Hilltop Lodge MX (Emporium)

Hilltop Lodge is not a public day-rate track but a private property on Moore Hill Road near Emporium in northern Pennsylvania, which the owner rents out by the week, the weekend or the month. The directory riderplanet-usa lists 116 acres at 1,700 to 1,800 feet of elevation, two separate motocross tracks and a peewee course right by the lodge, sized for machines up to 85cc. On top of that come around five miles of marked woods trails in a 50 acre tree stand, described there as only lightly maintained and mostly firm. The main track is listed as rocky hardpack with plenty of uphill jumps and off-camber turns, with many berms and jumps of every size, but little loose dirt, mud or water crossings. No permit is needed, riding runs year round, and an MX helmet is required. The lodge itself is around 3,000 square feet and sleeps up to 14 people. Our own record lists a track length of 2,010 metres. Firm, rocky ground with off-camber turns gives the front nothing for free: where the surface falls away to the outside, only the grip the front wheel builds itself carries you - and without it the bike pushes straight on. Top of our cause list for that is a fork standing too firm to settle into the ground. Open the front compression a few clicks before you take the off-camber corners at pace.