So before considering all snow sports as a complete write off, I wanted to try skiing. Nestled along Michigans U.P. Nineteen ski and snowboard trails cut through solid rock bluffs range up to 3,500 feet in length and are geared to all levels. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Each mountain has three food-and-drink options, from ribeyes and Chicago-style stuffed pizza at Indianhead Mountains Elkhorn Dining Room to pig candy (seasoned and sweetened bacon) at Blackjack Mountain. 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. Youll also find a tubing hill with its own ski lift. The flat, Midwestern plains arent exactly beckoning skier and snowboarders by the hoardes. Later we got the courage to go down the green slope. We had previously stayed at Eagle Ridge in Galena yearly to be close to the ski resort but a few years ago on an extended trip, we ventured into neighboring Dubuque, IA (less than a 30 min drive from Galena) and fell in love with the charming & historical Hotel Julien, where we now stay for ski weekends. and it was the best decision of this trip. Best Skiing Near Chicago: Top Resorts & Mountains in the - Thrillist When we left at 4pm, the Friday night cheap special was just about to kick in and it was absolutely PACKED. 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. When everybody else is sleeping, they are out making snow, Mark Gordon, general manager, said. With nine lifts and one-third of the resort dedicated to Black or Double Black Diamond tears, check out the Cannonball or Blunder trails for some of the most delightfully challenging terrain in the region. I agree with another reviewer that Sundown does the best with what they have. 46 Top Things To Do in Dubuque Iowa, Recommended By A Local! We were so impressed that we went back in Jan 2018 and took over 30 friends. Theres another ski resort just the other side of Dubuque in Galena, Illinois! We went Fri-Sun so we figured we'd check it out Fri evening and if it was dingy we could still have all of Saturday to ski at Chestnut Mountain. Among the highest points are Vaalsberg, Schimperbosch, Brandaris on the island of Bonaire, Klingelberg, and Jamanota on the island of Aruba. Ski and Stay, Galena, IL 61036 - Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa Bens Den warms weary skiers by the campfire with smores and hot cocoa, while The Barn, located right off the slopes, provides drinks and bonfires. I have skied before in the midwest (e.g., Boyne resorts in northern Michigan), but had not heard of Sundown Mountain. 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. These mountains are mainly of volcanic origin formed during various periods. Compared to other similar sized ski/snowboard hills this is great. 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.. 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. 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. I decided to stuff all my belongings into my pockets and leave anything else in the car (possibly the only good thing about a cold sportyou have plenty of clothes on with space to store things!). 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! How Is Climate Change Impacting The Water Cycle. On the Mountain . Use Search above to see rates for your dates. Along the St. Croix River 33 miles from downtown Minneapolis, there are 36 trails including a 350-foot vertical drop at the 300-acre resort. Sundown opened for the season on Nov. 27, but has now been closed for five days because of high temperatures last week. So when Mother Nature does not do the work for them, they have to do it themselves. I would have liked if the bar was overlooking the bunny hill instead so parents could have a beer and still be able to keep an eye on their children but I believe it was intended as a convenience for the more advanced skiers to stop for a drink which is also nice. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Sundown Mountain (Dubuque) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Such activities include mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, and bird sighting, as well as watching wildlife. Is there a shuttle service from the Liberia Airport to and from the resort? Get Directions to Sundown. 1086 222nd Drive,Boone, IA 50036 Tel:515-432-9457. Cadillac MichiganDistance from Chicago: 283 miles; 4.5-hour driveThis 30-run resort features steep slopes, two peaks, five aerial lifts, and plenty of backcountry terrain if you're in the market for a snowy path less traveled. When youre ready to hit the hay, take advantage of the resort's luxe lodging options which span condos, traditional hotel rooms, cottages, and entire homes for rent. Menu. Skiing in Iowa is most definitely a thing! 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! Now my husband and I take our own daughter (12 yrs old) skiing there every winter as well. Dubuque, IA 52002. Sundown has 21 varied ski runs and 2 terrain parks on the property. The Quill is the second highest point in Netherlands at an elevation of 1972 feet. Sundown does the best with well what they have. Would recommend it if you are looking for a nice inexpensive ski resort that isn't overly crowded. 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. Chestnut Mountain has 19 ski slopes and 2 terrain parks. With this new mountain, the province has moved up 3 places in our mountain classification! Yay! Live cams give you a glimpse of the 60 runs' conditions so you can easily track and plan. The stratovolcano is located on the Sint Eustatius Island in the Caribbean. 16991 Asbury Rd. The mountain supports activities such as hiking, scrambling and mountaineering which are viable all year round. Chestnut Mountain Resort - Galena, IL - Hotel Guides 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. Theres also an onsite hotel that overlooks some of the slopes. I can't believe she made it beyond the 1st bunny hill onto the second beginner area that let's you ride the ski lift up even as a beginner! The slopes opened with limited runs Thursday afternoon . The mountain, though it has been dormant for a long time it is considered potentially active due to groundwater heating. Accommodations; Rates & Packages; Book Now! There happened to be a group starting a lesson near us as well as small clusters all around the beginner area and I knew right away I wanted my daughter to have a lesson there just by listening to how enthusiastic all of the instructors were. The lodge and carpark is at the top of the slopes which means you can get stuck right in and not have to start by riding a chair lift to get to the top! When it doesnt snow, the resort is maintained by 150 snow guns (believe me, its cold enough for the snow not to melt once it is there!) And if inclines and declines aren't really your thing, the Mckenzie Cross-Country Trail also offers Nordic Skiing over 10 miles of all-level trails traversing Huron-Manistee National Forest. How big is the difference between the northern and southern - Quora Visiting Dubuque around Christmas? $59 per person lift ticket and rental all days on Sundays. 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. Sundown & Chestnut Ski Resorts Win Accolades as Best in Midwest This 1 night package includes 2 lift tickets per room to Chestnut Mountain. With a whopping 74 runs plus six terrain parks and one of the highest elevations in the Midwest at 1,942 feet, this resort, dating to 1937, is also one of the oldest in North America. DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) - It is snow-making time at Sundown Mountain Resort in Dubuque. 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. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Troy is the third highest point in Netherlands at an elevation of 1,818 feet. Some of these mountains are home to a rich biodiversity of plants and animals unique to the climates in the country. 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. As the ski resorts in Iowa arent exactly the biggest, by buying a season pass you can actually get dicounts at other Resort Partners around the Midwest and across the USA! Harbor Springs, MichiganDistance from Chicago: 376 miles; 6-hour driveThis loveable little resort named after founder Nubby Sarns opened in 1958 and continues its affable family-friendly vibe to this day. 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. Copyright 1995-2023 Mountain News LLC. Must be 21 to make reservation. With 95 runs, this is among the Midwests newest ski resorts as it only opened in 2000. Will likely get a season pass next year. Plan & Stay . Great Midwest skiing for beginners & advanced. The mountain is located within the dry curacao area which is composed of the main limestone in contrast to the mainly hard quartzite of the mountain. 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. Mount Bohemias vertical drop of 900 feet ranks second in the Midwest. 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. Non-Competitive Team - $350.00 This level includes all training sessions. My legs didnt feel like they were splitting apart anymore and I started to get a little confidence in myself! I think theres a 2nd a little further west! There is a teeny tiny, almost flat run, that I started off on to just practise going in a straight lineit was so flat my instructor beat me to the top just by skiing uphill while I took the magic carpet up! View live ski conditions, snow totals and weather from the slopes right now with Sundown Mountain webcams. 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. We are not the most athletic bunch, but it was amazing how quickly the instructor had us feeling confident and manuvering with few falls. Although it has been open since the late 1960s, Vail Resorts began managing it in 2019. Seven Oaks is located in Boone, just under a 50 minute drive North of Des Moines and very close to Ames. 12 Awesome Things To Do In Cala D'Or, Mallorca | Cala D'Or Guide Spain, The Garden At 120: A Sky Garden Alternative | London, UK, 6 Must See Stops On A Marathon To Key West Florida Road Trip! Just like skiing snowboarding is separated into many different categories including freestyle, freeride, and downhill. 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??? While I was researching winter activities for this ski trip, I stumbled across Sundown Mountain in Dubuque, just 20 minutes from Hotel Julien and 40 minutes from downtown Galena (who knew?) When it comes to skiing in the Midwest, this is about as good as it gets. Sundown Mountain is located on the edge of Dubuque, about 20 minutes from the Downtown District. The intermittent smell of manure blowing in the wind didn't make it any better either. We went to Sundown Mountain a few days after Christmas. She often seeks out wine bars, coffee roasters, cheesemongers' shops, art museums, antiques and vintage stores, yarn shops, and sprawling parks when she travels. 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). 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. Those 2 situations were my only accidents! An adult weekday unlimited lift pass at Sundown Mountain Resort is $38 ($46 at weekends), ski and snowboard rentals are $32 for a day, making it an affordable option compared to some of the bigger resorts. Near the Kentucky and Ohio borders in southeastern Indiana, this resort features 23 trails across three parks that are a mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced. 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. While all suites boast a kitchen, The Sleeping Giant Restaurant & Bars specials like all-you-can-eat walleye on Fridays are enticing. It's a little odd that you have to buy lift tickets and pay to rent equipment in one building and then go to a second building to actually get the equipment, but the process went fairly quickly for us. It has a few less runs compared to Sundown Mountain, but it has more slopes that are beginner friendly. We will definitely return. Season Passes - Chestnut Mountain Resort Plan Your Stay Reserve online or call 1-800-397-1320 to speak with us directly. Another side effect of the plentiful beginners was frequent stoppage of an already very long lift ride. Copyright 2021 KCRG. 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 seven-acre Far Side Terrain Park, complete with its own triple, features a quarter-pipe, two halfpipes, and lots of rails, kickers and jumps. Sundown Mountain Resort in Dubuque open for winter season - KWQC Chestnut Mountain Resort - Galena, IL Use this guide to learn about hotels near Chestnut Mountain Resort. Since we've been going there forever, we never thought to look into other alternatives. Besides the equipment being great, the lessons are an hour and a half long which is longer than most places, including Chestnut. Sundown Mountain Webcams - All Live HD Cams - OnTheSnow Sundown Mountain Resort Live Cam, Snow Reports - Ski Cams USA So it is a lot of fun.. USA. Here are some ideas for things to do in Dubuque. Sundown Mountain in Dubuque is 3 hours from Chicago. I had to force her to take a break at the lodge to have a quick lunch. 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. 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. 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! Whether you are an advanced, intermediate or beginner skier or boarder we have terrain to suit your needs and ability level.