As part of a three-part series, TV storm chaser and action adventurer Ricky Forbes is exploring all that summer has on offer with help from Co-op fuels.
Exploring Western Canada’s backcountry can be a rough and rugged experience. For ATV enthusiasts, that’s entirely the point.
With more trails open than ever before thanks to Western Canada’s dedicated ATV community, there has never been a better time to get out riding. For inspiration, we reached out to the experts at Backroad Mapbooks – an outdoor recreation guidebook series that has been publishing Canadian maps for 25 years – to select their top picks for ATV adventures in each province west of Ontario.
Nisbet Forest (Saskatchewan)
Bordered by the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers, this 205,000-acre area near Rosthern was formerly a timber-harvesting region and now serves as a hotspot for outdoor recreation of all kinds. There is an elaborate web of designated ATV trails within the forest, divided into east and west sections on either side of Highway 11. The west section is larger, featuring a lot of dry sand trails and numerous swamps and lakes, while the east side offers some beautiful riding along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. Informal rest stops and cabins are found throughout.
Mars Hill Wildlife Management Area (Manitoba)
Found 70 kilometres north of Winnipeg near Beausejour, this conservation region is popular for horseback riding, hiking and ATVing. There are about 40 kilometres of sandy trails designated for ATV riders within the range that is home to forests of aspen, jack pine, spruce and fir.
Beaver Creek OHV Trails (Alberta)
Found south of Secondary Highway 520 and east of Highway 22 near Pincher Creek, this area offers varied trails ranging from very easy dirt roads to more difficult sections. The system can also be accessed from the south off Beaver Creek Road, straight from Secondary Highway 785. There are over 80 kilometres of trails with many spurs and offshoots, plus loops in the southern part of the Beaver Creek Trails and the Tower Routes in the north.
Tabor Mountain Trails (British Columbia)
There are more than 150 kilometres of trails at this impressive recreation area outside of Prince George. These trails provide excellent riding, with varying degrees of difficulty and several staging areas. Access is 16 kilometres south of Prince George along Highway 97. Turn left onto Willow Cale Forest Service Road and follow the road for about 33 kilometres to the lake.
Give yourself a shot of adrenaline with these suggestions, or find your own favourite trails to explore! And stop by your local Co-op Gas Bar/Convenience Store on your way out to fill up on snacks and beverages for you, as well as high-quality fuels for your next ride.
