Fall is an incredible season to travel—the bugs are down, the families are in school, and the resorts are quiet. There’s no line up for activities, and the cool weather makes it comfortable to be outside all day long.
The days are a bit shorter, but there’s the added bonus of curling up by the fire and getting snuggly in bed after some time outdoors. If you head out early enough you get the added bonus of seeing the fiery reds and golden yellows of the autumn leaves changing colour.
And that’s why we believe the best time of year to take a quick trip to a resort in Ontario is fall. Whether you’re a motorcycle rider, looking for the best backroads before settling down for a couple of nights, or someone who wants to experience the outdoor in a more direct way by taking an ATV trip, these resorts are all powersports-friendly and good for a Friday/Saturday stay during the fall season.
What to Expect From a Powersports-Friendly Resort
Not every resort that allows ATVs on the property qualifies as powersports-friendly. The ones worth booking are set up for it: direct trail access, secure overnight parking for sleds and trailers, fuel nearby, and connections to operators who handle rentals and guided tours without you having to chase them down.
The activities depend on the resort and the season. Summer brings ATV and UTV tours, jet ski rentals, and motorcycle access to some of Ontario’s best touring routes. Winter shifts to snowmobile trail access, with several properties sitting right on the network. A few of the resorts below run powersports year-round. If you ride, these are worth knowing about.
Lake Herridge Lodge & Resort
Right off the Temiskaming Loop, and located in one of Northern Ontario’s most revered natural playgrounds, is Lake Herridge Lodge & Resort. It’s right off Highway 11 so there isn’t much gravel to travel to get to your accommodations.
Hundreds of kilometres of woodland trails surround the property covering logging roads, hill climbs, and mud runs. The lodge hosts its own annual ATV Run with guided tours for groups of any size, and in winter the OFSC A Trail runs directly to the property via a marked 1-kilometre private trail.
Pinestone Resorts and Conference Centre
The Pinestone Resort has the distinction of offering guided ATV tours and rentals through Backcountry Tours. Some people tend to think that ATVing is just for adrenaline junkies, but tours can be customized to focus on getting out into nature, especially to places you’d otherwise never assume you could reach. Pinestone is also on the Ride The Highlands motorcycle touring routes.
Bayview Wildwood Resort
An easy trip up from Toronto, Bayview Wildwood makes a perfect two-night getaway for city folk who also want to get out into nature. Paved driveways right to the front door mean that motorcycle riders can get there easily, and their collaboration with Redline Outdoors for ATV tours means that if you want to get deep into nature, all you have to do is make a phone call.
And Bayview has some pretty amazing places to get cozy when night falls.
Couples Resort
On part of the Ride The Edge Big Loop motorcycle tour, Couples Resort is nestled on the eastern side of Highway 60 just outside of Ontario’s beloved Algonquin Park. A great place to stop for a few days while doing a motorcycle trip, get out and stretch your legs on the famous Algonquin park trails or make use of the complimentary bicycle rentals and their four local trails.
Bonnie View Inn
Just outside of Haliburton, the Bonnie View Inn has one of the best patios in Ontario, they’re on more than one of the Ride the Highlands routes, and they offer a connection to ATV rentals through Backcountry Tours. The terrain is varied here, so it’s pretty easy to get two days of forest time in, or do a hummer tour one day, and an ATV tour the next.
Regardless of what you choose, these resorts all give you good reason to spend two nights there—and in all cases, you’ll find yourself wanting to stay longer. Well don’t worry! There’s always next summer!
Book Your Power-Sports Adventure With Resorts of Ontario
The best powersports trips don’t happen by accident. They happen because someone picked the right base: close to the trails, fuel nearby, a hot meal at the end of the day, and a bed that earns its keep after a full day of riding.
When you’re ready to plan, the Resorts of Ontario Trip Planner lets you browse by region and activity type so you can match the riding to the stay. And if you’re looking for a gift for someone who’d rather spend a weekend on the trails than unwrapping something they don’t need, a Resorts of Ontario gift certificate covers it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a resort powersports-friendly?
The basics are direct trail access, secure overnight parking for sleds or trailers, and fuel either on-site or close by. The better ones also have ATV tour partnerships, gear storage, and staff who ride themselves.
Do I need to bring my own ATV or can I rent at the resort?
Most resorts work with third-party operators rather than running their own equipment. Back Country Tours covers Muskoka and Haliburton, SMART Adventures operates at Deerhurst and Horseshoe Resort, and Xtreme Adventures handles the Collingwood area. Book the activity before you book the room — some operators offer accommodation discounts when you do it in that order.
Are Ontario powersports resorts good for beginners?
Yes. Guided ATV tours at resorts like Deerhurst and Pinestone are designed for all experience levels, with safety briefings and instruction included. Horseshoe Resort’s SMART Adventures program runs beginner-friendly rides for anyone aged six and up. You don’t need to arrive with experience.
Can I do multiple powersports activities at the same resort?
A few are genuinely set up for it. Shamrock Lodge covers ATV, dirt bikes, and snowmobile year-round. Deerhurst offers ATV tours, jet ski rentals, and snowmobiling depending on the season. Horseshoe Resort runs ATV tours in summer and snowmobile adventures in winter through the same operator.
Which Ontario resorts are closest to Toronto for a powersports weekend?
Bayview Wildwood Resort in Severn Bridge and Horseshoe Resort in Barrie are both under two hours from Toronto and are well set up for ATV and motorcycle riders. Pinestone Resort and Bonnie View Inn in Haliburton are around two and a half hours and sit in the middle of some of the best trail country in the province.
Is fall a good time for a powersports trip in Ontario?
It’s one of the best. Trails are quieter, resorts have more availability, and the temperature makes full-day riding comfortable. The Highlands and Muskoka regions are also at their best visually in late September and October, which makes motorcycle touring particularly worthwhile.