Photos and Text: Sven and Magdalena Schlogl

PARAGON ADVENTURE PARK, Pennsylvania

Paragon Adventure Park is located in eastern Pennsylvania and used to be a logging and strip mining area. This privately owned park covers about 15,000 acres and features 70 trails with 120 - 140 miles of various degrees of difficulty. The well-marked trails intersect and form loops and they are one-way except for the main access roads. A permit can be obtained at the trailer located at the entrance. Park employees, whose trucks are marked with a yellow flag, patrol the park continuously to make sure everyone is alright and treads lightly. An on-site rescue team is also available in case of an emergency.
The park hosts several events throughout the year. For more information, please visit their website at www.paragonap.com
Please note: you are required to travel in groups of at least three rigs; always display an orange flag (so if you've got one in your drawer - bring it!).

Park manager Kyle Ilnost welcomes us warmly and spends some time enlightening us about the facts and features of the park. He assigns Kyle Buchter (park patrol) to show us around. Kyle B. guides us through a good part of the park explaining via CB-radio the different areas. He leads us through the staging area which fits about 300 rigs. From there we follow various trails which consist mostly of black dirt. This anthracite is typical for strip mining areas. Through the woods the dirt changes to the common beige-brown color. There are steep inclines, drops and rocky sections. Due to unusually high amounts of snow and the latest rains, a lot of areas are closed because they are flooded. Even on the trails you encounter many water crossings. Kyle shows us around through most of the western part of the park and guides us across a pretty deep river with good-size boulders hidden underneath the waves. He also "poses" for some photo and video shots; after about two hours he returns to his duties as park patrol while we are allowed (big exception) to venture around on our own to get a good idea what this 4-wheel area has to offer. As everywhere, it is a good idea to ask about the current conditions before heading out on the trails without a guide. While exploring the eastern half of the park we drive along trail 11 which is supposed to be a 2WD road. Due to the recent rainfalls this trail offers some challenging spots. We come across a couple of stock vehicles whose drivers decide to turn around - a wise move!
Before we head back to the entrance, we return to the drop-offs Kyle has shown us earlier to take a few pictures. Unfortunately, the rain is unrelenting and so we leave after playing around for just a little while.
We check out at the office and thank the team for their hospitality and flexibility.

Due to the flooded condition of some areas, we can only explore a part of the park but that still keeps us busy for most of the day. The park offers 4-wheeling for every level of experience and guides are available upon request.

Directions:
From I-81 exit # 143 near Hazleton, take State Route 924 south for 3 miles, make a left on Oak Ridge Road (there's a sign for "Humboldt Industrial Park" but beware: this is not the first such sign!). Cross the railroad tracks and go for about 2/10 of a mile - the entrance will be on your right.