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SIUE Trails

Tight and twisty with modest climbing, these trails are prone to overgrowth in the hot summer months.

  • No Recent Update
  • Current Weather
  • Beginner / Intermediate
  • 7.5 miles
  • Multiple Loops
  • Illinois

This trail system is made up of more than 7.5 miles of tight, twisty, all-dirt singletrack in 6 separate trails. Modest elevation gain, thick forest, and smooth hardpack make for rides which will satisfy every rider from beginner to advanced. The trails were designed in such a way that they would be a place not only for beginners to try out mountain biking, but also to allow more advanced riders an opportunity to test their bike handling skills by riding the narrow trails at a more rapid pace.

They are built partially on the site of an old outdoor amphitheater from the 1970’s, better known as the “Mississippi River Festival.” The trails are easily accessible from the numerous bike paths that intertwine the Metro-East, so if you live in the area, driving to the trails is not necessarily required. While all the trails are designed to IMBA standards, because of the all-dirt surface, it is recommended that you not ride these trails immediately following rain.

Please download a map and take it with you, so you will be able to find all the loops, as they are spread out among numerous cross-country running trails.

Directions

Take hwy 255 North past Interstate 270, to New Poag Road. Turn Right or East at the end of the exit ramp. Stay on New Poag Road until the first intersection with a 4 way stop sign. This will be University Drive. Turn Right onto University Drive. The road will immediately bend to the left, at the end of the bend on your right is a gravel road, turn onto the gravel road.

For those of you approaching by bike, there is a trailhead for Trail 2 off of the Delyte Morris Bikeway, which bisects the SIUE campus from Stadium Drive, and eventually connects with the Watershed Bikeway. The trailhead is in between Cougar Lake Dr. and University Dr., just to the east of campus. There is also a trailhead on Trail 3 at the back of Cougar Village behind the Northwestern-most collection of apartments.

MAPS

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Latest trail conditions

Our site utilizes crowd-sourced data to provide the latest conditions and that includes you. Be sure you are logged in first or set up a free account before updating a trail condition.

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10

Jun 2025

From dewey mathews on Tuesday:
SIUE - Trails are all super extra muddy and need a week or two of summer heat to really dry, did a quick recon and trails are clear and maintained, but a big tree down on north side of trail #5. As always a big thanks to those who clear and maintain for us to ride.

18

Apr 2025

From dewey mathews on Friday:
SIUE - Edit-Big tree down on 2 and 6.

18

Apr 2025

From dewey mathews on Friday:
SIUE - Rode 12456. Big tree down on east side on 2 near morris trail. Big tree down on 5. Be careful. Otherwise all trails in great shape. Some usual leaf cover still down in spots. Great sight lines as trees and bushes start to fill out. First ride of the year ⚡️

10

Dec 2024

From Randy Smith on Tuesday:
SIUE - Trails still greasy in spots. Only checked 4 and 6. Cleared the downed limb on 4 that was an impaling hazard.

07

Dec 2024

From Randy Smith on Saturday:
SIUE - Trails were fine before noon. After that they started getting very greasy from freeze thaw. There is a very pointy tree down with a 2-3 inch limb at chest level down on trail 4 (take SIUE maintenance road down to crossing and make left into trail about half mile in). Didn't have a hand saw so I tied a white trash bag to make it visible until it can be taken out.

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