It's that time of year again! Snowboarding season. As a lot of you may know, this weekend is the X Games out in Colorado. So I've decided to celebrate the games, by making a list of some of my favorite local ski hills (and of course by watching the events). Go ahead and read about four of the places I end up going back to basically every season.
1. Seven Oaks - (AKA: the Boone Bump)
Seven Oaks is located in Boone, IA and certainly is not a large place (hence the nickname). Their site says it offers 11 runs, 2 lifts, free lessons, a terrain park and a tubing hill. It is my home hill and for that reason, I'll always love it even though it's certainly not as big as some of the others on my list. The chalet is recently updated and has some bomb-ass cheesy fries. There's also an outdoor fire pit right outside the chalet, so you can sit back and watch from the base of the hill. This is a place full of locals and riders of all ages. Though it will often get busy with schools and different groups that are visiting. If you're a beginner, this is definitely a solid place to start.
Sundown photos from Kaylee Wellik
2. Sundown Mountain - Sundown Mountain is located in Dubuque, IA and offers 21 trails, a 475 foot vertical drop and 4 lifts. This Midwest ski Resort offers 2 terrain parks: one is a little more on the beginner side and the other is slightly more advanced - in my opinion. Sundown typically has live music on Friday nights in their chalet at the top of the hill, among other events they regularly host. This is a solid place to ride no matter what level you are.
3. Mount Kato - Mount Kato is located in Mankato, MN and is one of the first places I went on a big day trip without adult supervision. It's a beautiful place with long trails all around the hill. My favorite area is the backside of the hill that offers long trails down. They have some really cool features throughout their terrain park and have put a lot of effort into making it. Mount Kato has 19 trails with a vertical drop of 240 feet for every level of rider. The 8 chair lifts will get you to the top and will give you some beautiful views of the Minnesota River Valley. They've also got snow tubing for those who are less than thrilled about having something connected to your feet. Once you've worked up an appetite (or just ready for a break), you can step into the chalet at the base of the hill for food and drinks.
4. Chestnut Mtn - Chestnut Mtn is located in Galena, IL has a little bit of a Colorado feel when you walk up to it. There's a hotel right at the top of the hill along with the chalet and rental shops. Chestnut offers 19 runs and a 475 foot vertical drop that overlooks the Mississippi River. It's been rated with one of the best terrain parks in the Midwest by Transworld Snowboarding Magazine. But don't let that scare you away. It's a great place to go no matter how advanced of a rider you are. If you're looking for a really good time, check out the hill during their annual Big Nut competition. You'll see insane skills and have a blast.
I haven't even made a dent in the list of great places to ride across the Midwest, but these are the places I go to fairly regularly (because they aren't too far from where I live). In the future, I'll share some other cool places to ride like Welch, Trollhaugen, Lutsen and so on.
Where is your favorite place to ride in the Midwest?
Live big.