The Shoe Fire Burned 500,000 Hectares in 2025
A fire scar the size of a major riding region can leave quad and side-by-side riders unsure whether a familiar trail is open, safe, or even still passable. The Shoe Fire’s reported 500,000-hectare footprint makes that uncertainty hard to ignore. This guide explains how to check closures, assess a route after a wildfire, and plan a Saskatchewan ride without relying on guesswork.
What the Shoe Fire’s footprint means for ATV riders
A large burn area does not tell you which routes are open
A burned area on a map can look like one solid block, but riding conditions may vary considerably across it. A particular trail may have escaped the fire, been damaged by it, or become inaccessible because the route crosses land affected by a closure. A broad fire boundary alone cannot tell you which situation applies to the track you planned to follow.
That distinction matters when you are hauling machines a long distance. A trailhead that appears close to a burn area may still be outside the affected zone, while a route that looks clear on a small-scale map may run through restricted land. Check the specific riding area and access route, not just the nearest community or the outline of the fire.
The Shoe Fire’s reported size is a reason to be especially careful with assumptions, not a reason to conclude that every trail in the wider region is closed. Restrictions can be tied to particular areas, roads, trails, or operating conditions. For practical guidance on how closures can affect a planned ride, see Saskatchewan Wildfire Closures and Riding.
Fire effects can linger after flames are gone
A route may look open and still be unsafe or difficult to travel. Fire can weaken trees and branches, damage trail markers, expose rocks and roots, and leave soft or uneven ground. Wind or rain can bring down burned trees later, while crews or land managers may need access to the area for assessment, repair, or other work.
That can be frustrating if you have already planned a weekend, lined up riding partners, and loaded the trailer. It is also why a photo or an old trail report should not be treated as proof that a route is currently suitable. Conditions can change after a report is posted, especially when a storm, high winds, or further fire activity affects the area.
Treat any post-fire ride as a fresh trip that needs current local checks. A trail that was passable before the fire may be blocked now; a route shown on a familiar map may have changed on the ground. Before you set out, review Saskatchewan Trail Conditions Before You Haul and confirm any known restrictions with the relevant park office, land manager, or riding-area contact.
How to check closures before you ride
Check official restrictions first, then confirm local conditions
Start with official wildfire and land-management notices for the area you intend to visit. Look for the location of any closure, the type of activity restricted, and the conditions for reopening. A fire ban, an area closure, and a trail closure are not interchangeable: one may limit activities that could start a fire, while another may prohibit access to a defined place or route.
Next, check the source responsible for the specific land or trail. Provincial park rules, Crown land restrictions, municipal bylaws, and club-managed trail notices may each be relevant to a single outing. If the notice is unclear, ask the office or organization responsible rather than relying on a secondhand interpretation. Saskatchewan Crown Land Access Rules is a useful companion when your plans involve Crown land.
A map app can help you see how a planned track relates to roads, communities, and mapped trail networks. Riders may use onX Offroad as one planning aid, but a mapped route is not permission to ride and should not be treated as confirmation that a trail is open. Compare the route with official closure information and local updates before leaving home.
Use a simple pre-trip check
A short routine can prevent a long, disappointing drive to a closed trailhead. For each ride, confirm the planned area, the route to the trailhead, and any restrictions that apply to the land you will cross. If you are riding with a group, share the information so everyone understands where the plan begins and what would make you turn around.
Use this checklist before loading:
- Identify the exact trailhead and the land or riding area it serves.
- Check official wildfire notices and fire-ban information for that location.
- Look for park, municipality, land-manager, or club updates about trail access.
- Confirm that the road or access route to the trailhead is open.
- Check for recent reports of washouts, fallen trees, smoke, or other hazards.
- Save a backup route or alternate riding area that is not affected by the same restriction.
- Recheck notices on the day of travel, since conditions can change after you first plan the trip.
Tools such as onX Offroad can help you organize a route and compare alternatives, particularly when you want to avoid navigating from memory alone. Still, use the authoritative notice for restrictions and ask locally when the status is uncertain. For fire-specific checks, Saskatchewan Fire Ban Lookups and Which Fire Centre Map Covers Your Riding Area can help you find the right information to consult.
| What you need to confirm | Why it matters | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Whether the area is closed | A closure can prohibit access even if a trail looks passable | Official land-manager or wildfire notices |
| Whether a fire ban applies | Fire-related restrictions may limit activities even where riding access remains open | Current official fire-ban information |
| Whether the trail itself is usable | Burn damage, fallen trees, or repairs may make a route unsafe | Park office, trail organization, or local manager |
| Whether you can reach the trailhead | Access roads may be affected separately from the riding area | Road notices and local contacts |
| Whether your backup route is genuinely separate | A nearby alternative may fall under the same restriction | Maps plus official boundary information |
Riding safely around fire-affected areas
Don’t cross a closure to “just see” whether the trail is passable
A barricade, closure notice, or clear instruction to stay out is not an invitation to investigate on your machine. Entering a restricted area can put you at risk and interfere with emergency, repair, or assessment work. It can also create extra work for people managing the land, particularly if the route is already damaged or access is limited.
If a route is closed, turn back and use an alternative that is confirmed open. Do not assume that a side track, cutline, or nearby road is a legal detour. Where the alternate route crosses private land, occupied Crown land, a grazing lease, or a park, separate access rules may apply. Permission and access details are covered in Saskatchewan Crown Land Access Rules.
If smoke, active fire, or changing conditions appear while you are riding, leave the area by a safe, known route rather than pressing farther in to inspect. Let your group know where you are going, keep together, and avoid routes that could leave you boxed in by a closure or blocked trail. If you cannot establish a safe way out, prioritize getting to a safer location and contacting appropriate local help.
Reduce avoidable fire risk on the machine and in camp
Riders should take wildfire prevention seriously even when there is no visible fire nearby. Dry grass and debris can collect around hot machine components, and a machine stopped in combustible material can create a hazard. Check the machine regularly during the day, especially after riding through grass, brush, or other material that can cling underneath or near hot parts.
Follow official restrictions on campfires and other ignition sources. Carry suitable equipment for the kind of trip you are taking, and know how to use it. A shovel or extinguisher may be part of a sensible preparation plan, but carrying equipment does not make it acceptable to ride through a closed area or ignore a fire ban. Read Saskatchewan Wildfire Act Duties for Riders and Saskatchewan Spark Arrestor Guidance before heading into fire-prone conditions.
Stay on established routes where riding is permitted. Cutting across unmarked ground can damage recovering vegetation, create new tracks, and make it harder for land managers to keep routes clear and monitor use. Fire season can bring additional limits, so check Staying on Established Trails in Fire Season and Planning a Saskatchewan Season Around Fire Risk when choosing when and where to ride.
Planning a flexible Saskatchewan ride
Build a backup plan before you leave
A good alternate plan is more useful than a rushed decision at the trailhead. Choose a second riding area that is not dependent on the same access road or closure boundary, and make sure it has suitable parking and legal access for your group. If you are travelling with children, new riders, or several machines, consider how a last-minute change affects fuel, daylight, food, and return plans.
Keep route details available offline as well as on your phone. A navigation app such as onX Offroad may be helpful for organizing mapped routes, but cell coverage can be unreliable in remote areas, and app data cannot replace current closure notices. Save the information you will need before you lose service, and carry a paper map if you are travelling into an area where navigation or communication may be limited.
Set a clear turnaround rule with your group. For example, agree that anyone can call a stop if the route is blocked, conditions feel unsafe, or the group cannot confirm whether an area is open. That can prevent the awkward pressure to keep going simply because everyone has already made the drive.
Make local confirmation part of the trip
If you are staying near a trail system, ask the campground, park office, club contact, or local business whether there are known access changes. Treat that as useful context, then check the official source for any binding closure or restriction. Local riders may know that a tree is down or a road is rough, but informal advice should not override a posted closure.
On the day of the ride, check notices again before unloading. If the trailhead sign differs from what you saw online, follow the on-site direction and seek clarification before riding. Keep your group’s route conservative when conditions are uncertain, and be prepared to switch to a different activity rather than treating a closure as a challenge to work around.
A huge wildfire footprint can make a riding plan feel uncertain, especially when the area is far from home and the trail network is unfamiliar. The most reliable approach is to verify restrictions, confirm trail conditions locally, carry a backup plan, and leave closed or unsafe areas alone. That way, the ride can still be worthwhile even when the original route is no longer an option.
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.
