Wild Northerner Magazine 2015 Fall Issue | Page 18

Many towns across northern Ontario feature off-road trails and logging roads for use. Other well-known areas for top ATV and off-road destinations include The Elliot Lake ATV Trails. This system features 300-km of trails that loop around Elliot Lake and never further than 30-km from the town. The land surrounding Timmins hosts nearly endless old logging roads to access quickly and go deep into the wilderness. People can check out the Grassy River-High Falls Trail, which leads riders 12-km from Dalton Road past a series of rapids and waterfalls that total a drop of 40-metres. Almost any town has some sort of unofficial trail system. All it takes is an adventurous spirit to gain access to them. See local town’s tourism websites for more information about off-road trails.

ATVs can be pricey brand new, but used vehicles will give just as much fun. It doesn’t take a big machine with a big engine to have fun. It just takes a desire to get a little dirty.

Sault Ste. Marie’s Francis Tenaglia has been riding ATVs seriously for 10 years. Tenaglia gets out at least once a week for a ride, but also does three to four multi-night trips per year. He previously rode a dirt bike. Tenaglia enjoys it most when the mud is flying.

“The dirtier and muddier the better,” he said. “I like getting to remote places for better fishing. I like anything off the beaten path. I’ve always had a passion for it.”

VMUTS is hosting a fall ATV poker rally on Sept. 26. Check out the website for more information: http://www.vmuts.com/index.html