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.

Trail Conditions for 7-3-20

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It looks like we will have some hero dirt for the July 4th weekend.  All of the trails are drying out after the rain this week and are in great shape.  The trail crew cleared the Skyline trail on Wednesday and cut 31 trees so everyone can enjoy a long adventure with great views on the ridge this weekend.  The crew also brushed Munger Mountain for better line of sight and respite going through the Aspen thickets.  They cleared a bunch of drains this week that were filling up with sediments from all the rain.  That is why these are so important to get water off of the trail so it doesn’t erode the tread.  Similarly the crew closed shortcuts on Ferrins and Sink or Swim where people are trying to take a straight line.  The natural swoop and grade reversals on the trails act as natural drainage points for water to flow off.  Please don’t short cut because you are lazy or trying to get a faster Strava time, and call out your friends if you see them doing the same.  Fun fact the newer trails like Ferrins and Arrow only have a few drains because they were designed to shed water.  However older trails like Ski Lake and Phillip’s Canyon have over a hundred drains each because they tend to be too steep and in a straight line down the slope.  Have fun, stay on the trails, and enjoy some good weather this weekend!

Find MBT’s trail report on Teton Valley here:

June 29th Teton Dirt Report

Trail Conditions for 6-26-20

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This week there is just a bit of lingering snow on Teton Pass but everything is getting to be very passable.  If we get another week of warm temps we should make the July 4th date of all the trails being snow free and dry.  Our youth crew has been hard at work over the last two weeks, building lots of turnpikes, clearing drainage, brushing along trails, and building some new features at the Blair Dr. Bike Park.  We also adopted a viewpoint trail on Teton Pass that branches from the top of the History Trail and heads out for a few hundred yards to an overlook above Devils Slide.  The crew lovingly named this the Teton Tourist Traverse from the number of travelers we saw hiking out to take a picture.  We also surveyed the north side of the Big Munger Trail with the USFS and the crews from DIRT and Crosscut Trails who have a grant to reroute and improve the Big Munger Trail.  The new route avoids the fall line climbs up the fence line and ridge and instead will climb through some beautiful Aspen ridges.  This really is one of the most stunning trails on the frontcountry system with views of the whole valley and amazing wildflowers.  If you get a chance go check it out this weekend!

Check out the trail updates for Teton Valley from MBT here:

June 22nd Teton Dirt Report

Trail Conditions for 6-19-20

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Teton Pass got some fresh snow this week so the trails up high will likely be a bit muddy in spots and there are definitely drifts lingering on ridges and in north facing tree cover.  The crew cleaned drainage and added fill to bridge approaches and turnpikes up Black Canyon and saw some bikers coming down who had post holed out to My Elly before descending mostly dry trail.  Similarly people are making the connection from the Phillip’s Pass trailhead down to the Phillip’s Canyon access on Fish Creek with a combination of trails and the BPA road which is mostly dry.  The hiking trails are more accessible and it would be a great weekend for a chilly dip in Ski Lake.  Our youth trail crew started their summer this week and cleaned a bunch of drains in the rain, built a few turnpikes, and added a new balance feature to the Blair Dr. Bike Park.  Look for them out on the trails working hard this summer!

 

Check here for trail updates in Teton Valley from MBT.

June 15th Teton Dirt Report

Trail Conditions for 6-12-20

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Teton Pass is aiming for its traditional dry trail date of July 4th again this year.  Trails are slowly melting and the crews cleared Blacks up to Mt. Elly but found a lot of snow above bridge 4 in the shaded part of the canyon.  The trails north of the Phillips/Jimmys parking lot still have a lot of drifted snow as well although it is about the time that an intrepid biker could link up some trail and the BPA road to access the lower Ridge trail.  Hikers should fair better but prepare hard packed snow in the mornings and slushy snow as the day warms.  Snow King is good shape although trees keep falling in the burned area of West Game and Wilson Canyon.  If you see any new fallen trees please let us know through our trail maintenance request and we will go get them with the help of our youth trail crew which starts on Monday.  Look for them out on the trails and remember trail crews always love cookies!

Check with MBT for their trail reports covering Teton Valley here:

June 8th Teton Dirt Report

Trail Conditions for 6-5-20

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Snow King is completely dry and riding great!  The crews cleared some trees off of West Game and Ferrins yesterday, but expect a few more to fall in the burned section of Wilson Canyon and West Game.  If you see some new trees down after a wind event shoot us a trail maintenance request and we will get them cleared.  Teton Pass is also drying out but slowly.  We cleared upper Crater and History trail this week and there is some snow lingering on the top of History.  Big Rocks and lower Blacks and getting there too and we will be out clearing those trails on Monday.  On the northern side of the highway there is still a lot of drifts on Arrow, Ridge, and Snotel.  The BPA road is drier since it gets more sun and can get you further out but it will still be hard to link to the trails that descend to Fish Creek.  A quick reminder to enthusiastic trail users that building jumps and features is not allowed on the trails.  The frontcountry system is managed for multi-use and the trail crew works hard to maintain trails so everyone can enjoy them.  On this same note please do not remove trail closures and rehab materials.  When trail braids and shortcuts happen because of irresponsible use the crews choose the alignment that drains water the best, reduce speeds, and provide for the best line of sight for other trail users.  Then we will close and rehab the other sections.  Thanks for helping us make sure everyone can enjoy the trails safely and get out this afternoon and enjoy the trails before the rain and snow this weekend!

Trail Conditions for 5-29-20

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The trails in the Cache Game area are almost dried out.  There is still some lingering snow and mud in the 5 way meadows on Wilson Canyon, as well as on upper Cache Creek and the north side of the Cache Game divide.  The crews installed more rock steps on Josies Ridge to help keep this popular steep trail from eroding.  We also started some clearing on Teton Pass where the snow line is slowly rising.  We were able to get up the Ridge trail from Fish Creek to switchbacks, and on Phillip’s Canyon to just below the Arrow trail junction.  Crater was also mostly dry as is the Parallel trail but trails in the trees on northern slopes are still holding snow.  Old Pass Road should be plowed of snow in the next day or two thanks to Jim Verdone.  With the warm temps it should be a great weekend to get out and enjoy the trails!

 

Trail Conditions for 5-22-20

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Trails were melting out quickly with temps in the 70’s earlier this week but will be slick and muddy with the wet weather lingering through Saturday.  The lower parts of some trails on Teton Pass are snow free and are being cleared by the USFS and FOP crews this week and next week.  On Snow King most trails are dry with lingering snow on the north side of the Ferrins and Cache/Game saddles, and within the Snow King Ski Area.  There are also lingering wet and muddy spots in the 5 way meadows of Wilson, Leeks, and West Game as well as towards the end of the Hagen trail.  Munger is good to go and the bike parks at Blair Dr. are also ready, including the new Totem Track just to the north of the community gardens.  Hopefully this will help spread out the crowds and give the youngest users their own space.  Have fun this weekend and try to stay off of the trails while the rain lingers, maybe aim for Sunday afternoon or Monday for your adventures!

Remember to check out the MBT report below for some more dry trails in Teton Valley.

May 18th Teton Dirt Report

 

Trail Conditions for 5-15-20

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A rainy and cool week has slowed the trail drying process.  You can get a little farther up in elevation on sunny slopes without trees, but these same sections tend to get more rain and become muddy more quickly than trails under tree cover.  The lower portion of Ferrins is in good shape and Hagen is starting to dry out up to bridge 2 but it is pretty snowy beyond that.  The USFS crew cleared Munger this week and found it in good shape with only a few lingering snow drifts.  They also completed more work on the Josies steps to try and shore up the most eroded sections of trail.  We worked with MBT as well this week on a new bike park by the Blair Community Gardens.  The track is close to done but needs a few sunny days to dry out after all the rain this week.  When open it will be geared more towards kids on strider bikes and alleviate some of the congestion at the bigger park.  If you are looking for an adventure there are also some fun trails down the Snake River canyon at lower elevations.  Check out the Dog, Cabin, East Table, and Wolf Creek trails as well as some of the scenic trails down to the river.  It looks like the sun comes out for the weekend so get out and enjoy!

Also check out MBT’s reports here to find some more dry trails in Teton Valley!

Teton Dirt Reports

Trail Conditions for 5-8-20

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After another sunny week more trails are drying out.  Most everything on the north side of Cache Creek is in the sun and has dried out.  The very end of Putt Putt has some snow and seeps that are keeping it muddy.  Trails below Sink or Swim and Hagen Highway are in great shape too with only the snow left on the ski runs within the Snow King resort.  Wilson Canyon is also dry up to the steep rocky part of the trail and Game Creek is coming along and is mostly snow free up to the West Game junction.  The higher elevations and shady areas are still holding some snow but melting fast so if you are out exploring try to stay on dry trail or snow and avoid making muddy areas worse.  If you see any trees across the trails or a spot that needs attention send us a trail maintenance request from our website with the button at the bottom right of your screen.

Have fun out there this weekend and make sure to check out Mountain Bike the Tetons Dirt Reports for other dry trails areas around the Wydaho Region here:

Teton Dirt Reports

Trail Conditions for 5-1-20

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Happy May 1st, the crew was out all morning opening the winter wildlife closures and seeing what was dry.  The first mile or two of Game Creek is in good shape with just a little compact ice on the first left hand bend.  The lower parts of Wilson Canyon in the sun looked good as well.  As you wrap around Snow King the lower parts of Josies and KC were dry with patches of snow in the trees which is the general trend.  In Cache the Nelson Knoll loop, lower Woods Canyon, Crystal Lite, and Crystal Butte are good to go.  The Sidewalk is also snow free and you can link to the Wiggle and Putt Putt on dry trail.  The crew dug through a few drifts on Putt Putt to speed up the melting and prevent trail damage in the muddy spots below the lingering snow.  Please try to stay on the snow and the trail, many feet and tires help to smooth out the muddy spots as they go from damp to dry.  While the trails are dry enough for hikers and bikers it is still too soon for horses which exert a greater weight on a small surface of the trail and will leave deep prints at this time of year.  If you are out riding try to keep to compact gravel surfaces on the old road grades for another week or so.  Everything else in the shade is spotty and intermittent with snow and mud depending on the time of day.  Saturday should be a good time to get out and explore, but watch the weather on Sunday and Monday and give the trails a few hours after any precipitation as the soils are saturated and don’t dry out as quickly as they do later in the summer.  Have a great weekend!