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Hunting Views: An ATV Journey along the trails of Temiskaming Shores and Elk Lake
It’s always fun once you’ve come home from an incredible labyrinthian adventure to sit and try to boil things down into a few short sentences that might kinda sorta capture a bit of everything you’ve just experienced. Can you sense my sarcasm? It’s always a sense of, where do I start? To give you an idea, here is a short list of alternative titles that I considered for this article: Wilderness Encounters: Wildlife and Trails in… , Thrills and Tranquility: An ATV Getaway in… , Off-Road and On-Plate: Exploring Trails and Tastes in…, and perhaps the most accurate one Trying Not to Kill My Neighbour While we ride ATVs around Temisksming Shores and Elk Lake.
For the latter, it’s not that we were driving recklessly, it’s that he was driving me insane. Note to Jay (that is Jay my neighbour, not to be confused with Jay the co-owner of Elk Lake Wilderness Resort)... We’re not making a blooper reel, just ride the ATV down the trail. Nobody wants to see you make silly faces at the camera for 5 minutes straight. This is about the scenery and the incredible riding, after all.
Alright, now that I got that off my chest… and don’t worry Jay, I still love you (mainly in small doses).
Elk Lake Wilderness Resort Has Got You Covered
As much as my neighbour Jay really tanked it on this trip (I kid), the other Jay and his better-half Mallory who own and operate the Elk Lake Wilderness Resort really made up for it. There’s no other way to start the bulk of this article than to say this: You NEED to go here if you are ATVing in Northeastern Ontario. The owners made everything about this trip incredibly easy, and I would not have had nearly the same high-quality experience without them.
First off, their extremely reasonable ATV package includes all your meals and accommodations, you have nothing else to worry about other than hitting the trails. The room came stocked with breakfast options, boxed lunches to take out onto the trails, and a hot meal delivered to our room in the evening at an agreed-upon time. This was invaluable for allowing us to maximize our adventures each day so that we could explore further, but there’s so much more; clean comfortable waterfront trail-adjacent cabins, on-site restaurant and gift shop with adult beverage options, fantastic fishing and hunting opportunities with views along the Montreal River, on-site gas and a power washing station to clean your machines, plus they can link you up with Northern Sports Rentals so you don’t have to provide your own machine, they can have one delivered for you.
The resort owners also happen to be incredibly thoughtful people and ATV enthusiasts. Each day they took great care of us, even going so far as to personally guide us on some group rides to see some of the most breathtaking scenery you can experience in Ontario. Their local knowledge ensured we saw things we would not have otherwise seen along the hundreds of kilometres of trails cutting through the crown land there, this included an abandoned mine (and I’m told there are multiple), breathtaking cliffs, gorges, backcountry lakes and wildlife encounters. They even arranged for an evening around the fire at sunset right along the water (beverages included) so we could hangout and trade stories of our adventures that day. Could it get any better? I’m not sure. I can promise you this, I will be back here during snowmobile season, as well.
Speaking of campfire stories from the trip, there were a few gems; the bear we spotted, the incredible hikes, the dinners and shops in Temiskaming Shores, many other wildlife encounters, or one of the many instances of Jay not following instructions where he promptly got his ATV stuck in the sand pit (I enjoyed that one), but perhaps my favourite from the trip was the time I did not realize just how close Jay was behind me as I entered a section of puddles after it had rained the previous day. I carefully and blissfully plowed right through them and then stopped to double-check our location on the QuadON app which shows the OFATV Trail Map. Meanwhile, Jay slowly pulled up alongside me with a very dour look. He was absolutely soaked from head to toe from my splash as he was probably following just a bit too close. Hard lesson for him, hilarious for me.
The New Kids on the Block Have Got the Right Stuff
The local South Temiskaming ATV Club has done a great job here. They are one of the newest clubs in the province, and they’ve put together and maintained a great set of trails which connects nicely from Elk Lake to Temiskaming Shores (don’t forget to check out the Purple Pooper along the way… it’s a toilet, it’s purple). Beyond that, they connect north to the Timmins ATV Club trails so you can really extend your trip to multiple days if you have the time. They have even bigger plans to connect further afield to other areas over time, but this is an incredible start with hundreds of kilometres of trails which are mainly on crown land and range from old rail trails, to windy logging roads, and a bunch of tighter more technical stuff to really break up your rides and accommodate many different riding levels.
We spent a few days doing different loops and day trips with little backtracking and were always able to access the trails right from the resort which made things very easy. There was always some sort of scenic, interesting destination on our radar that was recommended to us. More often than not this included a mind-blowing view as you will see from the photos and videos. There was such a sense of discovery, because of the variation here, you really didn’t know how good it was going to get from one moment to the next; a photographer’s dream. I estimate I took over 2000 images in the few days I was there. Be sure to check out the gorge of Crane Lake from the NE cliff which you can access via Trail #207. The same trail gets you access to a nice scenic lookout a bit closer to the highway (it is very well-marked), and the entire trip from Elk Lake Wilderness Resort is a perfect day trip.
Temiskaming Shores Have Got Stuff Too!
Be sure to do the ride between Elk Lake and Temiskaming Shores while you are here. This is a great full-day trip or it can be turned into an overnighter in either community if you want to take a bit more time. Some of the route is along old rail trails and roads, but there are a surprising amount of more technical trails east of Temiskaming Shores, as well. The payoff if you’re heading to Temiskaming Shores is that you can spend some time in one of the most beautiful waterfront communities in the province, and that is saying something in a province with this many lakes.
Temiskaming Shores punches far above its weight, it is not a large community, but you will find some real gems here with beautiful walkable downtown areas, waterfront, and a plethora of accommodations, local eats and amenities. They also have all of the big box stores if you really need anything. The amalgamated community incorporates the former towns of Dymond, New Liskeard, and Haileybury, so there are multiple little central areas to explore. And the surrounding agriculture supports a great local dining culture. We checked out Tap That and Whiskeyjack, but there’s so much more. And of course, you need to experience the views along the lake. The short hike to the top of Devils Rock is a must while you are here.
Final Thoughts: Roaring Engines, Quiet Moments, and Everything in Between
As I sit here trying to encapsulate this journey, it strikes me that ATVing in Temiskaming Shores and Elk Lake is more than just an outdoor adventure—it’s a sensory overload. From the rumble of engines through the forested trails to the quiet serenity of standing on a cliff, staring out over a pristine lake, this trip offers an experience equal parts exhilarating and grounding.
It’s a place where the laughter over a neighbour’s soaked misstep blends seamlessly with moments of awe watching a breathtaking sunset by the campfire. It’s where every twist and turn on the trail reveals something new: a hidden gorge, an abandoned mine, or a wild encounter that makes your heart race. And it’s where people like Jay and Mallory of Elk Lake Wilderness Resort, and the dedicated South Temiskaming ATV Club, transform a great trip into an unforgettable one.
Whether you’re a seasoned ATVer or just looking for a new way to connect with Ontario’s wilderness, this is a destination that will leave its mark on you. I know I’ll be back, with more trails to discover, more laughs to share, and hopefully another puddle or two to splash through (sorry in advance, Jay). Until next time, keep your wheels spinning and your spirit adventurous.
See you on the trails!
