FRONTCOUNTRY TRAILS
Papertown Express (Lower)
MULTI-USE TRAIL | Hiking & Biking
Beginner/Intermediate - 0.8 mile to Berm Park
Papertown Express is the only trail leading into the park from the parking lot and Bridge Park. This is an out-and-back trail, meaning you start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to an end point and then return along the same route.
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Papertown Express takes trail users all the way to the top of Chestnut Mountain and provides access to all of the other Backcountry trails. This trail is wide enough to allow foot traffic and bike traffic to easily navigate, passing each other as they take in the views from the upper mountain.
Bear Country
BIKE-ONLY TRAIL
Beginner/Intermediate - 0.6 mile to Bridge Park
Bear Country is a bike-only trail used for exiting the park's trail system. Bikers are only allowed to use Papertown Express when going up and must use Bear Country when coming down.
Berm Park
BIKE-ONLY TRAILS
All Ability Levels
Berm Park, a FREE public bike park, is an oasis for mountain bikers who are seeking a more active biking experience. Essentially a "park within a park", Berm Park consists of over a mile of bike trails ranging from beginner to expert level. Visit the Berm Park homepage for more details about each of the 5 trails.
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Mountain bikers leaving Berm Park should use Bear Country when exiting the park.
BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS
Papertown Express (Middle)
MULTI-USE TRAIL | Hiking & Biking
Beginner - .8 mile from Berm Park to Turnpike
MULTI-USE TRAIL | Hiking & Biking
Beginner/Intermediate - .72 mile from Turnpike to Old Timer
This middle section of Papertown Express is a two-way trail for hikers and bikers that extends through the Backcountry trailhead to the entrance of Old Timer. Previously bikers were not allowed to ride this section of trail both directions past Turnpike but now they can up to Old Timer. The first half of this section of trail is marked beginner and takes trail users to the head of Turnpike, the only other beginner trail in the park. The second half of this section of trail, starting just past Turnpike, turns into a Beginner/Intermediate section and ends at the entrance to Old Timer.
Papertown Express takes trail users all the way to the top of Chestnut Mountain and provides access to all of the other Backcountry trails. This trail is wide enough to allow foot traffic and bike traffic to easily navigate, passing each other as they take in the views from the upper mountain.
Papertown Express (Upper)
MULTI-USE TRAIL | Hiking & Biking
Beginner/Intermediate - from Turnpike to Sunburst
MULTI-USE TRAIL | Hiking & Biking
Intermediate - from Sunburst to Summit
This upper section of Papertown Express takes you to the summit of Chestnut Mountain where SPECTACULAR views abound! It is a two-way trail for hikers giving them access to Dutch Cove or it can be used as an out-and-back trail where hikers can return to Bridge Park along the same route. This part of Papertown is a single-direction climb for mountain bikers giving them access to Wildcat, Ladybird, and Champion (a double black diamond, expert trail). Bikers must descend from this section of trail using Wildcat or Ladybird and then leave the park on Bear Country.
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Papertown Express takes trail users all the way to the top of Chestnut Mountain and provides access to all of the other Backcountry trails. This trail is wide enough to allow foot traffic and bike traffic to easily navigate, passing each other as they take in the views from the upper mountain.
Turnpike
MULTI-USE TRAIL | Hiking & Biking
Beginner - 0.55 mile out and back
Turnpike is an out-and-back, "lollipop" trail with a loop at the end. It is the most accessible trail opportunity in the Backcountry trails. It provides opportunities for families and kids to get out and enjoy more of this beautiful property. This trail can be repeated to add more distance to your hike. Also, nestled in the center of Turnpike's loop, among some of the park's biggest Oak trees, sit two tree houses boasting beautiful views on either side of the trail. In this area you will also find a couple of tree swings and picnic tables
* Bikes go to the left around the loop and hikers go the right, exiting the trail in the same direction.
Sunburst
BIKE-ONLY TRAIL
Beginner - 0.67 mile
Sunburst is a single-directional mountain bike trail that starts off the Papertown Express (Upper) climb before the Wildcat trail. This is a beginner trail and takes riders for a berm-filled adventure as they descend Chestnut Mountain. Sunburst re-joins Papertown Express to make a loop. Whether this is your destination or becomes a warm-up as you start your mountain bike ride, this trail brings another completely different experience to the trail system.
Wildcat
BIKE-ONLY TRAIL
Intermediate - 1.12 miles
Wildcat is a single-direction trail and is a proper intermediate mountain-bike trail. It treats riders to various single-track, table tops, rocks, rollers, berms, handbuilt, and jumps. The start of this trail is in the middle of the mountain, providing an excellent option without climbing to the top. Riders will encounter areas filled with ferns, rocks, and a few boardwalks. The trail merges with Ladybird near the bottom and provides a big reward after moderate climbing.
Ladybird
BIKE-ONLY TRAIL
Intermediate - 1.79 miles
Ladybird is a fast, single-track descending-only trail filled with berms and opportunities to pump and jump your way down Chestnut Mountain. While rated as an intermediate trail, there are all types of hidden "easter eggs" that advanced mountain bikers will be rewarded with. Ladybird takes riders in and out of the deep contours of Chestnut Mountain and ends at the entrance to Berm Park.
This trail is a living memorial to trail builder, AJ Brown's beloved trail dog, Ladybird. For over six years, Ladybird served as chief trail construction supervisor with Elevated Trail Design, LLC.
Union
BIKE-ONLY TRAIL
Intermediate/Advanced - .98 mile
Union trail provides a true intermediate/advanced option that bridges the progression gap between Ladybird and Champion. This single-direction mountain biking trail takes users on a ride that is filled with optional features scattered throughout. The character of Union is unique to itself and distinctly different from the other trails at Chestnut. Union's alignment takes advantage of some areas with large rocks and boulders that are not found anywhere else on the property. While several sections use old logging roads for berms and jumps, others are minimal, with fully hand-built trails.
Depending on the rider's skill and speed there will be a varied experience that allows for progression—riding through rocky sections while options for rock-wallrides and boulder drops are there for more advanced riders. Please pre-ride, re-ride, then free-ride within your skill level.
Imperial
BIKE-ONLY TRAIL
Advanced - .81 mile
This bike-only single-direction trail starts at the summit of Chestnut Mountain. Imperial offers advanced mountain bikers a more traditional, primarily hand-built trail that utilizes some new areas of the property as the trail winds down the mountain and then joins the Ladybird trail near the bottom. There are segments of fully raw off-chamber, rake-n-ride, and hand-cut trail linked with machine-built catch berms. Riders will also encounter locust logs and several rock features as they navigate this tribute to the Appalachian region and the rugged character of the trails we love. Please remember this trail will evolve as it burns in and will only become more rooty and technical with time. Please pre-ride, re-ride, then free-ride within your skill level.
Champion
BIKE-ONLY TRAIL
Expert (Double-Black) - .97 mile
This bike-only single-direction trail starts at the top of Chestnut Mountain and is a proper advanced double-black trail for expert riders only. The .97-mile trail is a mix of single-track, hand-cut rock sections and all types of jumps, drops, berms, gaps, and more squeezed into one action-packed trail. Riders can pick and choose optional drops and features as they navigate their way down and east across Chestnut Mountain. Expects lots of step-downs and step-up jumps as you fly down the mountain. Riders will reconnect in the middle of Papertown Express and easily be able to head uphill a few minutes to Wildcat, Ladybird, down to Berm Park, or back up to the summit for another lap down Champion. Please pre-ride, re-ride, then free-ride within your skill level.