I tell myself, “This year will have more adventures than the last,” and this summer season kicked off with a surprise assignment from Ontario’s Highlands: riding the trails courtesy of Thrill Seekers ATV Tours. My mantra must be working!

Mamie Huang awaited us (my husband Mike and I) as we pulled off Highway 7 into the drive. We met our tour guides for the ride, Kyle Koufis and Eric McCracken. We were joined by Rob Plumley from Naturally L&A (Lennox & Addington County) and Miranda, L&A’s summer student, for a 90-minute Beginner Tour.

From left to right: Kyle Koufis, Mamie Huang, and Eric McCracken.

Before anyone touched a machine, we had some paperwork to complete and classroom time. We signed our waivers and provided liability deposits in case of damage. Mamie then began our training. 

We learned hand signals, how to approach obstacles, when to engage 4-wheel drive, and what to do if you see bears: don’t stop for selfies! The beginners’ tutorial covered everything you’d need to know before your tour.   
Mamie then took us to the ATVs and taught us what each button does and when to use them. 
 

 You don’t need to arrive early, just on time because that’s when your training starts. I last rode ATVs in 2022, so the Beginner 90-minute Tour was a perfect refresher.

We fitted our helmets and goggles, and then it was time for test drives so we could put into action what we had learned. We followed Mamie’s ATV while she, Eric, and Kyle observed our skills. We rode around the course, first Mike and me, then Rob and Miranda’s turn. 

There were sharp turns, rocks, logs, and a little steep hill to practice shifting our weight to keep our center of gravity low and prevent rolling the ATV. Keeping a steady speed on the uphill is critical. Mike didn’t make it up the first time but easily rode up the rocky hill by his second lap.

Mamie is on the lead ATV, followed by Mike, then me around the training loop, while Miranda watches (and records) us motoring by.

It was all coming back to me, much like the familiarity of riding a bike after decades of not cycling: how to feed consistent gas, shift weight in my seat to counterbalance on uneven terrain and lower my center of gravity on hills.

Rob and Miranda had the advantage of seeing firsthand the difficulty of climbing a hill if you don’t make it. So, on their turn, they kept the gas going all the way up, mastering the challenge on the first go-around.

Rob is coming down the training hill on his ATV. 

After four laps, riding around the training loop twice in the forward and reverse direction, everyone was comfortable with our ATVs and deemed ready to start by Mamie and our guides. 

We were pumped to start. We lined up between Kyle, who would lead the group, and Eric, who would follow the last guest rider. I could see the excitement - postures had changed; riders were sitting taller, checking mirrors, and waiting for the signal to start our engines. 

Then it was time to go!

Insider Tip:

Never press the gas and brake simultaneously; it’ll damage the ATV, and you could be thrown off, depending on the situation. It’s a dangerous and costly action, so if you do it twice, you’ll earn the VIP seat - riding shotgun on the tour leader’s ATV. Bonus: The passenger has a fantastic view, and you won’t eat anyone’s dust for the entire ride.

Riding the trails with Thrill Seeker ATV Tours 

Thrill Seekers is located four kilometres east of Kaladar on Highway 7. From their business, it’s 300 metres to the access road and 700 metres to the Trans Canada Trail. Within minutes of starting the tour, we were heading west on the Eastern Ontario Trail Alliance network of connected routes.

I called for a stop and gave the thumbs-up signal when I was ready to get going.

I was in the third riding position. Mike rode ahead of me, behind the leader, and often threw grins over his shoulder. I don’t think he anticipated enjoying ATVing so much - and we’d only just started riding. He kept pace with the front rider, Kyle, and I could tell he’d go faster if given the chance.

Following me was Rob, then Miranda. Both were keeping up, and we had an excellent group formation, with Eric bringing up the tail. Before we knew it, we’d arrived at Highway 41, each rider stopping to look both ways before crossing the roadway.

Stopping at Highway 41, our second major crossing after Highway 7, before continuing on the Trans Canada Trail.

We rode on, kicking up dust, and enjoyed the changing scenery as we sped on. We went through tree tunnels and open forests, past ponds and marshlands. 

We slowed for puddles and flooded trail sections, following Kyle through the water, and then picked up speed again.

 It’s tempting to splash through puddles at full speed, but hitting a hidden rock or deep water can throw you from your ATV. Always follow the leader through water holes.

We entered a forested section. The trail width narrowed, and the ground conditions were a little damp, so it was less dusty and had more mud to run through but nothing deep to bog us down.

We rode the twisty turns until we reached a new obstacle: a downed tree angled across the trail. Kyle jumped it easily, but Mike got caught by the deadwood on the high side between the wheels. 

Here was his first use of the ATV’s 4x4 mode to crawl off the log with Kyle’s guidance.

When you have a “logstacle,” it’s helpful to approach the log straight on (where it’s lowest to the ground), making sure both front wheels (then back) go over in pairs. Otherwise, the machine’s tires could slide on the deadwood, and you’ll get stuck.

We took a few breaks to drink and stretch our legs, especially our hands - the ATV’s gas ‘pedal’ is operated with thumb pressure. Anyone unused to that strain will feel some tenderness after the ride. Taking care of your digits is essential, even on short tours.

I could tell that everyone wanted to keep our rest breaks as brief as possible, preferring to return to riding quickly - and escape the biting bugs that inevitably found us anytime we stopped moving.

On our first break, we had an impromptu photoshoot of Eric (left) and Kyle (right). 

Our tour took a mostly linear route, going in and out on a portion of the same trail. Towards the turnaround point, about 12 kilometres into the ride, our guides surprised us with a taste of what advanced trails on the power line trails are like.

Technical trails like that aren’t for everyone; Mike discovered he likes the straightways more than tackling hills.

We had moguls ahead of us, with steep inclines and descents that required 4x4 engaged and the machines in low gear. As soon as I crested a bump, the ATV dipped downward on the slope, and I immediately switched from gas to brakes and shifted weight for the decline.

Hearts were pounding and adrenaline pumping after the slalom challenge; it seemed like the steepest incline and decline I’ve ever ridden, but that feeling came from not riding in a few years.

We took one last break before riding the trail back out and switched positions in the lineup. This time, Rob would be behind the leader, Kyle, followed by Miranda, Mike, me, and Eric, riding in the back.

Mike absolutely loved every minute of this ATVing adventure; he always had a grin stretching from ear to ear when he’d look back at me.

For the return, we could ride as fast as we were comfortable on the straight sections. 

It hadn’t rained in a few days, and the trails were dry, which meant they’d kick up dust going faster on the way back to Thrill Seeker’s home base, so I was happy to be at the rear. I wouldn’t hold the group back.

Kyle and Eric are connected via helmet headsets, keeping connected when the tour group isn’t travelling tightly as a single unit or anytime they need to communicate when there’s no line of sight for hand signals.

My allergies had started kicking in, and I needed to stay clear of the dirt clouds in their wake, keeping pace from a distance lest I have a (second) sneezing fit. I wasn’t worried about Eric eating my dust - he wore a fully enclosed helmet.

I watched the group go faster and let them pull farther and farther ahead of me. 

It was better for me this way: I could enjoy the scenery because they churned up so much dirt that I lost sight of the riders in the front in the clouds. Rob, Miranda, and Mike must have loved being in that swirling dust as they rode ahead and in formation.

Insider Tip:

Do you suffer from dust allergies? Take an antihistamine before you ride on dry trails. Next time, I will.

The entire ride was just over 24 kilometres, and it took us almost two hours to complete the tour. Upon returning to Thrill Seeker ATV Tours, I asked, “How was that?”

“I want to go AGAIN!” was Mike’s immediate answer. We reluctantly climbed from our ATVs for the last time that day.

When we started the tour, we were going between 14 and 18 kilometres an hour, but now, returning on the same trail, rider confidence was evident. I cruised at 40 km/h on the straight and easy sections; riding even one kilometre faster felt too speedy for me.

I thought there were no more surprises for me that day - and then I saw Mike’s face.

Remember those dust clouds I mentioned kicked up on the way back from our higher speeds? Mike was fourth in line on the return and ate so much dust he looked like Dick Van Dyke, the chimney sweep in Mary Poppins - I was also sporting a dashing dirt stash.
 

Insider Tip:

Bring a change of clothes or be prepared to sit in your vehicle wearing a coat of dirt. Rubber boots and coats are available if you don’t have appropriate waterproof footwear and prefer to keep your shirt or jacket clean.

On the way home, Mike said at least half a dozen times how this was the best adventure we’d ever had. He’d become an ATVing fan in one afternoon, ready to make more dirt-eating memories.

Thrill Seeker ATV Tours tailors tours to suit your group’s abilities, from beginner to advanced. With the extensive trail network accessible from their location, no two adventures are the same. 

Next time, I’d love to embark on an extended tour. As I’ve converted Mike into someone who enjoys camping, I know he’d come on an overnight ATVing adventure. 

 

Storyteller:

Heidi Csernak

Addicted to coffee, burgers and outdoor adventure, Heidi is always searching for the next challenge, chip truck, and caffeine fill up! Aiming to inspire travellers to explore the incredible diversity of destinations in our region, from hidden treasures to famous tourist attractions, she shares her photographs as @organicroadmap. When she’s not blogging about her latest discovery, you can find Heidi wandering in the wilderness, kayaking waterways, or enjoying the charm of rural Ontario!

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