Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located?
Our main training facility is located in Ellenville, NY- about 90 miles north of NYC and open year round by appointment. We also operate 4×4 driving tours at Hunter Mtn Ski Bowl May-Oct. Our multi-day overland trips are in NY, MA, VT and NH.
Can I pay to drive my 4×4 on your trails without an instructor?
No. We are a school, not an off-road park. Our driving trails are on privately owned properties and are not open for the general public to drive on. You must be registered for a class, driving tour or event to gain access with NORA staff present. Our instructors and guides are with you the entire day as you learn and navigate trails & obstacles. All of our activities include some form of learning.
Can I just show up and attend a class?
No. You must be registered in advance to attend a class. Access to our private Ellenville venue is limited to registered students and event guests. Our Hunter Mountain & other tours are on a private ski mountain and private properties, access is only permitted by registered participants when accompanied with NORA instructors.
Do you offer team and business outings?
Yes, our private 75-acre venue is available for Private Events. We have amazing adventure activities (trail driving, precision driving competitions, air gun marksmanship, etc.) and great catering partners to provide unique bonding experiences for your staff and clients.
I don’t want to drive, do you have any adventures for me and my family?
Yes, we offer Passenger Ride-Along in our trail rigs with our drivers on trails ranging from mild (90 minutes) to wild (2-hours) for up to 4 passengers per rig.
What classes do you offer?
Check out our Course Catalog for classes on 4WD & AWD driving, vehicle recovery, Overland and off road related workshops.
When are your classes scheduled and how do I book one?
Check out our Public Class Calendar with offerings from April – December. Click on the blue-linked dates to register online. We offer Private Training all year round.
Where can I drive off road after taking a class?
Complete any Ellenville training class and you qualify to join NORA’s Trail Pass Program with member-only events and discounts on training and overland offerings.
Do I need any prior off-road driving experience?
No prior experience needed. We offer classes for all experience levels.
Do you offer discounts to clubs?
Yes, we offer reduced rates to local clubs affiliated with the Northeast Off-Road Vehicle Alliance (nova4x4.org) which is an organization dedicated to legal recreational trail riding in the Northeast, and others. Contact us for more information about hosting your club or group at our facility.
What is the likelihood my vehicle will be damaged?
It’s unlikely that your vehicle will be damaged on our beginner or intermediate trails. We teach vehicle, people and environmental preservation. We specifically train you how ‘not to’ damage your vehicle with instructors and guides walking alongside you. Our Ellenville trails are regularly groomed back to minimize the chance of ‘pinstriping’ from tree branches and shrubbery and our driving speed is around 2-3 mph. We have worked with thousands of guests with very few issues. All that said, damage is a possibility and we will do our best to mitigate that risk.
My vehicle with 4-Low has no modifications (i.e. bigger tires or lift), can I still attend?
Absolutely Yes! We are ‘Vehicle Agnostic’ for 4-Low rigs. Our miles of trails are designed for use by stock (unmodified) and modified vehicles alike. Your vehicle must have 4-Low, and at least one front and one rear recovery point (frame mounted tow hook, or hitch receiver). Contact us if you need help determining if your vehicle will work on our trails.
Do you offer training for All Wheel Drive vehicles?
Yes! We have training programs for select AWD vehicles. Please check out our AWD Class and Overland offerings.
Can I rent a vehicle for the class?
Yes, we have 4-Low Rental Rigs available at our Ellenville location. Contact us to confirm a rental is available for your class date before you register.
The registration page for the class I want says ‘Sold Out’. Can I still join?
We may have availability even when online registration is closed. Contact us via phone or email to check if your requested class date is available or to join a waitlist. With enough demand, we will re-open registration and bring in additional staff for the class.
Can I take a class with some friends who also have Jeeps, Land Rovers, etc?
Absolutely. Sign up for a public class together or contact us to create a custom event.
How fast do we drive on the trails?
This is low-speed off road driving, which requires vehicles with 4-Low gearing. Speeds are close to walking speed, around 3 mph.
Can I get lost on the trail?
No. Each class trail ride is led and accompanied by our instructors and trail guides walking alongside student vehicles. Each vehicle is given a radio to communicate with your instructors.
What if my vehicle gets stuck on an obstacle?
We train you to get past the obstacles. That’s what we do.
What if my vehicle breaks down?
While it is unlikely that vehicles will break down on our beginner or intermediate trails, sometimes stuff happens. We will help you change a flat tire and get rolling again. For anything more serious than that, we will get you and your vehicle back to our school parking lot and help you arrange transportation to a repair shop.
Are there restrooms?
We have restrooms in the Ellenville training center. We also have port-o-johns on Ellenville premises as well.
Our Hunter Mountain tours have scheduled rest stops with access to indoor restrooms.
What if I get sick or injured during an Ellenville class or Hunter Tour?
The safety of our students and staff are most important to us. We have first aid kits for minor issues such bug-bites or scrapes. Many of our staff are certified in basic first aid and CPR, some are certified in wilderness first aid. Both our Ellenville school and Hunter Mountain venues are located in well established towns, local emergency services are only minutes away.
What do you offer at Hunter Mountain?
Our Hunter Mountain Public Group Tours and events run May – October. Our 4×4 Driving Tours include logging roads, ski trails and a drive up to the summit with beautiful views. Please note Hunter Mtn is private property, you can only access 4×4 trails accompanied with NORA instructors.
What is your adaptive SOAR program for people with mobility impairments?
Our amazing SOAR Program has offered outdoor activities to guests with mobility impairments since 2018. In 2024, we created a separate not-for-profit organization called Specialized Outdoor Adaptive Recreation Experiences that includes activities at our Ellenville location and other venues in NY.
Explore the green tabs above to learn more!
NORA has worked with over 11,000 clients since 2011 and has received Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Award each year since 2020 for consistently earning great reviews from travelers. We are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor! Our team of instructors and guides are all passionate about what we do, and we strive to give you an exceptional experience. See our Testimonials.Credit only (valid for 1 year), no refunds
7 days prior to class date: Full credit
6 days up to day before class date: Full credit less $50 service fee
Day of class - 50% credit