Hiking & Biking Trails

Chestnut Mountain Nature Park is a huge undertaking that will require a multi-phased approach. When complete, people of all ages and experience levels will be able to enjoy over 15 miles of hiking and biking trails spanning both the Frontcountry and Backcountry areas of the park.

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.

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.

Berm Park

BIKE-ONLY TRAILS

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 to for more details about each of the 5 trails.

Mountain bikers leaving Berm Park should use Bear Country when exiting the park.

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.

BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS

Papertown Express (Middle)

MULTI-USE TRAIL | Hiking & Biking
Beginner/Intermediate

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.

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.

Old Timer

HIKE-ONLY TRAIL
Beginner/Intermediate - 2.64 miles

Hikers, trail runners, and dog walkers can explore the vast eastern portions of the more than 450-acre Chestnut Mountain property on this 2.64-mile trail that connects from Turnpike to the middle of Papertown Express. Old Timer goes through several different types of forests and winds near some large old-growth trees and over some beautiful rock formations. Despite the trail not going to the top, it still features a great deal of elevation change as it navigates in and around the deep contours of the lower mountain while providing views of the upper mountain and allowing park visitors to get deep into the forest. Hikers can take this trail in either direction giving you two different experiences and views!

Papertown Express (Upper)

MULTI-USE TRAIL | Hiking & Biking
Intermediate

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.

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

Dutch Cove

HIKE-ONLY TRAIL

Intermediate - 1.47 miles

Hikers and trail runners can enjoy a narrow Backcountry single-track trail that connects from the middle of Papertown Express right up to the top of Chestnut Mountain. Views into Dutch Cove are available in several areas, providing the inspiration for this trail's name. It navigates quite a few switchbacks to take trail users up and down the steep terrain that the upper portions of Chestnut Mountain Nature Park hold. Rewarding views are offered up in several areas despite the dense tree canopy! Visitors can take this trail in either direction as you mix and match to create your own loops.

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.