VENTURE OFF-ROAD

You don’t have to be terror on two wheels or even an ATV aficionado to make tracks on a motorized, off-road Whistler adventure. Canadian Wilderness Adventures’ (CWA) “The Odyssey” tour puts you in the driver’s seat of a 4X4 all-terrain vehicle that’s as easy as it is fun to drive. The three-hour tour starts on wide gravel roads, where you can learn to drive the vehicles in a matter of minutes, said CWA co-owner Allan Crawford. The off-road “buggies” have steering wheels and pedals (and no clutch), which makes operating them no more difficult than driving a car. “They are very simple to drive,” Crawford said of the Honda 4X4 vehicles, which also come equipped with roll cages for safety. “They’re a little like a dune buggy — the technology has come a long way in recent years.”

The Odyssey tours take place in the beautiful Callaghan Valley, which is home to all manner of wildlife. After beginning on logging roads, guests will venture into the forest on narrower doubletrack trails as the tour ascends the slopes of Mount Sproatt. A visit to an old gold mine is included as well as small, secluded alpine lakes and breathtaking views of the Callaghan and Whistler valleys far below. “It’s mostly a wilderness experience … nature, trees, and sometimes there’s bears and deer,” Crawford said.

Drivers of the vehicles must be at least 19 years old; younger guests are allowed as passengers. Visit canadianwilderness.com.