Labrador Transportation Grooming Subsidy

The Provincial Government has funded winter trail grooming in coastal areas of Labrador for a number of years. Labrador Affairs administers the Labrador Transportation Grooming Subsidy (LTGS) which provides funding to maintain a winter trail system for isolated communities in Labrador that do not have year-round access.

Budget 2023 saw the operational budget of the program increased from $471,000 to $611,000 annually to support and maintain the trail system. Service providers and community partners are responsible for marking, grooming and monitoring trails in their respective areas.  Funding levels are based on trail distances and other criteria.

Safety is a priority for winter travel in Labrador. Budget 2023 allocated $3.2 million in one-time funding that included the purchase of grooming equipment and snowmobiles, new markers and signage, and emergency shelters and groomer shed construction.

Trail marking and grooming activity occurs when ice thickness and snow conditions permit, usually from mid-January to the third week of April. The trail route in some areas is on ice over large bodies of fresh or salt water.

 

Tracking Equipment Activity

Groomer machines and snowmobiles, to support trail maintenance activity, are equipped with Global Positioning System units which provide information on the location of equipment on a continual basis. Use the menu on the webpage to select the service provider and the associated grooming data:

Click this link to view equipment location

 

Local Service Providers

For information on trail and route conditions, please contact the organization in your area:

  • Hopedale, Inuit Community Government
  • Postville, Inuit Community Government
  • Rigolet, Inuit Community Government
  • SmartICE
  • Black Tickle Convenience and Gas
  • Eagle River Development Association
  • Norman Bay Recreation Committee
  • Mud Lake Aids to Navigation Committee
  • Town of North West River
  • Grand River Snowmobile Club

 

Your Responsibility to be Safe

Users of the winter trail system have a responsibility to take all the necessary safety precautions. When you travel, tell someone where you are going and the route you will take. Ensure your snowmobile is in good working condition, take the necessary survival equipment, and dress appropriately.

For more information on snowmobile safety, click the link for the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation.