2023 Challenge #2: Downhill and Shipwrecked
Ready to head downhill for a Shipwreck?
For our 2023 Outdoor Challenge #2, we challenge you to join us at Fort Creve Coeur for some hiking, biking, riverside food and drinks, and maybe even some paddling with our Downhill and Shipwrecked Challenge!
CENTRAL ILLINOIS’ NEWEST TRAIL SYSTEM PAIRS PERFECTLY WITH A MEMORABLE RIVERSIDE DINING EXPERIENCE STEEPED IN LOCAL HISTORY
Featuring a new downhill trail system, an amazing beverage concoction, a fort from 1680 and a shipwreck from 1918, this challenge has it all.
At Fort Creve Coeur, Trail Wizards have been hard at work making one of the most vertically mesmerizing mountain bike trails around, and the fine folks at Peoria Area Mountain Bike Association (PAMBA) not only detail the trails themselves, but also the condition of the trails (muddy, dry, etc.) on their website.
Your downhill journey begins at the highest point around, at historic Fort Creve Coeur, where you will discover the first public building erected by Europeans in the modern state of Illinois (and the first fort built in the West by the French).
Get ready, as you will feel like you’re walking the plank with some of these trails: they are steep, deep and breathtaking. They're fun for bikers and hikers alike, and dogs are welcome. In fact, your dog may need to carry you, your gear or kids back up to the top.
But here's the fun part: You don't necessarily need to return to the top.
The real treasure awaits you at the bottom.
There you'll find Kuchie's on the Water, home of the famous Shipwreck Bloody Mary, which is known for being for than a meal than a mere beverage.
You don't need to be a 21+ kid to enjoy it, as they have under 21 Shipwrecks available. To get to the trail system from Kuchie’s (or to find Kuchie’s from the top of the trail system), look for River Road (which isn't actually a road anymore, but rather the direct path between the two, from top to bottom.)
The trails are easy to find on the PAMBA website or other trail apps like Trailforks and Alltrails.
Biking, hiking or paddling this area also means you can immerse yourself in some fascinating local history.
As the first fort built in the West by the French, Fort Creve Coeur was initially established in 1680 by French explorer Robert Rene Cavalier de LaSalle. Click here to learn more about its history.
Beyond Fort Creve Coeur, there's even more history to discover while you’re here…
As you kick back on the deck of Kuchie’s overlooking the Illinois River, you may be surprised to learn that just a few yards from where you are enjoying that Shipwreck feast an actual shipwreck occurred.
On July 5, 1918, the steamboat Columbia was returning to Pekin and Kingston Mines, to drop off 500 passengers, from a recent trip up the river to Al Fresco Park in Peoria Heights.
At 12:05AM on July 6, the boat struck a submerged tree, ripped a hole in the bottom, and it collapsed on itself, killing 87 of the 500 passengers. They know the exact time because the watches were stopped on the recovered victims.
To read a full account of the disaster, which at the time was the largest loss of life in the country's inter-coastal waterways, stop by a local bookstore (I Know You Like A Book in Peoria Heights is a good one) and pick up a copy of The Wreck of the Columbia, by local author Ken Zurski. It's a great read.
Additionally, the flag that flew on the Columbia was recovered and is on display at The Wheels of Time Museum in Dunlap. We LOVE this museum!
The Fort Creve Coeur trail system is one of the areas newest, and continues to grow every Wednesday from 5:30pm-7:30pm with the hard work and dedication of trail volunteers.
No prior work experience or materials needed, they'll take all willing hands on deck and show you the ropes. To find out more about the work sessions, the trails themselves or their awesome site, check out "Ft Creve Coeur - Trail System" on Facebook, or reach out to the site admin, Corey Bailey, for more info.
Here are some cool links to some amazing drone aerial footage and computer renderings of the trails.
So make a day of it, or even a weekend.
Bring your trail running shoes, a mountain bike, a good book to read on the Kuchie’s sundeck, or even a kayak or paddle board for the river — there’s a nice launch spot right by Kuchie’s.
Complete the downhill challenge (top-to-bottom!) and enjoy a sweet riverside reward from Kuchie's (watch for details in the coming days).
