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.
The lower section of this trail is a two-way trail for hikers, however bikers can only use this section of trail to go up to Berm Park. Mountain bikers should use Bear Country when exiting the park.
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 - 0.8 mile to Turnpike
This middle section of Papertown Express is a two-way trail for hikers and bikers and extends up through the Backcountry trailhead.
Papertown Express will take trail users to the top of Chestnut Mountain and provide access to all future trails currently under construction in the Backcountry.
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.
Papertown Express (Upper)
MULTI-USE TRAIL | Hiking & Biking
Beginner/Intermediate - 1.31 miles to Ladybird
This upper section of Papertown Express travels up almost to the summit of Chestnut Mountain where SPECTACULAR views abound! This section is a two-way trail for hikers and it is an out-and-back trail meaning you follow a single trail to an end point and then return along the same route. This part of Papertown is a single-direction climbing access for mountain bikers who must descend using the bike-only trail Ladybird.
Ladybird
BIKE-ONLY TRAIL
Intermediate - 1.79 mile down to Berm Park
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