There’s nothing quite like a weekend away from the city in Upstate New York, particularly if you love getting rid of stress with some adrenaline pumping, heart-stopping off-road adventures.
With an abundance of natural wonders from majestic mountain ranges to undulating hills, mighty rivers to pounding waterfalls, vast forests to abundant farmlands; Upstate New York is a veritable feast of adventure for outdoor enthusiasts.
Naturally this means that there is a myriad of terrains for off-roading enthusiasts to try out their skid plates and sand ladders on. And their skills, of course!
Here are some of the best locations for off-roading in Upstate New York.
1. LEWIS COUNTY ATV TRAIL SYSTEM, LOWVILLE, NY
The Lewis County ATV Trail System includes Tug Hill ATV Trails, Black River Valley and Adirondacks. It consists of about 600 miles of multiple use trails created by a partnership between private land owners and the county. It is the only legal public ATV trail system in New York State. It also has a 144 acre play area. Well-marked roads take you through miles and miles of wilderness with a bit of sand and a dash of mud to keep things interesting.
This is a great trail system for novices with just enough challenges for seasoned off-roaders to have fun too. In April about 5,000 ATV riders attend the annual SNIRT run in Lewis County. This is a snow and mud poker run which is extremely popular.
Permits are required and you must have insurance.
Enquiries
Address: Lewis County Court House, 7660 N State Street, Lowville, NY 13367
Phone: 315-376-5972
Email: trailpermits@lewiscounty.ny.gov
2. NORTHEAST OFF-ROAD ADVENTURES, INC. ELLENVILLE, NY
Northeast Off-Road Adventures was established in 2011. They have a 75-acre private facility on a mountain top in Ellenville and another at the Hunter Mountain Ski Resort. The will take you along logging, woodland and mountain trails, through muddy fields and across streams surrounded by the most breath-taking vistas.
NORA is more than just a great location for off-roading. They offer 4WD & Overland training as well as driving tours. Their very professional and skilled team of guides and instructors will facilitate team building outings and adventure programs. The NORA team also offer the unique SOAR program which helps people with mobility disabilities to enjoy outdoor recreation with the use of adaptive technology.
You don’t have to have any experience but you must have a valid driver’s license and vehicles must be legal, registered and insured.
Northeast Off-Road Adventure are filled with learning, adventure & fun!
Enquiries
Address: Ellenville, NY by appointment only
Phone: 845-514-9896
Email: info@nora4x4.com
3. ADIRONDACK ATV TOURS, WHITEHALL, NY
Just 30 miles from Lake George you can experience the journey of a lifetime exploring thousands of miles of off-roading trails on the new Polaris RZR UTVs. You’ll travel through dips, up hills and around bends. The trail is exciting with a varied terrain and pace. You’ll get to do a bit of careful technical rock crawling and be able to speed up on the straight-ways. Adirondack ATV Tours describe the experience as “an off-road adventure so exciting it’s like riding a roller coaster through the forest!”
What makes this off-road adventure particularly exciting is the fact that you are driving a top-of-the-range Polaris RZR that is in pristine condition. These are fantastic off-road vehicles and are thought by many to have pioneered the Sport UTV industry. They are nimble, nippy and an absolute treat to drive.
You don’t need any experience and it is fun for the whole family. Drivers must have a valid driver’s license.
Enquiries
Address: 3482 County Road 21, Whitehall, NY 12887
Phone: (518) 791-2340
Email: info@adkatv.com
4. METTOWEE OFF ROAD EXTREME PARK, WHITEHALL, NY
Over 60 trails of various levels take you through 120 acres of forests, mud bogs and rock gardens. The Mettowee Off Road Extreme Park is near the Hudson River in the hills of New York. It started off with the reputation for being a mud-lovers haven but it has grown into a really exciting off-road adventure location with some great trails and exciting obstacles. There are even a few play areas with loose dirt hills, gigantic earth moving tires, log obstacles, climbs and articulation ramps. Yes, Mettowee is an off-road extreme park of note!
The best thing about Mettowee Off Road Extreme Park is that camping is allowed, which means you can spend the entire weekend ‘wheeling’. The camping is very basic but perfectly acceptable for a weekend of outdoor adventure. Many avid off-roaders come and play here for long weekends or to attend the special events hosted at the park.
Enquiries
Address: 607 County Route 12, Whitehall, NY 12887
Phone: 518-708-4337
Email: mettoweeoffroadextremepark@gmail.com
5. TALL PINES ATV PARK, ANDOVER, NY
This family-friendly Tall Pines TV park is situated on a working farm that grows Christmas trees, grain and pumpkins. They also have cows and a few other farm animals. It is family owned and operated and is one of those places where you may come as a stranger but will always leave as a friend. Tall Pines has 70 miles of clearly marked trails in a lush rural landscape of forests and farmlands. There are trails for all levels of experience from beginner to advanced. There are easy field roads to zip along, plenty of mud bogs, hills to climb and an obstacle course. There are rough trails and smooth trails and even a MotoX trail, literally something for everyone.
Camping is allowed and there are also little wooden cabins for hire. There is also accommodation for a large group of 10 in the House on the Hill as well as a cosy log cabin, Bears Pad, which also sleeps 10. Tall Pines is said to have some of the best trails on the East Coast. People travel for hundreds of miles to spend time at Tall Pines because it is one of the best off-road locations in Upstate New York.
Address: 1812 Jones Rd Spur, Andover, NY 14806, USA
Phone: (607) 478.8805
Email: Joe@tallpinesatvpark.com
An off-road adventure is an experience of a lifetime. For many it is an integral part of their lives, a way to escape to rat-race of the city and unwind surrounded by nature. It’s fun, it’s something the whole family can do and it is a wonderful way to see the extreme beauty of Upstate New York.
Whether you have your own vehicle or not, whether you have experience or not, whether you’re a beginner or an off-road aficionado, you will be able to enjoy the exhilaration of off-roading at one of these locations. There are many other off-road locations to explore and you can find them on this very handy map of all of the off-road locations in Upstate New York.