The Chestnut Mountain Resort in Illinois is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
In summer, the mountain transforms into an adventure playground with a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, including hiking, mountain biking and the Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide.
The Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide is a thrilling experience that takes riders on a journey down the mountain, featuring twists, turns and breathtaking views of the Mississippi River.
If you’re looking for more information on the Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide then you have come to the right place!
In this article, we provide a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to experience this one-of-a-kind attraction so keep reading to find out more.
Contents
- Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide
- How Long is the Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide?
- How Fast is the Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide?
- What is an Alpine Slide?
- Video
- Cost
- Operating Hours
- Location and Directions
Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide
This alpine slide is a family-friendly ride that appeals to a broad spectrum of visitors.
Here is what you can expect when you take a ride on the Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide –
Your ride begins from the loading area where you are given a brief safety briefing, including instructions on how to ride the cart.
The Chestnut Mountain Resort has two alpine slide tracks which run parallel to each other all the way down the mountain.
In order to avoid on-track collisions, there is always a gap between you and the person in front of you.
As soon as you get the go-ahead, you push the brake lever forward to release it and begin your thrilling ride down the mountain.
Each cart has a hand brake, which allows the rider to control their own speed (more on this below).
To brake, pull the brake lever back towards you. To release the brake, push the brake lever forward.
The upper section of the track is where you’ll get the best views of the Mississippi River so don’t forget to look up!
How Long is the Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide?
The Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide is 2,050 feet (625 meters) long with a total downhill ride time of about 2:30, depending on your speed.
This thrilling downhill ride offers multiple twists, bends and turns as the cart makes its way down the mountain.
How Fast is the Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide?
The Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide can reach a maximum speed of between 15 – 20 mp/h (25 – 32 km/h).
The reason for the different speeds is that alpine slides are fitted with a manual brake which allows riders to adjust the speed of their descent.
This is a great feature of alpine slides as it gives you full control of your ride experience.
Alpine slides are also fitted with an automatic braking system or speed restrictor that prevents the cart from going above a maximum speed.
This is done to ensure the safety of the riders.
What is An Alpine Slide?
One way to think of alpine slides is that they are a summer version of the bobsled.
But unlike the bobsleds, an alpine slide is a smooth continuous track made of fibreglass, concrete or stainless steel and does not need ice to operate.
Like alpine coasters, alpine slides are installed in mountainous areas and are a popular activity in ski resorts.
These are gravity-powered rides so they use the natural contours of these areas to operate.
How Does an Alpine Slide Work?
Riders are transported down the alpine slide track in one or two-person carts.
The carts are fitted with a manual brake, positioned between the rider’s legs, that give riders full control of their speed and experience.
The photo below is an example of an alpine slide cart. Riders sit in the cart with their legs facing forward.
The lever in the middle with the red grip is the brake. You pull back on this lever to engage the brake and push forward to release it.
Alpine Slide Saftey
Safety is an important feature of alpine slides and technology improvements over the years have certainly increased rider safety.
However, as with any thrill ride of this nature, there are always risks involved.
Alpine slides can reach a speed of up to 25 mp/h (40 km/h) and almost all alpine slide accidents happen because riders are going too fast.
So if it’s your first time riding an alpine slide it’s important to become familiar with the cart and the manual brake before flying down the mountain.
Overall, alpine slides are a thrilling experience that can be enjoyed by the whole family. They are not difficult to operate and no prior experience or training is necessary.
With some basic instructions, you can jump in and enjoy the ride!
Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide Video
One of the great things about alpine slides is that a lot of people have filmed their experiences.
These videos give you an opportunity to “experience” the ride before you go on it.
The video below gives you a first-person view of what you can expect from start to finish on the Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide.
One thing to be aware of though is that point-of-view videos can be a bit misleading.
The wide-angled lens makes the drops shallower and the ride seems way slower than it is in real life.
They provide a good idea of what the ride looks like but only real-world experience tells you how they feel.
So get out there and try it for yourself!
The video below provides some incredible drone footage of the Chestnut Mountain Resort with the alpine slide winding its way down the mountain.
It gives you a great birds-eye perspective of what you can expect from this ride.
How Much Does the Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide Cost?
At the time of writing, the cost to ride the Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide was as follows:
| Ride | Price |
|---|---|
| Single ride | $12 |
| Five ride combo | $47 |
| Eight ride combo | $67 |
| Chestnut Summer Special* | $32 |
The Chestnut Summer Special includes 1 ride on the Soaring Eagle Zipline and 2 rides on the alpine slides.
Tickets can be purchased online by going to the Chestnut Mountain Resort website here.
Note that all children less than 48” tall and under the age of 7 must ride with an adult.
Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide Operating Hours
The Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide is only open during the summer months which run from the end of May to the middle of October.
The opening day for the summer season is Memorial Day Weekend.
Location and Directions
The Chestnut Mountain Alpine Slide is located at the Chestnut Mountain Resort.
Address: 8700 W. Chestnut Mountain Rd, Galena, IL 61036
You can find directions on the map below:
