We threaded our way confidently through a maze of tunnels created in part by huge limestone pillars more than 50 feet around. (Photo: Kawasaki)
I have been lucky enough to ride off-road all over the country, from mountains to beaches to deserts to thick woods and rain forests and everything in between, or so I thought. A recent trip coutesy of Kawasaki to check out the 2009 Kawasaki Brute Force ATVs brought together a small group of editors and enthusiasts at Mines & Meadows, a one-of-a-kind OHV park in southwestern Pennsylvania where I added another amazing riding experience to my list, admittedly one that I had never even imagined to exist. This ride actually notched a rare first for me and most of the others in the group, we got to go riding in an abandoned limestone mine some 100-200 feet underground!
Located in Wampum, Pa., Mines & Meadows is about 40 miles outside of Pittsburgh and within an easy days drive for tens of thousands of OHV enthusiasts. The park is open year-round to ATV’s, dirt bikes and side x sides with a wide selection of well marked trails for riders of all ability levels. Owner Robert J. Svihra and his staff have turned the 600-acre parcel of mountainside terrain into some 45 miles of trails, with more being added all the time. Each visitor is given a detailed trail map of the park clearly marking where the easy, moderate and more difficult trails are located so it is easy to find and ride the kind of terrain and pace that suits your style. All of the trails are well marked with the beginner routes wide open and easy to ride. For the more advanced riders there are a number of very challenging hill climbs, some amazing hillside rock scrambles and no shortage of mud bogs and water crossings to keep things interesting. But the highlight of the trip for most everyone is the rare chance to ride underground.
