Trails are starting to melt out and with a 60 degree Saturday coming up it seemed like a good time to start trail reports for the season.  The usual things are dry, the first part of Putt Putt and Sidewalk, the S 89 Singletrack and the Game Creek Connector.  Sadly A&W is not open this year as the land managers reversed their decision.  Elsewhere you can explore trails that are outside of the winter wildlife closures but be prepared to meet snow and mud.  Hopefully with warmer temps and the May 1 opening there will be much more to report next week.  As you get out and explore use our trail maintenance request button on our website to report any down trees or other problems.  I have been poking around doing dirt work and drainage and will keep clearing and opening trails next week.  Also if you need some early season stoke come out to the Bicycle Film Festival on Thursday May 1 at the Center for the Arts at 5:30pm.

Teton Pass trails are almost snow free with some drifts remaining on the highest ridges and shaded north facing slopes.  We cleared up Phillip’s Canyon to the Arrow trail and up to Snotel, and then down the Ridge trail.  There were just a few patches of snow left on Arrow.  You can access everything from the Trail Creek trailhead or the Fish Creek Access to Phillip’s Canyon.  Old Pass Road is open but the highway is closed to vehicles and pedestrians this weekend as WYDOT hauls fill to fix the slide.  Josie’s Ridge too is closed for part of today as the helitac crew helps drop loads of rocks so the trail crew can finish reinforcing the steep switchbacks.  Crews also spent time this week brushing Munger, KC, Lindas, and treating musk thistle in Game Creek.  We will keep clearing the upper parts of Teton Pass next week and the trails should be good to go.  Continue to let us know if you see a tree down on the trail or any other problem that needs fixing, using our trial maintenance request button on our website.  Have a fun weekend!

The trail in the Cache-Game system are all open and clear with the exception of the Skyline trail which opens on July 1.  The Munger Mountain system is in great shape too and beautiful this time of year with the aspen trees budding.  Teton Pass is slowly opening up and most trails are snow free up to about 7500 feet.  Crews this week finished up National Trails Day projects including a bridge on History trail and a turnpike on the new Big Rocks extension.  We also cleared lower History and Crater, Big Rocks, lower Blacks, and did a second pass on West Game and Wilson Canyon because trees in the burn area seem to fall every week.  Get out and enjoy the warm weather and use our trail maintenance request button if you see anything that needs attention out on the trails.

The snow and rain have slowed trails melting out but there is dry-ish dirt out there to be found.  The lower trails on Snow King below Sink or Swim are all in pretty good shape as is Putt Putt.  The upper part of Hagen and Ferrins have a few lingering snow spots, and so do the other north facing areas.  Crews have cleared everything in Cache and on the front side of Snow King and are working in Game Creek over the holiday weekend.  Beware of the fresh dirt work on the Game Creek singletrack on the east side of the beaver ponds as it will soak up any rain on Saturday and be muddier than other more compact trails.  If you are heading up that way take the Beaver Ponds Loop on the west side instead, and maybe bring some snacks for the hard working MCC crew were hired to help us with some trail work and clearing this spring.  They will be camped up Game Creek til next week when they head over to Teton Pass.  Keep next Saturday morning, June 1 in mind as its National Trails Day and we will be meeting at the base of the Old Pass Road to do some work on the History and Big Rocks trails.  We hope to see you there, have a great weekend!

So these were the trails that would have been dry if it hadn’t snowed last night.  Things will hopefully melt off tomorrow but be wary of the transition from frozen mornings to sunshine as the trails will turn slick and you will take a lot of mud home with you.  Your best bet is to go for an adventure south of town on the A&W, S 89 Singletrack, and Game Creek trails.  After that the first parts of Putt Putt and Sidewalk are mostly dry with some snow drifts.  You can also push through those and hike up Crystal Butte and Crystal Lite or take a short sunny walk on the Nelson Knoll trail.  If you are out and about and see any down trees or other trail issues use our Trail Maintenance Request button on our website to report it and we will get out to it right away.  Have a great weekend!