Pennsylvania Dirt Bike Trails: Trail Parks, OHV Areas and MX
Last updated on October 26th, 2026 at 08:03 pm
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Dirt bikes can ride legally in Pennsylvania at three kinds of places: the Allegheny National Forest trail system, the Shade Mountain and dual-sport trails in Bald Eagle State Forest, and private trail parks such as Mines and Meadows, Rock Run and the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA). Most state land is closed to dirt bikes.
Public trails are seasonal, from the Friday before Memorial Day through September, and the national forest needs a permit ($35 a year or $10 a day). Private parks sell day passes and run longer seasons.
Find a place to ride this month
The finder is built from the Forest Service, DCNR, Rock Run and Mines and Meadows pages cited below. Hours and fees change, and Rock Run’s schedule shown is its posted 2026 season, so confirm before you load the truck.
For gear, see our what to wear riding guide. A DOT-approved dirt bike helmet and goggles are the basics; check the current price on Amazon.
Where dirt bikes can ride in Pennsylvania
| Place | Type | Dirt bikes | Season or hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny National Forest | Federal OHV trails | Yes (permit required) | Friday before Memorial Day to last Sunday in September | $35 annual, $10 day |
| Bald Eagle State Forest: Shade Mountain | State forest motorcycle trails | Licensed and unlicensed bikes | Friday of Memorial Day weekend to last full weekend in September | No fee listed |
| Bald Eagle State Forest: dual-sport trails | State forest roads and trails | Licensed bikes only | Roads year-round; marked trails in summer season | No fee listed |
| Mines and Meadows, Wampum | Private trail park | Yes, with 8+ miles of single-track | Daily, 9 a.m. to sunset | $25 day, $15 afternoon |
| Rock Run Recreation Area, Patton | Private trail park | Yes | Apr-May Fri-Sun; Jun-Sep Wed-Sun; Oct Fri-Sun | Passes online |
| AOAA, Coal Township | Private trail park | Yes, in a dirt bike section | Listing: Fri-Mon, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Permit required; call |
Allegheny National Forest
The forest has the state’s biggest public system for dirt bikes. Timberline, Marienville and Penoke link into one 76-mile network, and Rocky Gap and Willow Creek add more trail bike loops. All of it needs the annual or daily permit.
Spark arresters, mufflers and brakes are required, and alcohol is banned on trails. Riders 8 to 15 need a safety certificate and an adult 18 or older with them. Willow Creek is one-way.
| Trail | Miles | Max width | Allowed uses | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timberline ATV/OHM | 39 | 64 in | ATVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles | Easier |
| Marienville ATV/OHM | 14 | 64 in | ATVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles | Moderate |
| Penoke ATV/OHM | 23.1 | 50 in | ATVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles | Not stated |
| Rocky Gap | 21.9 | 50 in | ATVs, trail bikes, snowmobiles, horses, mountain bikes | Difficult (south loop) |
| Willow Creek | 10.8 | 50 in | ATVs, trail bikes, mountain bikes | More difficult; one-way |
Day permits can be bought up to 14 days ahead and are not refundable. You can apply online by email, by mail, in person at a forest office or at vendors such as Forest Lodge and Campground in Marienville. See the Forest Service permit page for the form.
Bald Eagle State Forest
Bald Eagle is the state forest option, and it is small. The Shade Mountain system has a trailhead off Route 235 and takes licensed and unlicensed motorcycles, but only on purple-blazed trails or those shown in red on the Shade Mountain map. Every other trail there is closed to motorcycles.
The separate dual-sport system south of Penns Creek, between U.S. 322 and Route 235, is for licensed motorcycles only. Roads and drivable trails on the Public Use Map are open year-round; marked purple trails follow the summer season. Yield to hikers, horses and mountain bikers, and shut off the engine and remove your helmet when you meet horses.
DCNR says state parks, state game lands and state forest roads are closed to ATVs, and ATVs may use only designated state forest trails. Bald Eagle is the only state forest dirt bike trail system this guide found, so confirm with the forest district before riding anywhere else on state land (DCNR ATV riding page).
Private trail parks
Mines and Meadows
Mines and Meadows in Wampum covers 877 acres with over 84 miles of trail, including more than 8 miles of new dirt-bike-only single-track. Riding runs 9 a.m. to sunset, helmets are required, and riders sign an online waiver. Children under 5 are not allowed on the trail system.
The park also runs rides through abandoned limestone mines about 250 feet underground. Guided tours cost $5 per person.
Rock Run Recreation Area
Rock Run in Patton advertises over 140 miles of trail for ATVs, dirt bikes and side-by-sides. It is not open every day: spring and October are Friday to Sunday, summer is Wednesday to Sunday, and the 2026 season ended with a November 1 event. Day passes, season memberships and campsites are booked online.
AOAA and other parks
The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area in Coal Township covers about 8,000 acres and lists dirt bikes among its users, with a dirt bike section of narrow, technical trail. A permit is required. Hours and prices from third-party listings are dated, so call (570) 648-2626.
Rausch Creek near Tremont is described by OffroadingPro as a membership park open to members and their guests. Its official site did not load, so verify access before driving there.
Motocross tracks
For track riding, the tracks most often named are Doublin Gap MX near Shippensburg, Switchback MX in Butler and Sleepy Hollow MX in Fredericksburg. Practice days and race dates change, and none of their own sites were checked here, so confirm the schedule first.
Pennsylvania rules for dirt bike riders
DCNR’s registration page covers ATVs only, not dirt bikes. ATVs must be registered and titled with DCNR unless used solely for farm or business, at $20 for two years, with insurance required if you ride on land you do not own. A two-wheeled dirt bike is not named on that page, so call DCNR at 1-866-545-2476 to confirm what your bike needs.
Each venue sets its own rules on top. The Allegheny needs its permit, spark arrestor and muffler. Mines and Meadows needs a helmet and a signed waiver. For trail manners, see our trail etiquette guide.
Planning a trip south? The Florida dirt bike trails guide and the North Carolina ATV trails guide cover those states, and the free off-road calculators help with tire pressure and gearing.
Pennsylvania dirt bike questions
The Allegheny National Forest trails, the Shade Mountain and dual-sport trails in Bald Eagle State Forest, and private parks such as Mines and Meadows, Rock Run and the AOAA.
Bald Eagle State Forest lists no fee for its motorcycle trails, though they are open only in summer and only on marked trails. The Allegheny National Forest charges $35 a year or $10 a day.
Yes. Motorized travel on the designated trails needs an annual or daily ATV or off-highway motorcycle permit, affixed to the vehicle.
DCNR policy prohibits ATV trails in state parks, and no state park dirt bike trails appear on its pages. Bald Eagle State Forest is the state option found here, on marked trails only.
Yes. The park has more than 8 miles of dirt-bike-only single-track, charges $25 for a day pass, and requires a helmet and a signed waiver.
I'm Suryashankar Dasgupta, the founder of Off-Road Handbook. I've been off-roading for years in the USA, including California and Texas, and have ridden mountain and desert terrain abroad. I've also driven a Jeep Compass for more than seven years, so I know the day-to-day side of Jeep ownership first-hand, from the Uconnect screen to the warning lights. Every guide here is researched from manufacturer owner's manuals, NHTSA recall and service-bulletin records and other trusted sources, checked against them before it is published, and corrected when we find a mistake. You can read how we work in our editorial policy: https://offroadhandbook.com/editorial-policy/
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