadyourOHValongaroadorhighway

• crossanon-controlled-accessroadorhighway

Howtocrosssafely: c haveyourpassengergetoff c yield to all traffic c waituntilyoucanseeclearly

for152metresor500feet—morethanthelengthofafootball field in each direction

c godirectlyacross,atrightanglestotheroad

TheOHVFundcontributestodevelopingandmaintainingtrailsthroughouttheprovince. ExCEPTIONS

YoumayNOTdrive

• inno-ridezonesoronlandthatissetaside.seepages 76–79.

• onoracrossacontrolled-accesshighway*.Most100-serieshighwaysarecontrolledaccess.

ROADSANDHIGHWAYS

WHEREYOUCANRIDE 47TRAILS

DESIGNATEDTRAILS

Youmaydriveondesignatedtrails*thatgooverprivateorpublicland.

• Youneed“writtenpermission”andgetitbybuyingatrailpermitfromanauthorizedOHVclub.

• YoumustdisplaythepermitonyourOHVwhenyouride.Thepermitmaybeasticker,label,orothertag.

Theremaybeconditionsofuse.

Thesetrailsaremarkedwithdesignatedtrailsigns.seepage 45.

There is a fine for using the designatedtrailswithoutapermit.

ExCEPTIONS

YoumayNOTdriveinno-ridezonesoronlandthatissetaside.seepages 54–58.

Youdonotneedatrailpermittorideonadesignatedtrailifyouhavedocumentsthatshowyouareridingforoneofthesereasons:

• youareusingthetrailforwork-relatedreasons:

• asalawenforcementofficer

• asanemergencyworker • asamunicipal,provincial,

orfederalgovernmentemployee

• asalicensedcommercialfishery worker

• asanemployeeorself-employedpersonas defined in the OccupationalHealthandsafetyAct—thisdoesnotincludeguides

• youarearegisteredIndianonreserve

• youareonyourownland

TheDepartmentofNaturalResourceshascreatedanumberofdesignatedtrailsinpartnershipwiththesnowmobilersAssociationofNovascotia,sANs.

YoucanbuyatrailpermittousethesetrailsduringthewinterfromsANsanditsmemberclubs.

SnowmobilersAssociationofNovaScotiaClick www.snowmobilersns.comCall 902-425-5450 ext.324

DesignatedTrailsClick www.gov.ns.ca/natr/ohv/designatedtrails.asp


PRIVATELAND

Youmaydriveonprivatelandthatisdesignedtobeaccessible,orisaccessibletothepublicforOHVuseaslongasthelandownerhasgivenwrittenpermission.

YoudoNOTgainpropertyrightsoverlandbydrivingonit .

YouandyourpassengerassumeallrisksthatrelatetoowningandridingtheOHV .

AlandownerdoesNOThavetherighttodeliberatelycreateadangertoyou,yourpassenger,oryourproperty .

ExCEPTIONS

• Youhavepermissiontorideonanestablishedtrail*UNLEssthelandownerputsupasignthatsaysyoucan’t.seepage 47.

• Yougetpermissiontorideonadesignatedtrail*whenyoubuyadesignated-trailpermit.see page47.

• YoudoNOTneedpermissionwhenyouaredoingauthorizedconstructionormaintenancework.

• YoumayNOTdriveinno-ridezonesoronlandthatissetaside.seepages 54-58.

Writtenpermissioncanbegiventoanindividual,aclub,oranassociation.Thiscanbeintheformofasign,map,form,letter,orotherdocumentsignedbythelandowner.Thelandownermayimposeconditionsofuse.

ESTAbLISHEDTRAILS

Thisishowpermissionworks.Youhave“writtenpermission”tousetrailsonprivateorpublicland

• ifyouwereabletorideonthatlandbeforeApril1,2006

• unlessthereisasignthatsaysyoucannotridethere

TheseestablishedtrailshaveallowedOHVriderstogettotheircamps,huntingareas,andothernaturalresources.

ExCEPTIONS

YoumayNOTdriveinno-ridezonesoronlandthatissetaside.seepages 54–58.


PUbLICLAND

Municipalland

Contact your municipality to find outwhereyoucanandcan’tride.Yourmunicipalitymaygivewrittenpermissionforyoutorideincertainareas.

Crownland

YouhavepermissiontorideonCrownlandwherethereisnorestriction.seepages 54–58.

Rememberthereareotherpeopleusingthetrail—doingthingslikewalking,cycling,horsebackriding,skiing.

ContactyourlocalDepartmentofNatural Resources office for more information.

tip!someCrownlandisusedforforestry,mining,andharvesting.Ifyouarelookingforpermissiontoridethere,checkwiththeDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandtheorganizationthatisusingtheland.

Federalland

Contactthefederaldepartmentthatmanagesthelandyouwanttorideontoaskforwrittenpermission.

Agoodwaytogetand keeppermissiontorideonprivatelandistojoinanOHVclub.Theclubmayhavepermissiontorideonmanytrails.

Here’swhattodoiftheclubdoesn’thavepermission:

• Findoutwhoownstheland.

• Meetwiththelandownerandaskpermission.

• Bringapermissionformforthelandownertosign.OHVclubsmayhavesampleforms.

• Carryacopyofthesignedformwhenyouride.

• Offerthelandownerhelptoposttrailsigns.

OvertimeanetworkoftrailswillbedevelopedforOHVuse.Asthenetworkisdeveloped,otherareaswillbecomemorerestricted.


Abandonedraillines

Thetrail-headsigntellsyouifyoucanrideyourOHVthere.Youcanusethetrailifthereisnosign.

Followallpostedspeedlimits.

Mostoftheseareshared-usetrailsthataredevelopedandmaintainedbyauthorizedtrailassociations.

FormoreinformationcontacttheDepartmentofNaturalResources,theDepartmentofHealthPromotionandProtection,orthetrailassociation.

ExCEPTIONS

• YoumayNOTdriveinno-ridezonesoronlandthatissetaside.seepages 54–58.

• YoumayNOTdriveonlandwherethereisasignthatsaysyoumaynotdrivethere.

Novascotiahas3,500kilometresofsnowmobiletrailsandhundredsofkilometresofshared-usetrails.MorearebeingdevelopedbyvolunteertrailassociationsandOHVclubs.

Trailsarebuiltandmaintainedusingthemoneyfromfundraising,volunteerlabour,trailpermits,theOHVInfrastructureFund,andcontributionsfromtheprovince.Trailbuildersneedyoursupport.ContactyourOHVassociationforalistofclubs.seepage 91.Volunteertohelp.Thiskeepscostsdownandgivesyouachancetoinvestinqualitytrails.


Mostralliesareorganizedforfunandtoraisemoneyforcharities.

Organizers

• YouneedarallypermitfromtheDepartmentofNaturalResources.

• Youneedwrittenpermissiontousethelandfrom • thelandownerforprivateland • theDepartmentofNaturalResourcesforCrownland • theDepartmentofTransportationandInfrastructureRenewal forroadsandhighways • themunicipalityformunicipalland • thefederaldepartmentthatmanagesitforfederalland • thetrailmanagerforamanagedtrail

• Youmustnotifylocallawenforcement.

• Youmustfollowtherulesforenvironmentalprotection.

• Youshouldmarktherouteandhavesomeonefollowtherally tomakesurenooneisleftbehind.

Rallies

Riders

• Checktomakesureitisanauthorizedrally.

• Findoutwhatproofyouneedtocarryasaparticipant.

• Alwaysridesober.


CategoryAcoursesareforracingcompetitorsaged13andunder.

CategoryBcoursesareforfamiliesridingwithchildrenaged13andunder.

Otherpeoplemaybeabletorideonaclosedcourse.Youneedwrittenpermissionfromtheoperatortouseitoutsideofregularhours.

Closedcourses

NO-RIDETIMES 53TRAILS

WETSEASON

What’s the problem?

Thewheelstearupthetrail,uprootnewplants,andchangethenaturalflow of water.

What to do?

stayoffthetrails

• duringaperiodofheavyrainandafter

• whenthesnowmeltsandthegroundthaws

FIRESEASON


A spark can start a forest fire.

• sparkscancomefromOHVs,cigarettes, campfires.

• You could get trapped in the fire.

What to do?

• Makesureyoursparkarresterisworking.

• Put all cigarettes and campfires outcompletely.

• Listen to the radio for the fire index.

• ChecksignsfromtheDepartmentofNaturalResources for the fire index.

Click www.gov.ns.ca/natr/protection/wildfire/fwi/default.htm

WINTERSEASONMILDSPELLS


Duringmildspells,thewheelsanddrivetracktearupgroomedtrails.

What to do?stayoffgroomedtrailswhilethetemperatureisabove-5°C.

NO-RIDEZONES54 TRAILS

DRINKINGWATERSUPPLYAREAS

Drivingonthislandmayberegulatedorprohibitedtokeepthewaterclean.

Lookforsignsthatletyouknow

• thatyouareenteringadrinkingwatersupplyareaorprotectedwaterarea

• whatregulationsandrestrictionsapply

• wheretocallformoreinformation

Notallareashavesigns.

Click www.gov.ns.ca/just/regulations/rxaa-l.htm#env

Lookunder“ProtectedWaterAreas”forthewatershednearwhereyouwanttoride.

Fivekindsofvulnerableareasare• wetlands• watercourses• barrens• sanddunes• beaches,seepage 56

Wetlands

Theseincludemarshes,swamps,fens,andbogs.

Wetlandsaresaturatedwithwaterorhaveshallowwaterforenoughoftheyeartogrowwaterplantsandbreedwaterinsects,birds,andanimalsthatnourishtheearth.

Can you ever ride over wetlands?Yes• whenthelandiscoveredby

30cmoraboutafootofsnow• onacrossingapprovedunder

theEnvironmentAct

Watercourses

Thesearethebedsandshoresofallrivers,streams,lakes,creeks,ponds,springs,lagoons,andothernaturalbodiesofwaterinNovascotia.Theymayprovideahomefor fish and aquatic creatures.

Can you ever ride on a watercourse?Yes• whenitisfrozen,seepage 26• onacrossingapprovedunder

theEnvironmentAct

VULNERAbLENATURALAREAS

NO-RIDEZONES 55TRAILS

Coastalandhighlandbarrens

Theseareexposedplaceswithfierce weather.

Barrensareareasofbedrockorshallowsoil.Plantsincludelichens,lowshrubs,andeithernotreesorshorttrees.

MosthighlandbarrensareinnorthwesternCapeBreton.

MostcoastalbarrensarefoundinexposedareasalongtheAtlanticcoast.

Can you ever ride over barrens?Yes• whenthelandiscoveredby

30cmoraboutafootofsnow• whenyouowntheproperty• whentheyareinland,rockonly,

orburnedoutareas

Sanddunes

Theseareplacesnexttobeacheswherethewindandwaterhavepiledupthesand.Theyareoftenheldtogetherbyfragilegrasses.

Can you ever ride over sand dunes?No.

somevulnerable,naturalareasmay be designated or defined as sensitiveareasundertheOHVregulations.

Click www.gov.ns.ca/just/regulations/ohvvulna.htm

ExCEPTIONS

Youmaygetalicencetorideinbarrens,sanddunes,orsensitiveareas.

ApplytoNovascotiaEnvironmentortheDepartmentofNaturalResourcesforalicence

• whenthereisnoreasonablealternative

• whendrivingthereisNOTforrecreation

• togettoprivateland

• aspartofatrailorroutethatconnectstoalargertrailnetwork


ExCEPTIONSCertainlandsaresetasidetoprotectthenaturalenvironmentandallowareastobeusedforwalkingorothernon-motorizedrecreation.OHVsaregenerallynotallowedunlesstheyareauthorizedbythedepartmentthatregulatesthearea.

beaches

Beachesinclude

• coastallandsthatliebelowthemeanhighwatermark

• anyothercoastalorlakeshoreareathatisdesignatedasabeach

BeachesareprotectedthroughtheBeachesActRegulations.

Click www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/statutes/beaches.htm

LANDTHAT’SSETASIDE

Corehabitat

someareasinNovascotiaarehometospeciesthatareendangeredorthreatened.Theseareasmaybedesignatedascorehabitatiftheyareimportanttohelpthespeciesrecoverandsurvive.CorehabitatsareprotectedthroughtheEndangeredspeciesAct.

Click www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/statutes/endspec.htm

NO-RIDEZONES 57TRAILS

ProvincialParks

Provincialparksincludeprovincialparksandparkreserves.MostparksareclearlymarkedintheNovascotiaAtlas.Click www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/maps/default.asp

ParksareprotectedintheProvincialParksActRegulations.Click www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/natr/parks/legc/statutes/provpark.htm

ParksdirectoryClick http://parks.gov.ns.ca

WildernessAreas

Theseareasprotectparticularnaturalenvironments:• ecosystems• specialnaturalfeatures• areasofbiologicaldiversity

Manywildernessareasofferopportunitiesforresearch,education,andnon-motorizedwildernessrecreation,includinghiking,canoeing,camping,hunting,and fishing.

WildernessareasareprotectedthroughtheWildernessAreasProtectionActRegulations.Click www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/statutes/wildarea.htm

SpecialPlaces

somespecialplacesaredesignatedasprotectedsitesbecausetheyareimportantinatleastoneoftheseareas: • natureconservation • history • archaeology • paleontology

Otherspecialplacesaredesignatedasecologicalsites(naturereserves)becausetheyarerare,unique,oroutstandingnaturalecosystems.someofthesearealsohabitatsforrareorendangeredspecies.

ProtectedandecologicalsitesareprotectedthroughthespecialPlacesActRegulations.

Checktheseforperiodicupdates.Click www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/statutes/specplac.htm


MOREINFORMATION

NoRideZones Department WebSite

beaches,sanddunes,barrens,provincialparks,corehabitats

NaturalResources www.gov.ns.ca/natr/staffdir/offices.asp

wildernessareas,naturereserves

Environment,ProtectedAreasBranch

www.gov.ns.ca/nse/protectedareas

drinkingwatersupplyareas,watercourses,andwetlands

Environment www.gov.ns.ca/nse/water/surfacewater

protectedsites NovascotiaMuseum http://museum.gov.ns.ca/places/special/palintro.htm

Forcontactinformationseepages 85–91.

TogettheNovascotiaAtlasClick www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/maps/default.asp

Visityourlocalbookstore.Visit the Nova Scotia Land Registry Office.

Download - TRAILs - novascotia.canovascotia.ca/natr/ohv/handbook/pdf/6trails.pdf · All Terrain Vehicle Association of Nova Scotia 1-877-288-4244 Snowmobilers Association of Nova Scotia 902-425

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