Home to revolutionary-war heroes and colonial mansions, renting an ATV in Connecticut may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering adventurous outdoor pursuits. In fact, the state has been shorted when it comes to high-adrenaline adventure. We’re talking about scrambling over rocky screes and blasting through the sodden leaf-strewn underbelly of the forest floor, powered by the off-road capabilities of an all-terrain vehicle.
Those who love to rev up their outdoor pursuits with a little gasoline-powered fun, have been ill-accommodated by the state. Public lands are either unsuitable and too fragile for off-road fun, or are reserved for more pedestrian uses.
ATV or UTV Connecticut enthusiasts have found their way around the limitations by using private lands or by visiting nearby states where trails have been created to accommodate off-road vehicles. For the casual day tripper, however, it hasn’t been possible to explore the backcountry by ATV or UTV—until now.
Backyard Adventures is a new kid in town offering adventure in Connecticut aboard a sturdy mountain-climbing all-terrain vehicle.
ATV Rental Connecticut, a Thrilling Ride with Backyard Adventures
Several years ago, we visited southern Utah and spent two days driving an extensive trail system outside of Marysvale reserved for all-terrain vehicle use. It was a chance to escape civilization and climb into the solitude of high mountain passes where few human feet were treading.
For two-days, the only inhabitants to cross our paths were the furry creatures that call the high altitudes home and other like-minded adventurists. It wasn’t this experience, exactly, that we were trying to recreate with a visit to Backyard Adventures, but more the windswept exhilaration of flying through the varying Connecticut countryside, open to the air and the sights and sounds of nature.
Backyard Adventures is located on several hundred private acres of land in the Litchfield hills. Tours begin at a driving range, suggesting an inauspicious start for a UTV Connecticut fun, but things rev up rather quickly once you’re strapped into your Can Am Commander side-by-side.
We set off at a brisk pace up a dirt road and into the woods. The leafy cover was welcome on a hot day but little noticed as we barreled across the terrain in pursuit of our very well-versed guide.
Hitting our stride, we climbed the first hill and caught a quick glance of the view below before we were heading downward, slowing to cross Route 63, and then barreling into the cornfields and onward to the remains of an old quarry.
Here, we took ATVing in Connecticut to new heights, climbing a few ramps in an all-terrain course, before opening things up again and tearing out along the dirt road, dust billowing out for yards behind us.
Soon, we hit a river crossing, but instead of splashing in and out, we travelled downstream. It was as if the dust-covered machines were sighing in relief as dirt and grime were washed away.
The respite didn’t last long, however, and soon, we were heading into the forest. We spent the next fifteen minutes or so, climbing rocky slopes and splashing through latent puddles left from the last rain storm a few nights before.
Breaking from the trees at last, we quickly ascended to the top of a lookout. Here we stopped to enjoy the spectacular view of the hills below and the magnificence of Connecticut in the summer. We chatted about the state’s lack of space for off-road enthusiasts, one of the reasons that Backyard Adventures started offering ATV rentals in Connecticut.
Then, after a few sips from our water bottles, we were off again, this time twisting through the wood line, scrambling rocky climbs, before flying full-speed through an open field. To end the afternoon, we rounded a bend to an old quarry now flooded and used as a private swimming hole, complete with a large inflatable trampoline.
Driving back down the same dirt road where we had started our adventure only hours before, it felt like a weight had been forcefully blown off my shoulders, coming off the adrenaline rush of piloting the Can Am Commander, a new type of adventure in Connecticut.
ATV Rental Connecticut Tours at Backyard Adventures in Connecticut
Be advised when visiting Backyard Adventures that this is not a bring-your-own vehicle trail experience. Instead, you’ll be treated to an ATV rental in Connecticut, and 1000 private acres of trails. You’ll be in control behind the steering wheel, with no maintenance worries. You won’t even need to fill the tank with gas.
Children are welcome to ride at Backyard Adventures, but you must be over twenty-one and hold a valid drivers license to drive. In fact, you’ll need to show your license before receiving the key to your four-wheeler, so be sure to bring it with you. Up to 4 people can ride in a single ATV rental at Backyard Adventure in Connecticut, and guides are willing to stop and let riders and drivers switch position to give everyone the thrill of ATVing in CT. This includes guests aged 17-20, as long as they are driving with an adult at their side.
Tours can be booked in 60-minute, 90-minute and 2-hour increments, depending on your stamina and how much time you have available for this adrenaline-pumping experience.
Special Restrictions for Renting an ATV at Backyard Adventures
When renting an ATV in Connecticut’s Backyard Adventure, there are some special restrictions you’ll want to know before heading out.
- In addition to age restrictions for drivers, Backyard Adventure recommends that children be at least 5 years of age in order to ride in one of their ATVs
- Reservations are required at Backyard Adventure and can be made online.
- Drivers are responsible for any damage caused to the vehicle, so operate responsibly.
- Pets are not allowed on ATV rentals or the trail system
You may also want to know that your tour guide will drive in a separate lead vehicle, so you will be in control of your own ATV rental.
I’d Like to Rent an ATV in Connecticut – Where Is Backyard Adventures Located?
Backyard Adventures is located in East Canaan, Connecticut and offers several hundred acres of privately-owned trails. Tours are provided on two-person four-wheel drive side by side machines. Each UTV is powered by a 4-stroke 800 cc engine and operates with an automatic transmission, so no shifting is necessary. It’s like driving a bumpy, much more capable car.
If you’d like to rent your own ATV in Connecticut, you can do so seven days a week from 9 until 5, weather dependent during the winter months. Just make sure to call or email ahead to reserve your spot. Phone: 860-866-6104 | Email: al**************@ms*.com
30 Allyndale Road, PO Box 253, East Canaan, CT 06024
If you’re looking for more adventure in Connecticut, check out our complete guide on fun things to do in New England.
