Pennsylvania is proud to be the host state for the 2001 X Games in Philadelphia. If you're in town for the X Games, or looking to explore some new places, we'd like to offer some tips on where to go for your respective adrenaline needs.

Action Sports

Pennsylvania is home to one of the finest skateboarding and action sports camps in the world. Woodward Sports Camp, located in the almost geographical center in the state, inspires awe among the faithful who get the honor of being a participant in its camps. Its skateboarding facilities have gained the respect of the world's top professionals, including Tony Hawk. IN Pittsburgh, ShadySkates is a well-respected venue among the western Pennsylvania crowd, while not approaching the scale of Woodward, it's worth it to drop in if you're in town.

South Park BMX in Pittsburgh is a 1/4 mile professional competition BMX track consisting of a drop in start, 3 turns, and 10+ jumps. South Park also has a course for BMX dirt jumpers consisting of 2 dirt jumps and landing ramps.

Rock Climbing

Experienced climbers rave about the two climbing areas in McConnell's Mill State Park outside of Pittsburgh. The park's Rim Road Climbing Area works well for moderately experienced climbers, and the aptly-named Breakneck Ridge offers a more advanced option for properly equipped and experienced climbers.

If you're just starting out, Pennsylvania has several indoor climbing gyms where you can learn the ropes. Go Vertical in Philadelphia was named the best adventure in the city by Philadelphia Magazine. A two-hour course teaches guests the basics of climbing while providing a safe, secure safety harness for those who mess up.

Whitewater Rafting

With its abundant and diverse waters, Pennsylvania is a paddler's paradise. More than 300 floatable rivers, streams and creeks beckon novices and experts alike. Besides a leisurely canoe ride, whitewater rafting is also available to extreme minded individuals. However, even the not so extreme can conquer the rapids with a trained river guide.

The Lehigh River Gorge is a moderate whitewater river with continuous Class II and III rapids. The Upper Gorge goes from White Haven to Rockport and is about 100 miles in length. The Lower Gorge stretches from Rockport to Glen Onoko and in rare instances can take paddlers all the way to Jim Thorpe and is about 12-14 miles long.

The Lower Youghiogheny, or "Yough" for short, is the premier whitewater river in the Appalachians, and one of the most popular runs in the east. The dam-controlled Yough is canoeable through the year and most of the exciting runs are contained within or near Ohiopyle State Park. Experienced paddlers can challenge the rapids by themselves, while those new to the area might want to sign on with one of the numerous guide services/outfitters in the area.

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