Downhill Trails at Chestnut Mountain in Galena, IL

[Redbaron]

CAMBr joined forces with the Midwest Downhill Advocacy (MDA) http://midwestdownhilladvocacy.com/ to discuss a downhill trail system with management at Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena, IL. http://www.chestnutmtn.com/

As the interdependency of cycling disciplines becomes more apparent it is essential that we all work together to the benefit of mountain biking as a whole.

The management team at Chestnut is interested in hosting one or two downhill events per year with the downhill lines remaining open to riders between events as long as it does not interfere with others large events (weddings etc).

We would like to gauge your interest in helping to build and maintain down hill trails that are 2 ½ hours from Chicago (please post in the poll above). We will continue to work with MDA to help bring this to reality.

Thanks
Mike

[Redbaron]

Great response. I will be meeting up with MDA to discuss next steps. Please continue to tell people about this opportunity so that we can develop a community to communicate to.

Regards
Mike

[Redbaron]

CAMBr met with MDA and here is the plan.

We are working with multiple clubs, some in other states, as well as the management at Chestnut mountain to design one downhill line to start with. The idea is to have two events per year, one at the beginning of the season and one at the end of the season where the trails will be prepared and built for the event. We are hoping that the management will keep the trails open and clear between the events so that people are able to use them year round.

We are meeting with their management and designing the course late May. There are a few challenges that we need to overcome. Chestnut gets a large source of its revenue from weddings in the summer and they do not want the mountain bikers interfering with the weddings. The natural start of the downhill line is where most of the weddings are held. We will work out a way to get around this when we meet in May. Please be patient these agreements do not happen overnight and require a lot of planning, legal work, resource planning and coordination.

Regards
Mike

[DuckmanEG]

What's the current status of these trails. I seen recently MDA release a small video but it would be nice to get an update here.

Thanks

[Redbaron]

Dave will post an update. CAMBr North has been focusing its available resources on finalizing Raceway and Andres Park. Once resources free up or additional resources step up we will get more actively involved with additional new projects. In the meantime MDA has been making progress and I will let Dave speak to that.

Getting this new Downhill forum up and running is one way CAMBr is currently helping to get the message out there and getting MDA up and building downhill trails. CAMBr has the infrastructure that MDA does not currently have and the two organization working together will achieve more.

Regards
Mike

[Huckster McPlush]

We are currently still establishing and building the first DH race course / trail. It is still closed to the public until we make our way to the bottom of the hill.  We have 475 vertical feet to utilize, so far we have made it 50 feet down the hill (we had only a 2 to 3 man crew for the first build)  Once we determine a date that we can get back up there for an official build, we will let everyone know.

[RJ2]

sweet

[gotfish8]

There will be some discussion about them here

Thursday. Jun. 28TH @ 7PM!!!!

Find out about new single track opportunities that we are perusing in the North.
Help plan Raceway Woods and Andres Park. Get involved with legalizing more singletrack in the North.
The meetings are open to anyone we would like to see more people come out and get involved.

Diamond Jim's Bar and Grill
325 Meier St. East Dundee. 60118
We have the upstairs room.

[jwalk]

Any more progress at Chestnut?

[gearhead313]

Are there trails to ride there now?  I'd like to take a trip out to see the place... but if there is NO riding, then I dont know if I'd make the trip.... Just curious

[Degrasse]

Are there trails to ride there now?  I'd like to take a trip out to see the place... but if there is NO riding, then I dont know if I'd make the trip.... Just curious

No downhill trails to ride. we are building them now for a late September early October funride, (Meet the Mountain Funride). Chestnut has 5 miles of XC trails. 

[jwalk]

too bad, the xc trails there are garbage, definitely not worth the drive. 

[I pick bad lines]

too bad, the xc trails there are garbage, definitely not worth the drive. 

Agreed.

[gearhead313]

too bad, the xc trails there are garbage, definitely not worth the drive. 

Thats what i needed to know.  Roger.

[gotfish8]

Thats what i needed to know.  Roger.

The Gnar will be awesome once it done

Wouldn't people like to have something like this within 2-3 hours, I sure the hell would. I am tired of driving 10-16 hours to have some fun
http://ride.snowshoemtn.com/bike_park/index.htm

http://7springs.com/page/category.detail/nav/5270/Downhill-Bike-Park.html

http://bikepark.mountaincreek.com/