A fun way to spend quality time with family and friends in the outdoors, ATV riding has been gaining popularity as an adventure sport over the last several decades. Although trails are relatively hard to find in the Mid Atlantic section of the United States, Pennsylvania has several legal parks, and New Jersey has a few less celebrated, restricted areas to enjoy your ATV riding adventures.
Although the sole legal public ATV riding area in New Jersey was closed in August of 2008, the state has several undocumented off-road sites. Known as The Trax, a small area of approximately 25 acres is situated around an abandoned railroad station and tracks near the town of Greendell, New Jersey. The rails have been torn out to create miles of dusty stone, muddy and bumpy trails where riders congregate on the weekends to explore the bridges, tunnels and woods covering this restricted area. To get there, start out at the tiny town of Greendell and take Wolf Corner Road until you spot a chain link fence and an old concrete railroad station with a green roof.
The Trax
Wolf Corner Road
Greendell, NJ 07839
Lost Trails ATV Adventures is a 1200 acre all terrain park located in a small town in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Trails crisscross up the facility's mountainous areas to a point that overlooks Camel Back Mountain's ski slopes. Mud bogs, ponds, wet rocks, steep inclines and timbered hills are some of it's challenging features. Less than two hours from New York City, the family-oriented park provides guide maps and well-marked trails. Day pass admission as of 2010 is $35 for adult, $25 for children, with a $15 fee for passengers. Special group and family rates are available.
Lost Trails ATV Adventures
Sullivan Trail
Brodheadsville, Pa 18322
570-730-8131
ridelosttrails.com
Located near Patton, Pennsylvania, the Rock Run Recreation Area contains 50 miles of trails for 4-wheelers, dirt bikes and mountain bikes covering over 6,000 acres. Known as "the premier ATV recreation park east of the Mississippi," there are trails for every level of riding. They travel through all types of topography from open meadows, rolling hills and expanses overlooking the Allegheny Mountains, to pine groves, tree-filled ravines and steep terrain. Single day passes cost $18 for the rider and $10 for the passenger. The four-person annual family pass goes for $275. Prices quoted are as of 2009.
Rock Run Recreation Area
1228 St. Lawrence Rd.
Patton, PA 16668
814-674-6026
rockrunrecreation.com
