The award-winning Jackson Hole Community Pathways System continues to expand and now totals 28 miles.  Many areas in the valley have excellent connectivity, and the smooth paved pathways serve a wide range of non-motorized interests from practical transportation to peaceful nature watching to joyful recreation.  All are easily accessable from homes, schools, employment locations and Jackson Hole’s many lodges and motels.

However, much work remains to complete the pathways system in the Jackson Hole region. Friends of Pathways envisions a completed system of up to 100 miles of Pathways in Jackson Hole that interconnects the Jackson Hole Community Pathways system, the Forest Service Old Pass Road to Teton Pass, existing Snake River levee BLM access, and the future, newly approved Grand Teton National Park 41-mile pathway system.

It is important to identify and complete the remaining high-priority pathways by addressing the remaining barriers to a complete, connected, and safe pathway system in Jackson Hole.

Friends of Pathways knows that a systematic multi-agency approach will be the most productive. This includes setting priorities, securing the funding, executing exceptional planning and design and quality construction and maintenance. A systematic approach will best coordinate multiple government agencies and partner organizations to complete the pathways system and establish the related education and stewardship programs.

Friends of Pathways (FoP) is the community advocate for pathways as well as a partner with government agencies for construction support and ongoing stewardship of pathways once complete. (FoP) is working diligently with local government to help complete the remaining pathway system. We will continue to help address problems and barriers in the existing system, and to partner with agencies on enhancing the community pathways.

FoP is also investing a considerable amount of time and effort into the rapid completion of top priority pathway projects such as the WY-22 Pathway connecting Wilson and Jackson, the pathway from north Jackson to Grand Teton National Park, and a Karns Meadows pathway.

Making progress to complete the Pathways System, such as the missing gap on WY-22, requires strong public support and involvement. Friends of Pathways will help our members stay informed and we hope you will become involved!

Most government led pathway plans and pathway budget decisions include and welcome public comment. Friends of Pathway will help you understand - in useful terms - the sometimes complicated process of building pathways, and provide simple and time efficient methods for you to take action on government plans and projects. The best outcomes almost always include effective public participation, and FoP will take a leadership role in encouraging public support for pathways.

Please sign up for our e-mail alerts so that Friends of Pathways can keep you informed and provide the specifics on how you can help. FoP will do the hard work of researching agency pathway plans and provide useful factual summaries to best utilize your time and maximize your effectiveness in commenting.

Pathways Update for 2007
The award-winning Jackson Hole Community Pathways System continues to expand and is now up to 28 miles in total.  Many areas of the valley have excellent connectivity, and the smooth paved pathways serve a wide range of non-motorized travel.
 
The newest paved pathway in Jackson Hole adds an important one-mile connection from Wilson along WY-22 to gain access to the Old Pass Road, a wonderful and challenging climb up to the top of 8,431-foot Teton Pass.  This pathway was completed with federal funding as part of the Teton Pass Millennium Trail project, and is designed to connect communities in Jackson Hole and Teton Valley Idaho to public lands in the national forests.

While there are still missing links in the system, the gaps are closing.  One of the top community priorities is the connection between Wilson and the Town of Jackson along WY-22. This season, one helpful step for this corridor will include construction of a pathway spur near the new Teton Science Schools .  This new pathway will utilize an existing underpass that will allow pathway users to slip under the highway and avoid the busy on-grade highway crossing.

Recently, Friends of Pathways proposed a world-class pathway along WY-22 that might include a scenic timber bridge over the Snake River that would connect Emily Stevens Park on the east to the BLM Snake River boat launch on the west. Government agencies are beginning to study this corridor and pathway concept. See more on the Wyoming 22 pathway page. [LINK]

Additional Pathway sections to be constructed this year include in the South Park area south of Jackson. A new pathway will be started along South Park Loop Road near the Melody Ranch neighborhood.  It will eventually connect up in a second phase with the Paul Merritt Trail and Von Gontard Trail, which run parallel to the south U.S. 26 highway from Jackson to Game Creek and south.

One of the more exciting pieces to start this year is a wonderful new wide pathway and sidewalk starting in the Town of Jackson Home Ranch Parking Lot up past the visitor centers to the Flat Creek Bridge.  This is the start of a major pathway that one day will extend all the way from Jackson to Colter Bay, a distance of nearly 40 miles.  This first half mile urban section is to start construction this summer thanks to a grant the Town of Jackson secured. 

Design work for the next 4 miles north of Jackson along U.S. 26 to the south boundary of Grand Teton National Park is also fully funded and underway. Teton County, in cooperation with the National Elk Refuge, has applied for a federal grant that could provide construction funds later this year, should the grant be approved. The pathway will include new interpretive facilities enhancing the public’s understanding of the significant natural resources and wildlife the Refuge protects.

The most exciting news of all: after a multi-year planning process, the National Park Service announced in April 2007 the final Record of Decision for the Grand Teton Transportation Plan!  The Park Service decision will create a visionary world-class pathway and alternative transportation system in Grand Teton National Park, including an extended pathway system of nearly 42 miles, and further steps to study public transit in the park.
[link to Grand Teton Pathways]

The proposed first phase of the Grand Teton Pathways will construct the Moose to Jenny Lake pathway in 2008; the second phase will extend from south Jenny Lake to String Lake; and the third phase would reach from the southern boundary to Moose, connecting to the 4-mile pathway section between the park boundary and Jackson described above. Under the leadership of U.S. Senator Craig Thomas, $8 million has been appropriated by Congress to begin these phases, which are now being designed.

Future Grand Teton Pathway phases are proposed from North Jenny to Colter Bay, and the southern three miles of the Moose-Wilson Road. The Moose-Wilson path will connect the existing pathway along WYO 390 and the Moose-Wilson Trail north into the park and up to the new LSR Rockefeller Preserve, which is nearing completion at the historic J-Y Ranch. The pathway would connect to the preserve, and allow visitors to access a fantastic new interpretive hiking-trail system up to Phelps Lake.

Please check back to the Friends of Pathways web site for all the latest updates on pathways projects.  Be on the look out for opportunities to comment and support pathway projects.