Snowmobile Stats and Facts | Klondike Snowmobile Association

Snowmobile Stats and Facts

Some assorted snowmobiling facts and statistics our members may find interesting…

Snowmobiling is a great source of recreation and a great way to get out and about with friends. In addition to great fun, snowmobiling has actually been proven to be good for both your physical and mental heath!

Snowmobiling in Canada is a $9 billion industry, and there are over 40,000 jobs related to snowmobiling in Canada.

There are over 3000 volunteer operated snowmobile clubs and associations around the world, including over 700 here in Canada.

Together these Canadian volunteer snowmobile clubs and associations maintain over 120,000km of snowmobile trails and multi-use trails for you to enjoy.

Snowmobile clubs and associations raise over $3,000,000 for charities each year.

When surveyed millions of Canadians indicated that they go snowmobiling on a regular basis, and over 90% agreed that they view snowmobiling as a fun family sport.

Surveys also indicate many people are interested in snowmobiling but aren’t sure where or how to get started. Recently when non-snowmobilers were asked what their interest in snowmobiling was on a scale of 1 to 10, the average was 9! To help snowmobilers introduce their friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members to snowmobiling and bring them out for a ride many clubs and associations now participate in the International Take A Friend Snowmobiling Week each February. Check out our coming events page for details!

The snowmobile was invented in Quebec, Canada during the 1920s. Nowadays over 130,000 snowmobiles are produced each year by several manufacturers, and these snowmobiles are used for both utility and recreational purposes in many countries around the world. Sales continue be strong in Canada, the United Sates, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Russia, and even Japan!

Modern snowmobiles are specifically designed to float in the upper layers of the snow pack, and will actually exert less pressure on the ground than a person walking. Several studies over the years have shown that operating snowmobiles during winter often has little to no effect on underlying vegetation.

Studies have shown that most animals show no dramatic changes in their behavior due to nearby snowmobile activities. There are some animals that do appear to be affected, such as the Southern Lakes Caribou here in the Yukon, however the vast majority of snowmobilers are well aware of this and voluntarily take steps to reduce their impact. In fact, many snowmobile clubs and associations are actively involved in various wildlife preservation, recovery and education programs.

Recent surveys show a nearly 50/50 split between the number of snowmobilers who typically ride directly from their residence and snowmobilers who typically truck or trailer their snowmobile to a staging area.

There are, on average, 79 snowmobile related deaths per year in Canada, with the vast majority being single vehicle accidents with only the operator involved. It is extremely rare for a non-snowmobiler to be injured by a snowmobile.

In 2019 alcohol and drug use continued to be a major factor in 49% of snowmobile deaths so please ride safe, ride sober.

There are several snowmobile safety and education programs currently in action, which are supported by all of the major manufactures as well as most snowmobile clubs and associations. Several of these programs offer a ton of good material for free, so please check out our K.S.A. safety page and the Safe Riders – You make snowmobiling safe! program to get started.

International Snowmobile Safety Week has been celebrated each January for over 25 years.

Stretching over 27,000 kilometers from coast to coast to coast the Trans Canada Trail is the world’s longest recreational trail, and snowmobiling is considered one of the “big six” activities on the trail.

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