Fall might be the best time of year to own an ATV or side by side in Ontario.
The temperatures cool down, the bugs disappear, the trails get a little muddier and the forests around Simcoe County, Muskoka, Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton put on a pretty impressive show.
But if you've just purchased an ATV or SXS, there's an important question to answer:
Where can you actually ride it?
Central Ontario has a surprisingly large network of ATV clubs, organized trail systems and group rides. Whether you're looking for an easy Saturday ride, technical terrain or an organized fall colour ride, there are plenty of options within a reasonable drive of Orillia.
Here's a look at some of the clubs and trails worth knowing about, plus a calendar of upcoming ATV rides for fall 2026.
If you've never participated in an organized club ride, give one a try.
They're a great way to discover trails you've never ridden, meet other riders and explore an area without having to figure everything out yourself.
Here are some upcoming rides we found around Central Ontario and surrounding riding areas.
| Date | Ride | Location | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 12 |
Baxter/Severn Christmas Wish Foundation Ride | Port Severn | Local charity ride starting at 35 Violet Drive. Donations support families and young people through Benny's Club. |
| Sept. 12 |
KATVA Memorial Ride | Kawartha Lakes | A club ride honouring KATVA volunteers who have passed away. |
|
Sept. 19 |
Trout Creek Lions ATV Fundraiser & Poker Run | Trout Creek | ATV and SXS poker run with dinner. First machines leave at 11 a.m. |
| Sept. 19 |
KATVA Ladies Thrill & Chill Ride | Kawartha Lakes | Separate beginner/intermediate and intermediate/expert groups. |
| Sept. 26 |
KATVA Night Howl at the Harvest Moon | Kawartha Lakes | Night ride through the Five Points with rocks, hills, mud and technical terrain. |
| Oct. 3 |
Kawartha Black Bear Ride | Kawartha Lakes | ATV, SXS and dirt bike charity ride supporting The Kibble Project. |
| Oct. 10 |
KATVA Fall Colours Ride to Haliburton | Kawartha Lakes to Haliburton | Fall colour ride to Haliburton with a stop at Ritchie Falls. |
| Oct. 18 |
COATV Fall Colour Ride | Wasaga Beach / Simcoe County | Departs the COATV clubhouse and explores the Orr Lake and Wildman trail system. |
| Nov. 28 |
KATVA Cold Snap Ride | Kawartha Lakes | KATVA's final scheduled ride of the season. Expect cold, and potentially frost, ice or snow. |
One of the best ways to start riding is to join a local ATV club.
Clubs do much more than organize rides. Volunteers help maintain trails, build relationships with municipalities and landowners, provide maps and signage, and give riders access to organized trail networks.
Before heading out, always check the individual club's current trail status, permit requirements and vehicle restrictions. Trail access can change due to weather, forestry operations, land-use agreements and seasonal closures.
For Byers customers in Orillia, Severn, Coldwater, Washago and Georgian Bay, this is one of the first clubs we'd recommend checking out.
The Baxter/Severn system includes approximately 90 kilometres of trail east of Georgian Bay. A popular loop travels from the Baxter Lake area south toward Coldwater and north toward Port Severn. Riders can expect everything from easier sections to mud, water and technical rocky terrain around Barron's Lake. An OFATV permit is required.
Explore Baxter/Severn ATV Trail Riders
The Central Ontario ATV Club is another excellent option close to home.
COATV maintains trails south and east of Georgian Bay, including routes through Simcoe County Forest properties. Current tourism information lists approximately 157 kilometres of trails ranging from novice-friendly terrain to more technical riding.
That variety makes it a good option if you're relatively new to ATV riding but still want somewhere you can progress into more challenging terrain.
The club is based around the Wasaga Beach area and maintains an event calendar throughout the riding season.
Head north toward Kearney and the riding changes considerably.
The Algonquin West ATV Club operates in the Almaguin, Muskoka and Algonquin-area region. The Ontario Trails Council currently lists approximately 300 kilometres of trail, while its overview notes that the club's growing network exceeds 350 kilometres.
This is classic Ontario ATV country: dirt, gravel, forest, water, Canadian Shield and plenty of scenery.
For riders coming from Orillia or Muskoka, Kearney is well worth putting on the riding list.
If you're willing to head east, Kawartha ATV Association offers one of the most extensive riding opportunities in the region.
KATVA says its network encompasses more than 250 kilometres and includes the Victoria Rail Trail Corridor, Somerville Forest Tract and Five Points Trail System. The terrain ranges from beginner-friendly sightseeing trails to technical riding involving rocks and mud.
KATVA is particularly interesting for riders who enjoy organized events. Their calendar includes rides for different experience levels throughout the season.
For Muskoka riders, the Lake of Bays ATV Club is another one to know.
It's particularly interesting because of its relationships with other regional clubs. KATVA currently recognizes permits from Lake of Bays, Haliburton ATV Association, Algonquin West and Quad Niagara through reciprocal arrangements.
That can considerably expand where you're able to ride depending on the membership you purchase.
If you're looking for something close to Byers, the Baxter/Severn and Central Ontario ATV Club events are obvious choices.
But the October 10 KATVA Fall Colours Ride is particularly interesting.
The ride heads toward Haliburton for lunch with a sightseeing stop at Ritchie Falls. If the timing cooperates, riders should be right in the middle of fall colour season.
The October 18 COATV Fall Colour Ride is another good local option. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. at the COATV clubhouse in Wasaga Beach, with the ride departing at 8:30 a.m. and heading into the Orr Lake and Wildman trail system.
For something completely different, KATVA's September 26 Night Howl runs from 6 p.m. until approximately 2 a.m. It's intended to be a quicker-paced ride through expert Five Points terrain, so this isn't necessarily the one we'd choose for your first day on an ATV.
Often, yes.
Ontario doesn't have one universal rule that gives an ATV access to every trail in the province.
Individual trail systems can require memberships or permits, and different clubs may have reciprocal agreements allowing another club's permit to be recognized.
For example, KATVA currently recognizes permits from Haliburton ATV Association, Algonquin West ATV Club, Lake of Bays ATV Club and Quad Niagara ATV Club.
OFATV also represents a large network of affiliated clubs across Ontario, including Baxter/Severn and Central Ontario ATV Club.
Check OFATV / QuadON trail information
Always check the club you're planning to ride with before leaving home.
It depends on the trail.
Don't assume that because an ATV is allowed, your SXS will automatically be permitted.
Some trail systems have width restrictions. For example, KATVA states that SXS vehicles on City of Kawartha Lakes trails cannot exceed 64 inches in width. Its organized ride rules also require passenger-carrying ATVs to be legal factory-designed two-up models.
That's especially important if you're shopping for a new Polaris Ranger, General or RZR and already have a particular trail network in mind.
Tell us where you want to ride before you buy. Vehicle width and trail restrictions can actually influence which machine makes the most sense.
Fall riding in Ontario can change quickly.
You might leave the truck in sunshine and be dealing with rain, mud and temperatures 10 degrees cooler a few hours later.
We'd bring appropriate riding and safety gear, extra layers, gloves, water, food, a basic first-aid kit, tire repair equipment, recovery gear and a way to navigate if you lose cell service.
And don't discover the morning of the ride that your ATV needs maintenance.
Check your tires, brakes, fluids, battery and general condition before heading out. If you're joining an organized ride, check the organizer's requirements as well.
Summer gets most of the attention, but we'll take a crisp October morning on an ATV any day.
The trails are quieter, the scenery is incredible and Central Ontario has an enormous riding community right in our backyard.
Whether you're heading toward Port Severn, Wasaga Beach, Kearney, Kawartha Lakes or Haliburton, joining a local club is one of the best ways to discover new places to ride and help support the people maintaining the trails.
And if your current machine isn't quite ready for the adventure you have planned, come see us.
At Byers Equipment Motorsports in Orillia, we can help you find the right Polaris ATV or side by side, get your current machine serviced, or help you find the parts and accessories you need before your next ride.
Get the machine ready.
Pick a trail.
And go see a little more of Ontario.
For even more upcoming rides across the province, Northern Ontario Travel maintains a 2026 Ontario ATV event calendar.