Solo off-roading

Hi everyone,

I wanted to know if there are any easy trails (1.5hrs from Mississauga area) that can be done solo? With the new Ontario rules regarding vaccine passports coming into affect, my wife and I want to be more outdoors and I don't have any buddies that have any off-road vehicles/experience. So it's hard to find people free and wanting to do lvl1/lvl2 trials that a stock GX460 with 32" A/T, stock skid plates, can handle.

I have downloaded the Gaia app but have net yet committed to their subscription yet.

Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions are welcome!

Thanks

 

I don't know any trails up there. But, a few thoughts.

Bring self recovery gear and water, in case you do get stuck or stranded. Things can go wrong on easy trails.

It's a good idea to download a map of the area you'll be exploring for offline use, in case you have no service when you get out there.

If you come across water or mud, you might want to check the depth and consistency with a stick, or wade through. Sometimes an innocent looking puddle or mudpit can be deeper or softer than expected.

Sorry if any of this seems obvious to you! I'm just throwing out what I know about solo exploring.

 

I second the above, please take it easy with water on offroading trails. Before you go its a good idea to get the number of a recovery/towing service, and ask them if they cover the area you will be going. Bring enough supplies to survive for 24 hours, bring a good map if you can. Understanding the ground clearance of your vehicle is so key, dont be afraid to get out and look at the ground, you get a much better perspective than from your driver seat.

 

Take a inflated spare tire, jack, real shovel, basic tool kit.

 

Gaia is worth it, just buy it now and start learning the app.

It doesn't like you're getting very far in 1.5 hours. Does this look about right?

 

It looks like your best bet is to leave when there isn't any traffic and that 1.5 hours will get you out to the area of Kahshe Lake and from there, you're kind of on your own. I don't know how Canada manages their land, what the access is or what they allow for driving on. I only know the US rules and regulations.

 

Anyway, here are the useful layers for Canada that are part of the premium subscription. There are more layers, but they are for the other provinces and mostly for Wildlife Management Units (hunting?) from Fish & Wildlife.

 

I live in Mississauga same as you are and there is 0, none, nada trails around. If you want “off-road” we drive 2.5-4 hours each way to trails.

Legal Off-road begins from Parry Sound and up if going North, or Bobcagen and further if going West.

If you want to hit dirt roads, there are thousands of those just in the Colingwood, Blue Mountains area (Pretty much at the end of HWY 410 North)

Illegal off-road…well here you are on its own and we (TEC club) don’t condemn that kind of behaviour here.

 

I appreciate any comment or suggestion. I'm coming from road racing world and I've learned that it may be obvious to one person but completely new to another

I always have a shovel in the back, but I'll add that tool kit and a proper jack to the list.

I'll make a note to find contacts for recovery/towing services. I have heard this before, in fact, that's what I did when I used to race. A few of us would get up early and walk the track and like you mentioned, it's a very different perspective.

Much appreciated Jason, I'll get the subscription and play around with it. I finish work early during the weekdays so that's the best way to push 1.5hrs and go further north. And thanks for the layers suggestion

Did you mean Bobcaygeon (north-east of Port Perry)? I might do dirt roads in Collingwood area to get familiar with the GX.

Are the dirt roads mapped on Gaia or it's just a matter of finding a dirt road and taking it?

I don't like to deal with ill-legal off-roading. Maybe when I was in my early 20's I wouldn't have cared and taken the risk, but now it's just never worth the hassle haha. I want to off-road to relax and have fun, not look over my back to make sure I don't get fined.



Thanks everyone

 

The cool thing about gaia (i use the pro version for hiking) is that its user generated, so you can see the routes that other people have done. It has a good offline maps feature (I think that comes with the free version but be sure to check), and it also works with android auto which is pretty cool.

 

Yeah I spelled it wrong There are some good beginner trails to explore if you are interested in that area. Most are on OF4WD so you would need to join them either as a standalone member or through the club (for example through TEC TEC 2022 OF4WD Membership Renewal | Tacoma World).

For the jack I highly recommend this one, many of us use it. It's much safer than anything else I've seen so far. You can lock it and it has large base. Buy this rope as well, very handy to have when you get stuck. Front and rear recovery points important to have and know where they are.

$90 Powerbuilt 3 Ton, Bottle Jack and Jack Stands in One, 6000 Pound All-in-One Car Lift, Heavy Duty Vehicle Unijack, 640912

Powerbuilt 640912 All-in-One 3-Ton Bottle Jack with Jack Stand, Air Compressors & Inflators - Amazon Canada
7/8 in. x 20 ft Kinetic Recovery Rope (princessauto.com)


I am also attaching previous year winter rally tracks in Collingwood and further that were used by TEC for day tips. Check it out for general idea, those are dirt roads in the summer, unmaintained roads in the winter. But there is much more, just need to explore.


Oh and if you want ultimate off-road experience join us in October!
TEC || Ardbeg Fall Run 2021, (October 1 - 3) | Tacoma World

 

The free version doesn't allow you to download the maps to use them offline, but either way, I need to get the subscription to really take full advantage of their features and layers

 

I'll be registering with TEC and then OF4WD later tonight or tomorrow hopefully!

Great info! that's a very cool jack/stand and I'll pick up the Kinetic Recovery Rope. I would need to also get a pair for shackle and a D-ring hitch recovery point. I was on the fence going to the Ardbeg trip, but what the heck, im'a do it!

Thanks for the gpx file too

 

I've noticed in that link for the jacks that the 3ton and 6000lb models are exactly the same but one is $30 cheaper. If you buy now, buy the cheaper one

 

The first trail for most of us is normally the ganaska forest, lv1, aka corola trail. You can buy a pass and spend a couple of hours there.

When i am back, i can also take you on a lv2 trail , in November.
Register on the facebook group , ontario cruisers , i will post there.

 

With the tec membership, you will get 50% off on off4wd

 

That's too funny haha

That's nice of you man! I will keep an eye on the FB Group.

 

There is a great trail loop from Orangeville towards Creemore. Lots of short road allowance sections. Nothing too hard but definitely interesting and scenic. Nice way to spend an a day close to home.

 

Do you happen to have a gpx file of that loop?