Northeast Off-Road Adventures — Local services in Town of Wawarsing

Prior to attending NORA, I had off-roaded a few times in my full sized truck and have the repair bills to show for it. In hindsight, I wish I had done NORA's off-roading 101 course ahead of time as it would have made my off-roading excursions much less stressful and costly.

The curriculum (and it can safely be referred to as a curriculum) is extremely well thought out. It starts with a class that outlines the basics of offroading safety and modifications. Normally the class is in person, but during the Covid epidemic the class is happening on Zoom. The video quality of the class is extremely professional with multiple camera angles and an engaging instructor.

We arrived early in the morning for the in person portion of the training. The facility is large at 75 acres and at the top of what seems to be a mountain. Thankfully there are vehicles to rent as my 3/4 ton truck was too big for the trails that we were going to take on that day. Our caravan was comprised of Wranglers, Gladiators, Tacomas, and an older Land Cruiser and based on the pictures I saw, there are also G-Wagons, Land Rovers, and other high end but capable vehicles that partake as well. I rented a late Model TJ from NORA that was outfitted for offroading and had a ton of capability.

The training started with learning the spotter hand signals and attempting a rock surface to get a feel for what we would be doing over the course of the day as well as a feel for the capabilities of our vehicles.

We then proceeded to the trails on the property and under the watchful eye of our instructors attacked the trails and obstacles that gave us the full experience of offroading in the northeast.

Lunch was provided and consisted of food from local establishments.

After lunch, the instructors took a step back and allowed us to apply what we learned. I was surprised at how relaxing and more enjoyable off-roading can be when you are doing it the right way and not stressing about damage to your truck or personal safety. In hindsight, I absolutely should have started here instead of learning what I didn't know the hard way.

Staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The facility is well laid out and built from the ground up to teach offroading.

We will absolutely be back as NORA has a number of courses and activities that build on what we...

"Where the Rubber Meets the Road—Well, Off-Road"

In 2024, I bought a Bronco Raptor and treated it like a daily driver, never truly tapping into its rugged features and capabilities. I was essentially an "Asphalt Autoist," sticking to paved roads and missing out on what this beast was built for. Don't get me wrong—I love action sports. From auto racing to downhill biking at Mountain Creek Ski Area and e-biking through the hilly trails of northwest New Jersey until the battery runs dry,

I'm all in. But my Raptor (aka the Wide Body Bronco) just sat there, practically screaming, "Use me! Take me to the limit!" Through my downhill biking adventures, I've learned key lessons: 1) Don't abuse the trails or the environment. And after one nasty tumble over the handlebars, I added another: 2) Don't abuse yourself or 3) your Bike.

So, how could I unleash the Raptor's potential without breaking these three principles? Then, like an epiphany, Northeast Off-Road Adventure (NORA) popped up on YouTube one night—and BAM, that was it. It promised "Raptor on the Run" in a safe, respectful setting, starting with a beginner trail tour at the iconic Hunter Mountain Ski Area.

My wife, Linda, and I decided to take the plunge. What followed was an incredible day: safe, enlightening, and full of discovery. We uncovered a new passion—off-roading and trail driving—that combines the adrenaline rush of racing, the scenic beauty of downhill biking, and the mechanical thrill of e-biking.

All this came with an experienced, friendly crew from NORA guiding the way. Their Off-Road Proving Ground (Ellenville NY) looks like the perfect spot for us to sharpen our skills and push the Raptor to its screeching limits.

A huge thanks to Scott Trager (owner) and Rich for making our day at Hunter Mountain...

My girlfriend and I booked a half day private instruction with the folks at NORA and I must say every aspect of the class was fantastic.

The prep for the session started long before you even arrived at the facility with a informative online lecture covering important safety aspects and basic 4x4 concepts. Having minimal offroad experience myself, it was comforting going into the class with a brush up on essential concepts and useful terms.

Most of our time at NORA we worked with Alex and Anthony who were extremely patient and excellent teachers through and through (not to mention just nice and easy going). They definitely have a polished introduction routine which quickly gets rookie offroaders comfortable and excited to safely explore the capabilities of their vehicle. Every moment of the class was regulated with a focus on personal safety and vehicle preservation. They easily adapted the approach to the trails to work within my vehicles limitations and I left without a single scratch on the truck!

We also added on the Un-Stuck session (which honestly should be mandatory) and got to work with Scott directly. He's an engineer and it shows, he demonstrated very pragmatic and practical approaches to SAFELY recovering your vehicle both solo and with help from another vehicle.

If you were like me you may have had some preconceived notions on what the class and instructors would be like based on the 4x4 community at large haha. We were pleasantly surprised to find a laid back yet focused and 'tutoring' environment.

I strongly suggest booking a class with NORA not only for the quality instruction but also just supporting a stand up business.

TL;DR: A fun and super safe (for you and your vehicle) experience with a really nice...