Friends of Pathways has a formal partnership with the USFS to collaborate on design, construction and stewardship of local trails for all users – hike, bike, horse, and ski. We’re committed to providing easy year round access to trails that is essential to maintaining our high quality of life in Jackson Hole.

Sunny warm days have the trails melting out quickly.  This week crews cleared the Munger Trails and cleaned drainage features.  The state land trails are dry and the lower Munger trails on the USFS are mostly passable with a few lingering snow drifts.  We also cleared Hagen, Putt Putt, Game, Beaver Ponds, lower Wilson, Josies, Kellys, KC, Lindas, Champa, Shade Monkey and Sink or Swim.  Most things below Sink or Swim are dry with a few snow patches, and you can get up to bridge 2 on Hagen before you hit snow.  If you are looking for a bike to enjoy the trails and pathways this summer come out to the Bike Swap at The Hub this weekend.  You can drop off bikes through 7pm this evening and then the swap is from 10-1pm tomorrow.  It should be a warm sunny weekend to enjoy the trails so get out there!

The winter wildlife closures have lifted and the trails are melting out.  You can explore up Game Creek and Putt Putt with only a few snowy spots left.  The trails below Sink or Swim between Josie’s Ridge and Snow King are dry too but the Hagen side is still holding snow in the north facing trees.  Also the Munger State Land trails are dry and a good place to explore now that the county has a lease there.  We will be working to improve these trails over the next few summers.  If you haven’t been out there park at one of the three pull outs on Fall Creek road to the north of the main Munger trailhead.  The first is at the cattle guard and then there are two more on the east side of the road by some fence posts.  It is a beautiful area with great view of Munger Mountain.  Looks like we might finally hit 70 degrees this weekend so get out and enjoy the trails!

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.

Ill start with a ChrisP quote “You can be certain each year that all of the frontcountry trails will be snow free by July 4th”  We made it and got everything clear including the Skyline trail which opened up on July 1.  Its a sprint from late April til now to hike and bike the 150 miles of trail with a chainsaw and clear all the downed trees from the winter.  This often involves multiple trips as spring and summer wind storms inevitably bring down more trees the day after we cleared.  When this happens it really helps us to get reports of where the trees are and how big they are through our trail maintenance request button on our website.  Help us out and let us know if you see downed trees or other trail problems when you are out on adventures.  Have fun out on the trails over the holiday weekend!

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 Teton Pass trails were eerily quite today with no cars up there, its a unique experience to get out and explore.  Crews cleared up Crater, the Phillip’s Connector, Arrow to Snotel, and over to the Ridge trail and back down.  We also hit History, Ferrins, and Game Creek as some new trees fell with all the wind this last week.  We will get down the rest of the Ridge and Arrow to Phillip’s Canyon next week then work out way up towards Ski Lake.  We also continued to wage war on musk thistle up Game Creek and did some maintenance on the Blair Dr. Skills Track and the Melody Limits Singletrack this week.  Thanks to the mountain bike team for coming out to help.  Its beautiful and green out there and wildflowers are starting to pop up so get out and enjoy some trails this 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.

This week crews cleared Game, West Game, upper Wilson Canyon, Crater, History, and Big Rocks.  Snow is melting fast and only a few drifts are lingering on the steep north facing spots on the Cache-Game system.  Teton Pass is opening up as well with most trails being snow free up to 7000 feet or so depending on shade and aspect.  If you would like to help us on trails come out for National Trails Day this weekend on Teton Pass.  We will be working from 9-12 on the History and Big Rocks trails, building a bridge and a turnpike.  Meet at the bottom of Old Pass Road for coffee and bagels and lunch after, hope to see you there!

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!

 

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The snow this week didn’t do us any favors drying out the trails.  A few more things are opening up and passable but there is still some lingering packed snow and drifts in the shade.  As you get excited for summer come by the Bike Swap this Saturday at The Hub Bicycles from 10-1.  Otherwise enjoy some much deserved sunshine this weekend!