Barry Nontell and his wife, Clarice, like to take guests of their motel, the Timberland Motel in Big River, on an ATV tour back through time.

“We can leave right from here and put on 35 to 50 miles a day,” said Barry. “There are lots of old logging roads, and west of Big River is an area called The Block. It was settled in the ’30s and pretty much everybody moved out by 1956.”

Trails lead ATVers through old roads in a neighbourhood that no longer exists, giving riders the unique sense of time travel. Barry said day trippers will often take the scenic route skirting Prince Albert National Park, since there are several small lakes off the beaten track between Big River and Prince Albert, and several high points along the way.

“One of our favourite trips is to the top of the ski hill to view the river and the lake,” he said.

The Big River Timber Trail ATV club is very active, said Barry, with a recent rally bringing in more than 350 ATVers. The draw is the terrain, which has something for everyone—including the opportunity to go back in time.