sundown mountain vs chestnut mountain
Conveniently located in the heart of the Midwest, Sundown Mountain Resort attracts skiers and snowboarders of all abilities looking for their winter adventure. Sundown Mountain Resort16991 Asbury Rd.Dubuque, IA 52002563-556-6676. Iron River, MichiganDistance from Chicago: 339 miles; 5.5-hour driveOften the first to open and the last to close each season, this sweet Michigan hideaway is a nice alternative to the megaresorts that often lay claim to the Midwests top runs. They do have some wraps and salads, although the super health conscious would do better bringing there own food. There is a lot that goes into snow making.. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Sundown Mountain Resort in Dubuque, Iowa is one of the best Midwest ski resorts and the premier destination to take your family skiing and snowboarding this winter! The mountain is located in Saba. Saddle up, cowboy. Read up on pros, cons and other comments in reviews left by fellow skiers and riders. If you are looking for somewhere to stay in Dubuque, the Hotel Julien is a 20 minute drive from Sundown Mountain, located in the Downtown District. In winter, however, its the closest thing Chicagoland has to a respectable ski establishment. Harbor Springs MichiganDistance from Chicago: 370 miles; 6-hour driveSince youre already driving all the way up to Michigan, you might as well scout out a place where you can not only ski, but sleep, shop, and eat all in one place. At Sundown, there's more than one ski lift and I found that to be a wonderful perk for beginners that wouldn't be an option at Chestnut. We will definitely return. The flat, Midwestern plains arent exactly beckoning skier and snowboarders by the hoardes. The black diamonds are more like blues in my opinion but still challenging. Haha! Chestnut Mountain perches high on a ridge overlooking the Mississippi River near the historic riverport of Galena. DUBUQUE, Iowa (KWQC) - Sundown Mountain Resort in Dubuque is now open for the winter ski season. Crescent is the perfect day trip for anyone who hasnt been skiing before and wants to try their hand (er, feet) at the winter sport. Click here for our Frequently Asked Questions Page, Total Vertical Drop of 475 feet, with Runs Carved Among Picturesque Cedar Trees, 21 Scenic Trails with Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Runs, 2 Terrain Parks with Progressive Features, 2 Mountain Top Lodges Overlooking 100 Square Miles of Countryside, Kids Park Facility for Children Ages 3-11, Ski and Snowboard Lessons for All Ages and Abilities, Sundown Parks Video & Photo Contest 2023. I ended up paying 4 times the price for an all area lift pass that I didnt even use as this is what was automatically given to me, despite the fact I had bought a 1 hour first timer ski lesson. Haha my other half wants to go back again on Sunday now, hes been caught by the snowboard bug again! 1086 222nd Drive,Boone, IA 50036 Tel:515-432-9457. Last year we were lucky and got a lot of natural snow, it stayed cold, so we were pretty fortunate, he mentioned. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. sundown mountain vs chestnut mountain Sundown Mountain in Dubuque is 3 hours from Chicago. Since we were not wearing skis or gear on the mountain, a particularly outgoing instructor asked us if we were trying to find our children and offered to help us. Four people rescued from Wapsi River in Buchanan County, Family rescued from North Liberty house fire, One hurt in single-vehicle rollover crash in Linn County, Suspects in more than 30 Midwest burglaries arrested after break-in at Iowa City bakery, Iowa senior Nia Carter leads the Big Ten in hits, ranks second in the NCAA, Show You Care: Miracles in Motion helps people with disabilities expand their horizons, Camp Courageous hosts annual omelet breakfast fundraiser. Mount Bohemias vertical drop of 900 feet ranks second in the Midwest. All racers must be registered with WIJARA to be eligible to race. The mountains are important physical features and provide a unique landscape in Netherlands. (5 green runs compared to 2). I noticed that there were lots of families with kids. Mount Scenery is the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands at an elevation of 2,877 feet, and it is located within the Saba Municipality. At the 175-acre park are four terrain areas that add up to 47 runs. Trail Map. Sundown Mountain Resort Hope to see you back soon :). I was visiting a friend who lives in Dubuque. If you have any questions or just want to say hi, feel free to contact me! For this reason, its easy for Chicagoans to plan a weekend trip here (the Windy City is only a three-hour drive away). I might be stuck on the green slope still but Id be up for that haha . So it is a lot of fun.. Parking was much easier than at Chestnut which is not impossible, it just can be difficult with how busy it is there. Nineteen ski and snowboard trails cut through solid rock bluffs range up to 3,500 feet in length and are geared to all levels. As far as the building set-up, we took your advise and we are in the middle of making a new lodge that will house all ticketing and rental in ONE convenient location! About. Wrap up a leg if you want to create some sympathy. Main lodge was very nice, large with tall ceilings, and I liked that you purchase tickets and get equipment in the same lodge, unlike at Chestnut. I found it ridiculously easy to turn left but struggled to turn right. Live cams give you a glimpse of the 60 runs' conditions so you can easily track and plan. Elkhorn, WisconsinDistance from Chicago: 90 miles; 1.5-hour driveYou probably know Alpine Valley as that place where you saw Dave Matthews that one time in high school. The mountain attracts a large number of tourists mountaineering, and hiking. Located 70 miles north of Duluth, this 202-acre resorts 35 ski runs are joined by little luxuries on-site lodging (a mix of 67 suites, from one to four bedrooms each, plus an indoor pool), restaurants, and a spa. The Chestnut Mountain Resor t is among the best Illinois ski areas for people of all ages. My legs didnt feel like they were splitting apart anymore and I started to get a little confidence in myself! Here's a list of all the other things I could think off, even if they are stereotypes. Get a sneak peek of the mountain with each cam stationed at various locations. Thompsonville, MichiganDistance from Chicago: 312 miles; 4.5-hour driveInstead of being crammed into some broken down old lodge, you can rent badass private homes or high-end condos and throw your own socially distant aprs ski party at this Thompsonville stunner. Very accomodating and friendly a wonderful experience for my family and friends. The mountain supports a wide variety of flora and fauna including cacti, iguanas, lizards, the white tailed deer, and a wide variety of bird species. At the end of my hour, I probably could have attempted to have gone down Sunbowl green run in a wedge/snowplough position but why attempt to run before you can walk?! While all suites boast a kitchen, The Sleeping Giant Restaurant & Bars specials like all-you-can-eat walleye on Fridays are enticing. With destinations in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and more, these are 10 of the best ski resorts in the Midwest. Just like skiing snowboarding is separated into many different categories including freestyle, freeride, and downhill. Four chalets are a sweet spot to stay warm and toasty while grabbing a drink or a meal. 16991 Asbury Rd. Still, Sundown remains a family-owned and locally operated company that has evolved into a fun and dynamic event center popular with area residents and visitors. From bunny hills to Black Diamonds, here are 15 standout ski resorts within driving distance of Chicago sure to put an end to those mid-winter blues. In a cool twist, this resort which debuted in 1980 when a few local families founded it was where Olympic-medal-winner freestyle skater Nick Goepper first learned to ski. The Resort Partners cover: 3 Iowa ski resorts, 2 in Illinois, 2 in Wisconsin, 1 in Idaho, 2 in Colorado, 2 in New Mexico, 2 in Arizona and 1 in Utah! Must be 21 to make reservation. Chestnut, with the hotel and Village Ski Center located on top of the ski hill, features a 475-foot vertical drop, which is big in this part of the Midwest. Sundown Mountain--January 12 & 13, 2019. Website. You don't need to be a skier to find this a place worth visiting. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Sundown Mountain, Dubuque: Address, Phone Number, Sundown Mountain Reviews: 4.5/5. 16991 Asbury Rd. Skiing is not for me, but at least I gave it a go! The Sunset Grille restaurant serves up fine dining favorites and The Summit Food & Spirits offers the area's finest contemporary cuisine with a modern flair. Guests can enjoy a variety of activities for all seasons, like ski and snowboarding. Share your experience at resort Sundown Mountain to help other skiers. They, however, have not opened at all this year. Now my husband and I take our own daughter (12 yrs old) skiing there every winter as well. We were doing good for about 5 minutes then we realized the slope was way more then we could handle. At Chestnut, you must purchase a ski lift ticket even if you never leave the bunny hill which doesn't even allow an opportunity to ride the lift. Chestnut Mountain has 100 slopeside rooms in close proximity to an indoor pool, sauna and jacuzzi. When we arrived Saturday we decided to let my 12 yr old daughter do the snowboard group lesson (only $15!) Beautifully carved through 85 acres of scenic cedar trees with state-of-the-art snowmaking, Sundown Mountain Resort is one of the best Midwest ski resort destinations and the only Midwest ski resort granted the NSAA Award of Excellence. 2 and a half hours was probably just about my limit as a new skier. and it seemed too good to be true. I visited a second time and attempted to go down Sunbowl a couple of times, but I was miserable. Fresh off $3 million in improvements last year, the resort also features a 10,000-square-foot Sundance Chalet and Grill for aprs-ski fare. But all things considered, is a very nice hill that will keep most people busy and interested all day long! For starters I think you can roughly devide the north and the south by religion. Please register each of your racers, you can only register one child at a time, you must start a new registration for each child. The 475-foot vertical drop mountain has over 150 snow guns and the runs are groomed daily. Best you'll get in Iowa. It has given us a little time to try to get some of the seasonal employees from downtown Galena that they would be losing their jobs now, you know, to at least get them on board, but we are hoping that we can maybe get some more college kids here in the next couple of weeks and help us get through our busy Christmas week.. If you dont have your own gear, no worries, as you can rent some on the slopes or bring your own and enjoy a day out in the powder! Lift passes are attached to a zip on your coat using a metal loop that the pass sticks to. I agree with another reviewer that Sundown does the best with what they have. We are a skiing and boarding nation here in Dubuque, so any time that we cannot be open is a sad thing for us, and we fight it tooth and nail.. For example, if you buy at adult season pass at Sundown Dubuque, you will receive: $10 off a lift ticket at Seven Oaks, Boone IA, 1 free lift ticket for 1 visit ONLY during the season for Mount Crescent, Honey Creek IA, $20 Monday Thursday lift tickets from January to the end of the season at Chestnut Mountain, Galena IL. The package will run until March 1, 2020 weather dependent and is only good for inn and courtyard rooms. Read skier and snowboarder-submitted reviews on Sundown Mountain that rank the ski resort and mountain town on a scale of one to five stars for attributes such as terrain, nightlife and family friendliness. Practices Tuesday & Thursday 6:15- 8:30pm & Optional Free Nastar Runs on Saturdays 10am-1pm, $250 per racer includes Coaching for all practices & Unlimited Free Nastar Runs on Saturdays, Must be able to ski intermediate hills in control, Hard-sided helmets are required to race per USSA ski racing regulations, Racers need skis (no twin tips), boots & poles, Sundown Mountain Race Junior Race team is a proud member of WIJARA (Wisconsin/Illinois/Iowa Junior Racing Association), Contact SRTBoard@gmail.com or SRTeamCoordinator@gmail.com, Medals are awarded each race to the top 5 racers of each age class, Free Nastar Timed Racing Saturdays 10am-1pm. When we informed her we were just checking out the mountain in advance, she started telling us all about the facility and the group lessons. With its namesake mountain at 1,460-foot elevation, the shining star at this Central Ohio ski resort the largest in Ohio is the 300-foot vertical drop. Perched near the banks overlooking the Mississippi River, the 220-acre Chestnut Mountain Resort boasts a 100-room hotel with an indoor pool and surf-and-turf fare at The Summit Food & Spirits. Such activities include mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, and bird sighting, as well as watching wildlife. Snowboarding. Although a group of family farmers launched the resort in 1963, turning it into a popular winter getaway destination for the Twin Cities, Vail Resorts has owned it since 2012 and is in the process of adding $10 million in improvements. Theres also an onsite hotel that overlooks some of the slopes. It never felt overcrowded and the staff was friendly. Did you know that you could go skiing in Iowa!? It has a few less runs compared to Sundown Mountain, but it has more slopes that are beginner friendly. Chestnuts location in Galena (one of ourtop Midwest winter vacation spots) perched high on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River provides a unique environment from which to survey your surroundings before tackling the resorts 19 runs, three terrain parks, 10 lifts, and an impressive-by-Midwestern-standards 475-foot vertical drop. Actually, it wasn't that cold outside, not like when you are skiing with several layers of protective gear on. Why Is Biodiversity Critical To Life On Earth? This level includes all training sessions and entry and coaching at the 4 WIJARA Race League events (Chestnut Mountain, Sundown Mountain, Cascade Mountain and Tyrol Basin). The slopes were all fairly empty too. Short lift lines which means you'll get a lot of skiing in. On the weekends they do pizza as well. Snow Report. This 1 night package includes 2 lift tickets per room to Chestnut Mountain. I pretty much had the whole slope to myself yet still managed to plough down a small child that was standing under a treeits like my skis had a mind of their own! Chestnut Mountain--January 5 & 6. If youre a newbie and need some motivation, skiing is not only unbelievably exhilarating, its also an awesome substitute for your boring winter workout routine, improving coordination, strength, and flexibility. I couldn't have been more impressed and we will absolutely be returning and have already recommended to all of our friends and family. Food area is a small cafeteria-like spot inside one of the lodges (similar to Chestnut although Chestnut also has an additional full restaurant on-site). When we left at 4pm, the Friday night cheap special was just about to kick in and it was absolutely PACKED. Wilmot, WisconsinDistance from Chicago: 66 miles; 1 hour, 15 minute driveWilmot used to be in the same class as suburban resorts that dont amount to much more than a few slushy bunny hills, but the little mountain just across the Wisconsin border has seen some significant upgrades since Vail Resorts purchased the property in 2016 and cashed in $13 million worth of renovations. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Their Friday night ski special is what drew me in; how can you beat $54 for skiing 4pm-midnight including lift ticket and equipment rental??? Thats what Im hoping for! Skiing in Iowa is most definitely a thing! One thing with as long as Chestnut has been here, we have a lot of families that have been here for many years, so you are seeing their kids, sometimes you even see the grandkids come through the property over the years, he mentioned. Overall, Sundown Mountain was an awesome discovery and a fantastic ski resort for beginners (and probably even advanced skiers, as we saw many on the more advanced hills flying by and doing tricks) families, groups of friends, or really just anyone looking to have an amazing time. Hill is always well groomed considering the weather conditions make it tough. What restaurants are near Sundown Mountain? 46 Top Things To Do in Dubuque Iowa, Recommended By A Local! We spent 6 hours on the mountain total and my daughter did not even want to stop then, despite being exhausted. At Sundown Mountain, we have something for everyone; whether you are an experienced winter enthusiast or just learning how to get down the hill, Sundown Mountain offers plenty of snowy fun and an unforgettable Midwest winter experience. Oh and Galena is such a fabulous town. Seven out of ten times we are normally open by Thanksgiving, so this has been an unusual year, Michael Murphy, the resorts general manager, commented. Come along for the ride! Dubuque Christmas Events To Get You In The Christmas Spirit: Iowa. Friendly staff that does a good job keeping it a fun environment - you didn't have a bunch of kids making fun of people who fall or swearing and smoking on the hill. Normally, we have about 350 to 400 (employees) and I can say we are quite below that this time; probably at least a hundred employees short at this moment, he explained. Im now an online ESL tutor, a job where I can technically work from anywhere in the world! Don't be too surprised to see an eagle or two either. Galena, IllinoisDistance from Chicago: 162 miles; 2.5-hour driveOthers on the list may have more snow and better runs, but few nearby ski destinations are this damn fun. Menu. Crescent Ski Area (@mtcrescent). Never for very long though, its always been a flying visit! At Sundown Mountain, we have something for every skier or snowboarder; whether you are an experienced winter enthusiast or just learning how to get down the hill, Sundown Mountain offers plenty of snowy fun and an unforgettable Midwest winter experience. Otsego, MichiganDistance from Chicago: 159 miles; 2.5-hour driveWith 12 lifts, 20 runs, two terrain parks, and 100 acres of skiable terrain topping out at 850 feet with a 300-foot vertical drop, Bittersweet is typical of the small cluster of resorts in southwest Michigan that also includesSwiss Valley andTimber Ridge. Don't forget to submit your own Sundown Mountain review! Although it has been open since the late 1960s, Vail Resorts began managing it in 2019. Wausau, WisconsinDistance from Chicago: 275 miles; 4-hour driveLocated within the chilled-outRib Mountain State Park overlooking the highest point in Wisconsin, this resort offers more room to roam than the crowded confines of popular alternatives like Cascade along with Wisconsins highest vertical drop measuring 700 feet. Most day trippers from Chicago stick to Chestnut. Were guessing just this one. We were sitting trying to figure out how we were going to get through this. We had chosen it because it was one of the closest resorts to our home in Arkansas. Good man made snow - not icy. A fun Olympic tie-in is that Putzi Frandl, a former alpine ski racer from Austria, once worked here as an instructor after competing in the 1956 and 1960 Winter Olympics. My legs seemed to be doing OK but by the end my arms were dead and I was struggling to pull myself along on the flat with my poles! Warm Cabins great for groups and lovely restaurant and rental store. I have never snow skied, but you do make it look like fun. The Quill is the second highest point in Netherlands at an elevation of 1972 feet. Sundown Mountain in Dubuque is 3 hours from Chicago. The Mountain Center has benches with space underneath them to store shoes. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Those 2 situations were my only accidents! Chestnut Ski Resort Galena, IL Boasting an impressive array of amenities, accommodations, comforts and activities, Chestnut Mountain is the choice Illinois travel destination. snow was good people are friendly and the terrain park is good. Some of the locals will stop in just for the bar. One thing that surprised me the most when I moved to Iowa, was that there was actually a ski resort! Full Review . Your racer will train right along side of the competitive team learning skiing fundamentals . Jim coached us the whole way down! If you would like to show your support, you can Buy Me a Coffee here. Distance from Chicago: 188 miles; 3.5-hour drive As the name suggests, Sundown Mountain Resort lets you glide down their cedar-lined slopes far past bedtime. 20 Most Beautiful Winter Towns in the U.S. 7 Ski Destinations Perfect for a Romantic Winter Getaway, This Colorado Mountain Has a Dedicated Ski Train and After-dark Tubing, This Underrated Train Is the Most Picturesque Way to See the Mississippi River, Glacier National Park, and the Pacific Northwest, 7 Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts for a Winter Getaway, The 10 Best Ski Resorts in North America for Seniors, 8 of the Best Colorado Ski Resorts for Thrilling Terrain and Stunning Scenery, 8 Midwest Resorts Perfect for a Cozy Fall Getaway, 13 Beautiful Winter Drives Around the United States, These Are the 8 Best Ski Resorts in Vermont, Why This Canadian Ski Town Is the Perfect Winter Vacation Destination, The 12 Best Family-friendly Ski Resorts That Cater to Kids and Kids at Heart, These Are the 10 Coolest Ski Destinations in America Right Now Plus Tips for the Perfect Trip. 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The mountain is found within the Curacao Christfellpark which is a reserve and wildlife park in the Dutch Caribbean. Some days they wait to long to open double lift next to the triple so lift line gets long. The scenic slopes at the resort are open for night skiing and snowboarding. Im quite lucky that with my day job I get Fridays off work. Its kinda crazy, back in 2008 I failed miserably at water skiing so became a wake boarder, I automatically assumed that because I could wake board Id be able to snowboarddefinitely got that wrong. So before considering all snow sports as a complete write off, I wanted to try skiing. The sheer shredability across such a dizzying array of well-groomed runs is first-rate, but then again, so is the snow biking, horseback riding, and ziplining. Lift prices are like $25-45.The lifts are old and slow, but at least the place is never cro. However, there is a spot on the Western border of Iowa that isnt so flat and is just about perfect for us Midwesterners who havent grown up in the Rockies or other mountainous areas where skiing is an everyday winter activity! Netherlands is a country in Western Europe that is slightly less than twice the size of the U.S. state of New Jersey, covering an area of 41,543 square kilometers and bordering only two countries, Germany and Belgium. There were only 3 people in my daughter's snowboard lesson 'group', there were several instructors available for that drop-in time slot, which meant she was able to get a lot of one on one attention from her instructor for questions and demonstrations. This sounds like a very manageable place to break into a new sport. Additionally, they have a fully lit resort meaning night skiing is an option for those that are up for it! The resort sports 21 trails. Great Midwest skiing for beginners & advanced. This is not Colorado, don't expect high speed lifts, and 2500 vert of fresh powder, but also don't expect to pay $150 dollar per lift ticket and a arm and a leg at lunch. Yay! I grew up in Iowa and had no idea there was a ski resort in Dubuque! Once a bib number is issued, SRT will submit final roster info & bib numbers will be noted for the season. 19 trails are in two parks Far Side Terrain Park (with a quarter pipe and two half pipes) and Chestnut (with a 475-foot vertical drop). Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. As weather cools down, ski resorts in the tri-state area look forward to reopening this week, Both Sundown and Chestnut Mountain resorts have been closed as of last week because of high temperatures. Nestled along Michigans U.P. NOW BOOKING Weddings, Reunions, Graduation Parties, and MORE! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The Midwest's Premier Year Round Resort . Copyright 1995-2023 Mountain News LLC. My kids liked it better than chestnut. We are not the most athletic bunch, but it was amazing how quickly the instructor had us feeling confident and manuvering with few falls. Still, there were a TON of beginners out of control where they shouldn't be. Lift prices are like $25-45.The lifts are old and slow, but at least the place is never crowded. Across the bridge in Galena, Illinois, staff at Chestnut Mountain Resort are also in deep producing snow. WIJARA (Wisconsin/Illinois/Iowa Junior Racing Association) includes 9 Midwest Ski Teams: Sundown Mountain, Chestnut Mountain, Tyrol Basin, Cascade Mountain, Snowstar, Hidden Valley, Blackhawk, Four Lakes, & Wilmot, Please complete 1 Registration Form per Family, Please complete 1 SRT Concussion Form per Racer, Sundown Mountain Resort Chestnut Mountain Resort, Galena, Illinois Topher Donahue/Getty Images Perched near the banks overlooking the Mississippi River, the 220-acre Chestnut Mountain Resort boasts a 100-room. 16991 Asbury Rd. The mountain, though it has been dormant for a long time it is considered potentially active due to groundwater heating. Theres another ski resort just the other side of Dubuque in Galena, Illinois! Staff at Chestnut, on the other hand, hope to open for the season this weekend. South Lodges Bottoms Up will get you fed while taking in sprawling views of the runs, and Northern Lodge is your spot to sip adult beverages and caro-load on pizza and sandwiches courtesy of Tips Up Food and Spirit. Sundown Mountain Resort is a ski destination located in Dubuque, Iowa. With 53 runs scattered across 248 skiable acres with nine lifts and a 427-foot vertical drop, its nestled in one of the most picturesque parts of northern Michigan, just 30 minutes south of the launch point to lakefront oasisMackinac Island.