A resort vacation appeals to anyone who wants it all in one place, with no planning, mapping or scheduling required. For many people that means relaxing: good dining, comfortable rooms, a beach or pool, and a fitness centre. But some people want adventure as part of their hard-earned vacation, too, relaxation and a thrill.
Ontario resorts have more to offer on that front than you might expect, ATVing and personal watercraft adventures among them. Both are popular with the modern adventurer, and visitors from across Ontario, the rest of Canada and the US can join in at any experience level.
Maybe you’re booking for yourself, your partner and your teenagers, and you all want a bit of adventure. Maybe part of your group would rather take it easy while the rest want a rugged trail or some time out on the water. Either way, if “having it all” means both thrills and comfort — for a family trip or a company retreat — you’re in luck.
Below is a selection of Ontario resorts that offer both an endorphin rush and a comfortable stay. This isn’t a complete list, and for bookings and the most current details, contact the resorts directly.
Ontario Resorts for All the Adventure-Filled Activities
Pinestone Resort in Haliburton
Pinestone Resort & Conference Centre in Haliburton, Ontario is one of the province’s most premiere destinations. The Pinestone may be best known for it’s spa amenities and golf getaways. Offering natural beauty and truly upscale accommodations, it will please thrill-seekers to know there is also opportunity for more hardcore fun in the form of PWC and ATV. The well-reviewed Back Country Tours is the resort’s official provider for off-road ATVs, Sea Doo and Jet Ski rentals (and, in winter, snowmobiles as well). Back Country is an easy 15 minutes away, and right next to a trail. Guided ATV tours are on offer and a popular activity for family fun and corporate bookings and safety and riding lessons are available.
Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville
Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario is a high-end option for accommodations in Muskoka—so much so that the resort has played host to world leaders. On-site you’ll find golf and a spa, as well as numerous other seasonal activities for families or adults. Among them are fishing charters, an antique boat tour, an inflatable waterpark, tennis, paddleboarding, treetop trekking, indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Personal watercraft rentals are available on site, booked through the resort’s activities desk and run through SWS Muskoka (formerly Summer Water Sports) which also offers waterskiing, tubing, a wakeboard cable park and flyboarding. Guests can also take part in a Yamaha riding adventure on Yamaha ATVs and side-by-sides at the Deerhurst Adventure Park. The experience includes rider training and a guided tour, with mini dirt bikes and youth ATV options also available.
Ogopogo Resort on Mountain Lake
Ogopogo Resort on Mountain Lake is a family-friendly retreat in Minden, Ontario, set in the heart of the Haliburton Highlands. The resort offers a covered lakeside gazebo, evening campfires and swim rafts off their dock. Summer at Ogopogo includes a heated pool, fishing, a sand beach, canoes, kayaks and paddleboats. Plus, there are five golf courses within a 15-minute drive. Guests can also rent a 3-person Sea-Doo personal watercraft, along with tubes and water skis for towing. ATV tours and rentals are available nearby through Back Country Tours.
Ontario Resorts Offering Personal Watercraft (PWC) Rentals
Viamede Resort – Woodview, Ontario
Viamede Resort, set on Stoney Lake in the Kawarthas, makes its fun-friendliness evident from the get-go, with boat-up dining options and trailer parking. This full-service conference centre and resort has plenty of shoreline and lots to offer any type of traveller staying in their resort rooms or cottages. Biking, a water trampoline, disc golf (Frisbee golf, essentially, if the term is new to you) and an on-site working farm that grows food for the resort kitchens all set this spot apart. While Viamede doesn’t offer motorized rentals, guests can have Sea-Doos and other boats delivered through a nearby third-party operator — the resort currently points guests to Kawartha Adventure Rentals on Stoney Lake.
Severn Lodge – Port Severn, Ontario
Severn Lodge is a premier lakeside resort offering all-inclusive vacations in the Muskoka and Georgian Bay lake district, only 90 minutes from Toronto. Resort rooms or cottages are available, as are family and corporate packages. Award-winning Executive Chef Hubert Obermeier leaves an impression on guests with outstanding waterfront fare, often featuring local specials. Through the summer, supervised activities for children strike the right balance between family, couple and solo time. On the water, guests can enjoy waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing and a water trampoline, and jet-ski rentals are available on-site for an additional charge.
JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa – Minett, Ontario
JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa, a gem in the Muskoka area, offers rooms with full kitchens, fine and casual dining — with craft beers, an extensive wine selection and local “farm-to-fork” options — and a full-service luxury spa with men’s and women’s facilities, plus packages catering to couples. There’s a stone fireplace in every room, golf courses nearby, and a 24-hour fitness centre. Spend time on the exclusive beach, and in 2025 the resort added a floating pickleball court out on the water. When it’s time for an adrenaline boost, watercraft are available through SWS Muskoka — jet skis, plus waterskiing, wakeboarding and tubing. Contact the resort or SWS Muskoka directly for current rates and booking details.
Bayview Wildwood Resort – Severn Bridge, ON
Bayview Wildwood Resort sits on Sparrow Lake, with a choice of suites, resort rooms or waterfront cottages. Upscale dining and superb views make this a popular wedding spot for those after a rustic-yet-elegant event. Whether it’s a golf trip, meeting destination or family vacation, a stay at Bayview Wildwood promises to be memorable. The resort no longer offers ATV rentals, but the waterfront stays busy with canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, boat rentals and pontoon cruises; for current motorized watercraft options, contact the resort directly.
Living Water Resort – Collingwood, ON
Living Water Resort in Collingwood has lots to offer: golfing, spa treatments and exclusive events among them. Its waterfront restaurant — the only one in the area — specializes in sustainable seafood, and the on-site marina is a launch point for exploring everything Georgian Bay has to offer. Living Water partners with Xtreme Adventures, based at the resort’s Collingwood marina, for plenty of ways to get out on the water: waterskiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing, tubing, boat tours and jet-ski rentals. To rent a jet ski, drivers must be at least 16 and hold a license.
Best Ontario Resorts With ATV Rentals
Couples Resort – Algonquin Park, ON
Couples Resort is a five-star, couples-only luxury retreat just outside the east gate of Algonquin Park. Spend a kid-free weekend on all-inclusive dining — a five-course gourmet dinner and breakfast daily — in rooms with private outdoor hot tubs, wood-burning fireplaces and Keurig coffee makers. The resort no longer offers private ATV rentals on-site but remains ATV-friendly and can point guests to nearby rental and tour operators for a ride during their stay.
Lake Herridge Lodge & Resort – Temagami, ON
Lake Herridge Lodge & Resort is a family-run, four-season wilderness resort just south of Temagami, where adventure genuinely meets relaxation. Stunning rock formations, vast forests and plenty of wildlife surround the property. Fish the remote lakes, hunt game, head out by kayak, or sit down to a locally sourced meal and a baked-from-scratch dessert. When you’re ready for the mud, there are hundreds of kilometres of trails to explore — rough terrain for experienced riders, tamer routes for those just starting out. Bring your own gear and ride out with a guide or on your own.
Bonnie View Inn – Haliburton, ON
Bonnie View Inn is a family-owned-and-operated resort on Lake Kashagawigamog in the Haliburton Highlands, welcoming guests since 1924 with suites, chalets and cottages along a private beachfront. Only two hours from Toronto, you’ll be in awe of your surroundings — the countryside delivers the best of “big resort” amenities with a down-to-earth ambience. Guests have free use of canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, and can add a watersports package through Ski Mazing. ATV trips can be arranged through Back Country Tours, and with owners who ride, you’ll get good advice about local trails.
Cedar Grove Family Resort – Tobermory, ON
Cedar Grove Cottages Family Resort is a family resort with a sense of serenity and adventure on Cameron Lake, just south of Tobermory. These cottage rentals offer a home away from home, each with an equipped kitchen and backyard propane BBQ. Boat rentals are available on-site — canoes, solo and tandem kayaks, paddleboats, SUPs and motorized fishing boats. In town you’ll find many quality pubs and restaurants; nearby are The Grotto and Flowerpot Island, with glass-bottom boat tours that will take you there.
Horseshoe Resort – Barrie, ON
Horseshoe Resort packs in so much adventure — Treetop Trekking with zip-lines and aerial courses, rock climbing, downhill mountain-bike trails, guided Yamaha ATV and UTV rides, and motorcycle training — that you’d think you were signing up for an adventure camp rather than a four-season resort. The off-road riding runs on natural trails through rugged forest with a wide range of terrain: hills and valleys, mud and gravel pits, and much more. Yamaha rides come in two-hour and half-day options, and anyone over six who can ride a bicycle well is welcome. ATV and snowmobile experiences are operated by SMART Adventures and should be booked directly with them before you reserve your accommodation to unlock the stay discount.
Ontario Resorts for Whitewater Rafting
Wilderness Tours Raft & Kayak Resort – Foresters Falls, ON
Wilderness Tours Raft & Kayak Resort sits on the Ottawa River in Foresters Falls, in the heart of Ontario’s whitewater country. The river’s parallel, rapid-filled channels mean trips for every intensity level, from first-timers to seasoned thrill-seekers. All-inclusive stays can fold in rafting, tubing and mountain biking alongside meals, live music and a sauna, with cabins, camping and RV sites to bunk down in afterward.
OWL Rafting Wilderness Resort – Foresters Falls, ON
OWL Rafting Wilderness Resort is a lakeside resort on the Ottawa River at Foresters Falls, built around a full-day whitewater rafting run that ends with a pontoon meal cruise back to the property. Make a weekend of it with a multi-day package, pitching your own tent or upgrading to an ensuite cabana or glamping tent.
Find Your Ontario Adventure Resort
The resorts above all combine outdoor activity with a comfortable place to stay, so a single trip can cover both. Open-water jet ski runs and guided ATV trails sit a short walk from the spa, the dock, the dining room — so a single stay can hold both the adrenaline and the recovery.
Where you land depends on what you’re chasing. The Haliburton Highlands and Temagami lean rugged, with backcountry trails built for riders who want terrain. Muskoka and Georgian Bay deliver the classic lake day: watersports, beaches and waterfront dining. And at Horseshoe, a few hours covers zip lines, ATV trails and a round of golf before dinner.
Browse the full adventure resorts in Ontario directory to filter by region, activity and availability. Planning a trip for someone else? A Resorts of Ontario gift certificate lets them choose the escape that fits — and it never expires.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adventure Resorts in Ontario
What activities do adventure resorts in Ontario typically offer?
The most common are ATV tours and rentals, jet ski and personal watercraft rentals, zip-lining, treetop trekking, wakeboarding, flyboarding, rock climbing, and snowmobiling in winter. The exact range depends heavily on the resort and the season.
Do you need experience for ATV tours at Ontario resorts?
No. Most resorts run guided tours for all experience levels, with a safety briefing and riding instruction included. Age and weight limits vary by operator, so confirm directly before booking — especially for children.
Are Ontario adventure resorts good for families?
Several are built with families in mind. Horseshoe Resort, Ogopogo Resort and Deerhurst all offer junior versions of their adventure activities, including youth ATV options and beginner treetop trekking courses for kids as young as five.
Can I do adventure activities at Ontario resorts in winter?
Yes. Horseshoe Resort runs Yamaha snowmobile adventures through SMART Adventures alongside its ski and winter programs, and both Couples Resort and Pinestone Resort have snowmobile access via Back Country Tours. Winter is its own distinct season for resort adventure, not a gap.
Do I need a license to rent a jet ski at an Ontario resort?
At most resorts, drivers must be 18 or older and hold a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC). At Living Water Resort in Collingwood, Xtreme Adventures allows drivers aged 16 and up. Passenger age requirements vary, so always confirm with the specific resort or operator before your trip.
How do I book adventure activities at Ontario resorts?
Most resorts use third-party operators rather than handling rentals in-house, so contact the resort directly for the current operator name and booking process. At some, including Horseshoe, pre-booking the activity before you secure your room unlocks a stay discount.