Chestnut Mountain Resort
Compiled from public sources · October 2026
Chestnut Mountain Resort, the largest ski area in Illinois, runs its own ski school, where professional instructors teach skiing and snowboarding to first timers and experienced skiers. Its kids lesson program, Powder Pups, is geared to children starting at age 4. The resort sits on bluffs above the Mississippi River eight miles southeast of Galena, with 19 trails, a terrain park and equipment rentals.
The practical details
- Ages
- Ages 4+
- Environment
- Indoor/Outdoor
- Operator
- Chestnut Mountain Resort · Private
This listing was compiled from public sources such as news reports and visitor bureaus. Confirm dates, prices and details on Chestnut Mountain Resort’s own website before registering.
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Google Reviews
Powered by GoogleCrystal was an amazing server! She was friendly, attentive, and provided excellent service. She made our experience at The Summit Restaurant even better. She definitely deserves recognition for her great work!
Had a good stay here. If you are budget conscious, this is a great place. It is a ski lodge in the winter, in the spring summer and fall there are zip lines. Mississippi River boat cruises. Bike trails, etc. Something for everyone. The rooms are good, kind of smallish bit very clean and most have great views of the ski trails. It is about a 15 minute drive to downtown Galena and tons of restaurants. It has a really nice indoor pool, hot tub and dry sauna, restaurants on property. No elevator, but there are only 4 floors and the main entrance is on floor 2. Overall a great value and fun place to stay.
Horrible....... They are definitely paying for reviews. Where do I start. 1. Not ADA compliant. No elevator?!?!? 2. Rooms are trash. Holiday Inn is better than this dump. Bathrooms are trash. Sink from 1960. Super small. Unreal. 3. Air conditioner make a horrible noise. Trash. Do not come here. Complete rip-off. Food is absolutely trash. It's cafeteria food. All frozen. They nickel and dime you to death. Galena is a waste of money. So many other nice places to visit. This place has not been updated since 1980. I warned you. Stay away!!!!
The experience overall was next level. The staff, amazing. The views, picturesque. The rooms??? They were giving strong motel 6 vibes in that the walls were really thin. I actually could tell what kind of conversations people were having in the room next door, and thats not hyperbole. The bathrooms are super tiny. Im wondering if they got a killer deal on the toilets because, those bad boys belong in an elementary school. But, 4 stars nonetheless for a wonderful experience around the resort itself. Like I said, the staff were nothing short of amazing and while dining at the Summit Cafe, the extraordinary views are well worth the price.
My experience at Chestnut Mountain Resort was fantastic from start to finish. The location is absolutely stunning, with breathtaking views overlooking the Mississippi River that make the stay feel special the moment you arrive. The resort is well-maintained, and the surrounding scenery is beautiful in every season.







