Riding the Five-Points Trail System in Haliburton

The Five Points trail system can turn a Haliburton weekend into a rewarding ride, but unfamiliar junctions, changing trail conditions and permit boundaries can make planning feel harder than it should. This guide explains how to prepare, navigate responsibly and choose a ride that suits your group, while showing what to confirm before you unload your ATV or UTV.

What to Know Before Riding Five Points

Understand the trail system and its connections

Five Points is part of the broader Haliburton-area trail experience, where club trails connect riders with a mix of forest routes, gravel surfaces and more technical sections. The name can make the area sound like one simple loop, but a trail system is better understood as a network: intersections, branches and connections can offer different ride lengths and conditions. The route that looks short on a map may also take longer than expected if the group stops often or encounters rough ground.

Before setting out, identify the official map for the trail area and the club or organization responsible for the section you plan to ride. Trail connections can lead toward other networks, but a visible connection does not automatically mean your permit is valid on every adjoining trail. Confirm which trails your pass covers and whether any separate club pass or local requirement applies. For broader trip-planning context, see [HATVA and Ontario's Haliburton Network] and [Ontario's Separate Club Passes].

Treat the map as a planning tool, not a promise

A map helps you estimate distance, understand junctions and identify possible turnarounds. It does not guarantee that every trail segment is open, passable or appropriate for your machine on the day you ride. A trail may be affected by rain, washouts, maintenance, logging activity or a seasonal closure. Checking current trail information before you leave is especially worthwhile after a storm or during spring thaw, when a route that was comfortable recently may have become rutted or soft.

Look at the route as a series of decisions rather than a single destination. Mark a reasonable turnaround point, note the main intersections and agree on what the group will do if someone wants to shorten the ride. A secondary mapping app such as onX Offroad can be useful for orientation, but verify its coverage and keep official club information as your source for trail access and closures. A phone map is most helpful when it supports a plan you already understand, rather than becoming the only plan.

Know which permits and permissions apply

A trail permit is not the same thing as vehicle registration. Registration and insurance relate to the machine and its legal use; a trail permit relates to access to particular managed trails. You may need to meet all of these requirements, plus local rules that apply to connecting roads or other land. Check the current permit terms for the Five Points area and any adjoining trail network before riding.

Do not assume that a machine registered for road use can ride every trail, or that a trail pass makes a public road legal for ORV use. Those are separate questions. If you are planning to connect routes between Haliburton and a neighbouring network, confirm the permit coverage in advance and check the boundary on an official map. [Ontario ATV Trail Permits Explained] and [Does Your Permit Cover the Next Club's District?] offer useful background on this distinction.

Planning a Route That Fits Your Group

Choose distance around the slowest rider

A route that feels easy to an experienced rider can be tiring or stressful for a beginner, a child or someone riding a less familiar machine. Plan around the person who is least comfortable with the terrain, not the fastest rider in the group. Consider how long it takes to stop, check a map, let a rider recover after a tricky section or turn around safely.

For a first visit, resist the urge to cover as much ground as possible. Pick a route with room to adjust the plan and an obvious way to retrace your path or return to a known access point. A shorter ride that ends with everyone relaxed is usually a better introduction than an ambitious loop that leaves the newest rider anxious about every climb and crossing.

Match the route to your ATV or UTV

The machine matters. A narrow ATV can fit more comfortably through some tight spaces, while a wider side-by-side may need more clearance at turns, between trees and around obstacles. A route shown as a general trail connection should not be assumed suitable for every vehicle width or configuration. If you ride a UTV, review the trail information and machine requirements before committing to a long section.

Think about the full group, too. A family riding together may have different needs from a pair of experienced riders. Passengers, younger riders and people who need more frequent breaks can change the pace considerably. Choose a plan that leaves enough time to ride without rushing, and make sure every machine is in good condition before you leave the staging area.

Planning factor	What to check	Why it matters
Rider experience	Comfort with uneven ground, turns and trail navigation	Keeps the route manageable for the least experienced person
Machine size	Width, clearance and passenger setup	Helps avoid committing to trails unsuitable for a wider or heavier machine
Trail status	Closures, conditions and maintenance notices	Prevents wasted travel and reduces the risk of trail damage
Permit coverage	Which club or network your permit covers	A connection on the map may cross a permit boundary
Daylight	Departure time, planned stops and return time	Leaves a safe buffer for delays or a shortened route
Communications	Phone signal, backup plan and group meeting point	Helps the group respond if riders become separated

Build in time for stops and changes

Estimated distance alone is a poor measure of how long a ride will take. A group may stop at junctions to confirm directions, pause for water, wait for a slower rider or turn around because conditions are worse than expected. Give yourself a generous time buffer and agree on a latest turnaround time before you start. That simple decision can prevent the uncomfortable moment when the group is still far from its starting point late in the day.

Make the plan easy for everyone to remember. Name a few clear landmarks or intersections, keep the group together, and decide where to regroup if someone falls behind. If you use a phone for navigation, download or save relevant information before leaving an area with reliable service, and carry a power bank if you rely on the device. onX Offroad or another mapping app can serve as a secondary reference, but do not let a screen distract the rider or replace trail signs and group communication.

Reading Trail Conditions and Riding Responsibly

Expect conditions to change

Haliburton trails can feel very different depending on recent weather and the time of year. Rain may create slick roots, standing water, muddy depressions or erosion. A dry surface can still conceal loose gravel or ruts. After a freeze, uneven ground may become harder and more jarring. The same route can therefore demand a different pace on different days.

At the first sign that conditions are deteriorating, slow down and reassess. If a water crossing, washed-out section or steep obstacle looks beyond your group’s ability, do not pressure everyone to continue. Turning around is a sensible riding decision, not a failed trip. If a trail is closed or posted as restricted, stay out even if it appears passable. [Ontario Trail Conditions After Rain] and [Ontario Trail Closures to Check First] explain why checking conditions is part of responsible planning.

Protect the trail and the places around it

Stay on marked, permitted trails. Riding around a muddy patch or obstacle can widen the trail, damage vegetation and create new routes that other riders may follow. If a section appears difficult, pass through only when it is open and safe to do so; do not create a bypass. Avoid spinning tires or accelerating aggressively on soft ground, where a small rut can quickly become a deeper problem.

Keep noise and speed considerate, especially near homes, cottages, other trail users and road crossings. Pack out anything you bring in, and leave gates and trail infrastructure as you found them. Riders share the area with hikers, cyclists, local residents and landowners. A courteous approach helps preserve access and makes trail use less frustrating for everyone. For more on sharing the network, see [Ontario Trail Etiquette With Snowmobilers] and [Ontario Rules for Riding Off the Trail].

Carry the basics without overloading the machine

A practical ride kit should cover navigation, communication, minor repairs and basic comfort. Bring drinking water, snacks, a first-aid kit, a charged phone, appropriate clothing and any machine-specific tools or supplies you know how to use. A tire repair kit, small air source and basic hand tools can be useful, but only if someone in the group understands how to use them. The goal is to solve minor problems safely, not to carry an entire workshop.

Plan for the possibility that the group may be delayed or that a machine may need to stop. Tell someone who is not riding where you intend to go and when you expect to return. Keep the group’s emergency plan simple: know who has the first-aid kit, how to contact help and where to regroup. In areas where cell coverage may be unreliable, do not treat a successful call from the trailhead as proof that you will have service throughout the route.

Getting Ready for a Safe Ride

Check the machine before leaving

A quick pre-ride inspection can catch problems that are much easier to address at home than on a trail. Check tires, wheels, brakes, lights, steering, throttle response and visible fluid leaks. Make sure any passenger equipment is secure and that straps, helmets and protective gear fit properly. For a UTV, check seat belts and other safety features before you start.

Confirm that required registration and insurance documents are in order and that the machine meets the requirements for the kind of riding you intend to do. Road use and trail use can involve different rules, so do not assume one document or piece of equipment covers everything. [Ontario ATV Registration for a Trail Machine] and [Ontario ATV Insurance Requirements] provide related background.

Make the group plan explicit

A group ride works better when people know the expectations before the engines start. Agree on a steady pace, a safe following distance and what to do at junctions. Riders should not leave an intersection until the group has re-formed or the route is clear to everyone. If a rider needs to stop, the group should have a predictable way to communicate that without creating confusion.

Choose a lead rider and a sweep rider when the group is large enough to benefit from them. The lead can watch the route and set a pace; the sweep can help ensure nobody is left behind. Keep the lineup manageable and avoid bunching together in dusty or muddy sections. If someone is uncomfortable, take a break or adjust the route rather than treating their concern as an inconvenience.

Prepare for changing weather and daylight

Dress for the conditions you may encounter, not just the weather at the parking area. A wooded trail can feel cooler than an open road, and rain or wind can make a long ride uncomfortable quickly. Layers, gloves and eye protection help riders adapt without needing to end the trip at the first change in weather.

Check the expected daylight and finish with a margin to spare. A mechanical delay, a wrong turn or a longer-than-expected stop can eat into the afternoon. If the group is running behind, shorten the ride while there is still time to do so safely. Night riding brings additional visibility and equipment considerations, so it should not be an improvised solution to poor time planning.

Making the Most of a Five Points Ride

Take a measured approach on your first visit

If Five Points is new to you, spend the first part of the ride learning how the trail is marked and how the junctions relate to your map. Stop somewhere safe to check your position, rather than trying to interpret a screen while moving. The point is not to memorize every branch at once; it is to build enough familiarity to make sound decisions as the ride unfolds.

Keep your expectations flexible. Your preferred route may be closed, a section may be too rough for a newer rider, or the group may simply want a longer break. Having a backup route—or the willingness to turn around—makes the day less dependent on perfect conditions. For a longer regional outing, [Planning a Week on the Haliburton Network] can help you think beyond a single ride.

Use navigation tools as backups, not substitutes

Carry the official trail map or keep the relevant information accessible offline where possible. Confirm that everyone understands the route before setting out, especially if the group will split into separate machines. A mapping app such as onX Offroad may help with general orientation, but it should not be treated as proof that a route is open or that your permit covers it. Check the app’s map detail for the area and compare it with current club information.

If your phone loses service, your ride plan should still make sense. Save key information in advance, know the route back to your start point and use trail markers where available. Avoid having every rider depend on one person’s phone. A second copy of the route or a simple written note with meeting points can prevent a minor navigation hiccup from becoming a group-wide problem.

Leave room for the next visit

A good first ride is often the one that leaves you curious to return. Note which sections suited your group, where you stopped and what you would change next time. If conditions were challenging, record what the weather had been like and whether your machine setup felt appropriate. Those details make future planning easier than trying to remember the whole ride weeks later.

Most importantly, leave the trail in good condition and respect posted instructions. Local access depends on riders following the rules, staying on permitted routes and being considerate of other people using the area. Check current maps, permit coverage and trail notices again before each trip rather than assuming that last time’s plan still applies. The Five Points system is more enjoyable when preparation keeps the ride calm, flexible and safe.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.