Where to ride in northern Alberta
Official sources for legal riding near High Level, Grande Prairie and Whitecourt: provincial trail maps, designated snowmobile trail areas, the Whitecourt Sandhills, and the town and county OHV bylaws.
A cutline or pipeline right-of-way is not automatically a trail. Alberta's own advice is that cutlines are not necessarily approved trails, so riders should steer clear of pipelines. Here's where to find legal riding, using official maps and bylaws only.
Start with the provincial maps
- Public land recreation maps. These are PDF and georeferenced maps you can load into the Avenza Maps app. Download them before you leave cell coverage. The page also links the province's interactive recreation map.
- Alberta's Public Land Trail Guide (Summer 2026). This covers trail etiquette, closures and the Public Lands Camping Pass.
- Motorized recreation on public land. This lists the Public Land Use Zones (PLUZ). In the north those are Athabasca Ranch, Brule Lake and Coal Branch. Each has its own rules and approved trails.
Close to our stores
| Area | What's official | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| High Level | "High Level Area" is one of the designated provincial snowmobile trail areas managed by the Alberta Snowmobile Association. | Public land recreation maps |
| Peace Country (Hines Creek) | "Hines Creek and Smithmill" is another designated snowmobile trail area. | Public land recreation maps |
| Whitecourt | The Whitecourt Sandhills, northwest of Edmonton, has its own provincial recreation map. | Public land recreation maps |
Snowmobile trail areas are for snow vehicles. Alberta notes that for designated trails on public land, "OHV" rules and snow vehicle rules are different. Don't assume a snowmobile trail is open to a quad or side-by-side. Check the map legend and the trail manager.
Town and county rules
Inside town limits and on municipal roads and ditches, the local bylaw decides. Here's what the official documents say.
Town of High Level: Bylaw 943-13
- No OHVs in town from April 1 to November 15.
- From November 16 to March 31, no OHVs between 10 pm and 7 am.
- A valid driver's licence or learner's permit is required on highways. No one under 14 may operate an OHV in a public place.
- The OHV must be insured and registered, and the operator must wear a CSA-approved helmet.
- The speed limit is 20 km/h in alleys and 30 km/h on highways. A towed trailer or sled needs a hitch that makes it track behind you.
Source: Town of High Level OHV Bylaw 943-13 (PDF).
Town of Whitecourt: Traffic Bylaw 1573
- OHVs are allowed on town streets from December 1 to March 31, between 7 am and 10 pm, at up to 20 km/h.
- Use the most direct route from where the machine is stored to a designated trail.
- Carry your registration and insurance. Drivers and passengers must wear helmets, and anyone under 14 needs adult instruction.
- OHVs are not allowed on Highway 43, Highway 32, Dahl Drive or in Festival Park.
Source: Town of Whitecourt OHV information sheet. The town's OHV route map is on whitecourt.ca.
City of Grande Prairie: Traffic Bylaw C-1166
Inside city limits, section 42.1 bans riding an OHV except on your own land, on someone else's land with their consent, or with written permission from the City's senior management. Source: City of Grande Prairie Traffic Bylaw C-1166 (PDF).
County of Grande Prairie: Bylaw 3023
On County roads, riders must use the ditch where it's safe (the shoulder where it isn't), ride single file with traffic, and stay at or under 40 km/h or the posted limit. No riding on County roads or in hamlets and residential areas from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., and in residential areas only to load, unload or leave by the shortest route at up to 30 km/h. Helmets are required, and developed trails, County parks, campgrounds and playgrounds are off limits. It doesn't cover provincial highways. Source: County's OHV bylaw page (scanned bylaw passed August 24, 2015; read page by page on October 27, 2026).
Mackenzie County (La Crete area)
Mackenzie County has its own OHV bylaw. Contact the County office for the current version before riding in hamlets or on county roads.
Camping overnight
The Public Land Trail Guide says a Public Lands Camping Pass is needed for campers aged 18 and older on public land along the Eastern Slopes, from the Grande Prairie area south to Waterton. It isn't needed for day use or in established campgrounds. See the trail guide for the current details.
Bylaw summaries checked on October 25, 2026. Bylaws get amended, so the official document always wins.
Guides in this section
Our first in-depth guides for this section are being written and fact-checked now. In the meantime, start with the overview above or browse all guides.