FAQ - Northeast Off-Road Adventures

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I need to change or cancel my registration?
2022 Cancellation Policy (send email to info@nora4x4.com):
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

Where are you located?
Our school is located in Ellenville, NY- about 90 miles north of NYC.

Can I just pay and ride your trails for the day?
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 group outings and events include some form of learning. 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.

How do the driving classes work?
Public driving classes include an online presentation typically held on the MONDAY prior to your on-site training. If you can’t attend the online presentation, you may watch a recorded version prior to onsite instruction.
Onsite training includes obstacle course & trail driving under supervision of instructors and guides walking alongside the vehicles the entire day. All training is safety focused with themes of people, vehicle and environmental preservation. All of your onsite time at NORA will be outdoors or in your own vehicle.

I’ve been to off-road parks. What do you have to offer me?
We offer classes for experience levels ranging from those who have never driven off-road before to advanced driving skills and vehicle recovery. Explore our website for classes that fit your level. We also can customize learning experiences for you or your group; contact us to learn more.

Do I need any prior off-road driving experience?
No prior experience needed. We offer classes for all experience levels. Review the class details on our website for more info regarding what each class covers.

I am worried that my vehicle will be damaged, what is the likelihood that will happen?
It’s unlikely that your vehicle will be damaged on our beginner or intermediate trails. We teach vehicle and people preservation, specifically we 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 has no modifications (i.e. bigger tires or lift), can I still attend?
Absolutely Yes! Many of our trails are designed for use by stock (unmodified) vehicles. 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.

Can I rent a vehicle for the class?
Yes, we have rental trail rigs available at our Ellenville location. Rental rates are listed on the class registration pages.

Can I just drop by and attend a class?
No. You must be registered in advance to attend a class. While we are open all year round, we are only available ‘By Appointment Only’.

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. We offer custom classes & events for groups and have hosted amazing company outings at our private training facility. Treat your staff to a team-building day in the woods, or share a unique, fun adventure experience with one of your clients.

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.

What if my vehicle gets stuck on an obstacle?
We train you to get past the obstacles. That’s what we do.

What if I don’t have a vehicle with 4-Low?
Find a friend who has one and bring them along. We also offer vehicle rentals, and a ride-a-long option where you and your party (up to 3) are passengers in one of our guide vehicles. Ride-a-long feedback has been excellent, its a great one-day adventure experience.

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, however all guests must properly wear a properly fitting facemask mask at all times when inside the building. We also have port-o-johns on Ellenville premises as well.
Our Hunter Mountain tours have scheduled rest stops with access to indoor restrooms. Please note all guests must wear a properly fitting facemask at all times when inside the buildings.

What if I get sick or injured during the class?
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.

Ellenville Training Center pictured above in 2019, please note building access is very limited during the pandemic.