Farmdale Reservoir is Army Corps of Engineers land east of Peoria and the manager there has allowed the creation of a very nice system of trails. The ~20mile trail system is an excellent mix of fast open stretches and tight, twisty singletrack, with alot of vertical distance for you climbers. Farmdale also hosts a sweet downhill run, a MTX/dirt jump course, and a stunt loop. Farmdale regularly hosts races in the I74 Race Series, as well as the annual PAMBA fall festival, and the 2007 & 2008 Midwest Mountain Bike Festival.

Trail map: (click on the image for a larger map)

Directions to the trail head: (from Peoria)

Take I-74 East, across the river.  Take Exit 95B, East Camp Street.  Camp street will shortly merge into East Washington street.  Continue on Washington street for about 2 miles, until you reach Farmdale Road.  The intersection is marked with a light, and you will see a McDonalds on the left, and Hucks station on the right.  Turn right onto Farmdale road.  This road is windy, and crosses the railroad tracks multiple times.  You will eventually reach a brown sign pointing the way to Farmdale.  Make a left at that road, and stay left at the next intersection and follow the road up the hill.  Eventually you will see the dam and another sign.  Continue down the hill from the dam to the parking lot on the right.

[Link to Google Maps]