Will It Pedal in Peoria?

Excerpted from Mountain Bike! The Midwest by David Shepherd

Derrick Moscardelli, an IMBA/RIDE coordinator, describes this area as "fun." I agree. The day I rode here, we assembled an ad hoc group of riders from the local area, as well as Springfield, Joliet, Chicago, and even as far away as Iowa. Everyone had varying degrees of experience, but all concluded this was some of the best riding around. There are over 40 miles of dirt and grass loop trails at Jubilee, about 80% of which are open to mountain bikes. The area has the right mix of uphill riding, downhill riding, and best of all, gully crossings, some of which retain water. The gullies will challenge your bike handling skills, but if you're not feeling daring, you could walk around them.

The creek crossings have bridges without railings, so take care as you wind around the trails and come upon one especially in the winter when the bridges might be slick. (Of course, it was summer when your humble author missed a bridge and ended up in the briars: “I'm okay! Really, I'm okay”) The trails are wide and well maintained, so you won't have to worry much about deadfall, rocks, and the like; it's those wonderful gullies that require your attention. Some of the grassy areas of the trail are a little rough, but not enough to cause you concern.

Finding the trail: From I-74, take Exit 82, Kickapoo/Edwards Road, north. A mile later, turn left at US 150. Another mile later, turn right at the Princeville-Jubilee blacktop. Go 2 miles and turn left on Jubilee College Road, which will take you into the entrance.

Notes on the trail: From the parking area, go back up the road you came in. Just outside the entrance, turn left up the road. You'll see the entrance to the trail on your left just before a 15 mph speed limit sign. Look for the trail between the trees.

When you're on the trail, the first sign you come to will have an arrow pointing to the right, but keep going straight on a narrow single-track. When you come to an intersection with a cross-country ski sign, go left. You'll ride through a grassy area before you enter the woods again. At a trail map sign, veer to your left. At the next cross-country ski-signed intersection, go right. You'll go straight across 2 picnic areas. After the second one, take the trail to your right. You'll ride down a hill, across a bridge, and back uphill again. At the top, hang a right at the trail map. Soon you'll come to a wide clearing; turn left and ride up the clearing. Turn right at the next trail map. The next intersection has left, soft right, and hard right options. Take the soft right. And at the next intersection, follow the ski route trail to the left. After another grassy area, you'll enter the woods again. Take the trail to the right. You'll come to another intersecting trail. Turn left, and from here you should be able to retrace the way you came in.

It's easy to get turned around, so allow time to get lost. You can get your bearings from any of the signs posted throughout the trail. When all else fails, you can take one of the picnic area access roads back out to the main road.

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