Upscale Off-Roading In Ontario

Off-Roading in Ontario has become increasingly upscale over the years with bigger machines, and bigger/better creature comforts for enthusiasts to enjoy. There was a time we were excited to get power-steering for our ATV’s, and now you have the options for full cab enclosures with heat AND air-conditioning on a plethora of machines available on the market.

Off-road accommodation has seen a similar uptick in becoming more upscale. While there will always be rugged options available for your off-roading adventures, now there are as many creature comforts available for your accommodations as there are available for your off-roading itself!

Here are a few prime examples of some great off-road locations and trails to check out in Ontario!

Mountainview Lodge - Searchmont, Ontario

Mountainview Lodge is located 30 minutes North of Sault Ste. Marie, nestled in the Algoma District of Northern Ontario in the Goulais River Valley.  Mountainview Lodge prides itself on being “where your adventure begins!” Karen Poole & Stephen Clancy are the new managers of the resort, and they are ready to help you start your off-road adventure.

Mountainview lodge has an endless supply of off-road trails right from its property for you to enjoy at your leisure. Printed maps are available to help you find your way, but a GPS with a good background map is your best bet (I recommend the Backroads Mapbook chip for your Garmin GPS, but there are lots of options out there).

For lodging you have the option of The Lodge (an apt name for the main base of the operation), with 6 different style rooms to choose from. The lodge has a large common area for your group to congregate AFTER a big day of adventuring.

They also offer a “Little Red Caboose” for a more private and intimate stay, that accommodates four people in a cozy former Algoma Central Railway Caboose. The Caboose has a three-piece bath, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and toaster.

For your dining pleasure, Mountainview Lodge has a full menu to order from (in advance) for breakfast, lunch, and supper. Karen and Stephen are sure to offer you great suggestions on what you should order yourself for dinner, at the time you want, to fit in your adventuring schedule!

If you want to march to the beat of your own drum, Mountainview Lodge also has The Chalet, which is a full cabin, complete with full kitchen. This allows you the full flexibility of preparing your own meals on your own schedule.

There is no fuel directly on site, but you have access to two different gas stations only a few minutes away, so you know you’ll be able to start each day with a full tank of fuel to get a full day of trails riding each day!

Just in case you want to keep in touch with the outside world, all accommodations have Wi-Fi access.

Jolly Roger Inn & Resort - Parry Sound, Ontario

The Jolly Roger Inn & Resort is heavy on the resort! Jolly Roger comes with an on-site fitness club, with indoor and outdoor pool, sauna, gym, squash, basketball, tennis, and mini golf!

The on-site Jolly Rancher Restaurant & Bar has big screen TVs, pool tables, fireplace, and licensed patio. 

The Inn has rooms and suites, including a Honeymoon Suite with jacuzzi tub!

With all this resort business going on, you might forget you’re there to hit the trails! The Jolly Roger is located smack in the middle of the Seguin Trail (also known as the Park to Park trail system). 

The Park to Park Trail (P2P) was incorporated in the early 2000’s to create a regional trail network connect Killbear and Algonquin Provincial Parks. This trail offers both rough dirt surfacing and muddy areas known to locals as the “Seguin Baths.” There is fun hiding out on the trails for all to enjoy!

The Park to Park trail accepts donations for the upkeep and maintenance of the trail system. Their website offers great explanations and maps of the trail system in the area, including lists of and locations of amenities such as food, fuel, restrooms, and parking.

Bring your own ATV/UTV, or book ahead to rent a unit directly from the Jolly Roger or book a guided tour and let someone else do the planning of your ride!

Horwood Lake Lodge, Timmins Ontario

Horwood Lake Lodge is aptly named for being located on the spectacular 14,000-acre Horwood Lake near Timmins, Ontario.

Horwood Lake Lodge offers eight different waterfront cabins to choose from of varying size and shapes to meet the needs of your group. All of the cabins come with full kitchens, full baths, BBQs and wraparound porches so you have everything to look after yourself at your fingertips, including beautiful views of the lake.

The Lodge also has an on-site dining room, if you want to have someone else prepare your meals for you!

Book a guided fishing adventure between off-road adventures, or head straight to the trails from your waterfront cabin. Horwood Lake Lodge is just a stone’s throw away from Timmins ATV Club, which looks after hundreds of kilometers of mapped trails, available on the QuadON app (available as a free download from your app store), so no need to bring maps or worry about getting turned around. The QuadON app shows you all the things you may want to find while out and about, including fuel, food, scenic lookouts, and trail rating so you can choose your own adventure.

Marten River Lodge – Marten River, Ontario

Marten River Lodge is located in the unincorporated hamlet of Marten River in the municipality of Temagami, surrounded by hectares of crown land trails to enjoy.

Peter and Tania Nicolaidis are ready to make your stay as enjoyable as possible, and pride themselves on the fact that while the goal of their Lodge is to be close to nature, it doesn’t mean that you have to rough it!

The cabins are original hand-hewn log cabins, maintaining the history of the establishment and what it represents on the mighty Marten River, while still offering everyday modern conveniences and amenities.

The lodge has unlimited use of satellite TV, billiards, darts, video games, board games, library, and high-speed Wi-Fi.  

You are also set up with unlimited firewood, free use of kayaks, canoes, water bikes, and bait (minnows and worms). The fishing here is not to be missed!

The log dining room is ready to set you up for dinner and has many inclusive meal packages to choose from if you don’t want to have to worry about food or cooking!

Peter and Tania have UTV rentals available on site, and personalized guided tours of the trails available for purchase.

Mattawa Adventure Camp – Mattawa, Ontario

Mattawa Adventure Camp is located in Mattawa Ontario where the Mattawa River and Ottawa River meet. Mattawa is famous for being the stomping grounds of legendary Canadian Folk hero, Big Joe Mufferaw. Stompin’ Tom Connors may have sang a song or two about Big Joe. Mattawa is filled with larger-than-life statues of this folk hero for you to check out when you head out to the trails for the day!

Mattawa Adventure Camp has hotel rooms, and a plethora of cottages at your disposal. The cottages range in capacity of 4, 8, 9, 11, or 27 people! Cottages are equipped with full kitchens and washrooms, and full meal plans are available for any size group, if you want to leave the cooking and cleaning to your hosts!

The Voyageur Multi-use Trail System (VMUTS) is just a five-minute ride through ATV-friendly Mattawa. Mattawa has restaurants, gas stations, Tim Hortons and shopping in the “downtown” core, accessible via your ATV.

The VMUTS trail system has a bit of everything for your riding adventures, easy going logging roads or the infamous 666 trail for the truly hardcore rider. 

VMUTS trails are available on the QuadON app and show you ratings of each trail, things to check out such as the abandoned Mica Mine, and several scenic lookouts and lakes to find and explore!

Safe Off-Roading: Always follow local regulations, respect private property, wear proper safety gear, and check current trail and weather conditions before setting out. Off-road riding conditions and access in Ontario vary by location and may change seasonally. Riders are responsible for confirming that the areas they intend to use are legal and open for motorized vehicles. Always ensure you are riding on Crown Land where permitted, and not on private property or areas requiring Land Use Permits. Rail crossings, hydro corridors, and other easements may have strict no-access policies—check local laws and signage before you ride. Respect landowners, other trail users, and the environment at all times.

Article written by Dave Baker

NOTE: This is sponsored content produced in partnership with Destination Ontario