Skyline Trail Goal Met

GOAL MET & THE SKYLINE TRAIL BUILD IS CRANKING!                            

We are still accepting donations to help with future trail maintenance expenses. 

Thanks for helping us meet our fundraising goal. With help from volunteers, donations, supporters and more, we are well on our way to completing The Skyline Trail this Fall 2016! Take a peek at the video to learn more about this exciting new project.

Friends of Pathways – Skyline Trail from Friends of Pathways on Vimeo.

We kicked off the Skyline Trail in September 2015 with a huge community dig day where over 100 people joined us to dig the first mile of trail from the Ferrin’s Saddle to the first major peak on the ridge.  As the snow flies this fall we are already looking ahead to next summer to hire dedicated crews to complete the trail all the way to the Cache-Game Divide.

The Skyline Trail will be a 6.31 mile multi-use trail following the Skyline ridge that extends eastward from Snow King Mountain.  It will connect the Ferrin’s Saddle to the Cache Game Divide providing unparalleled views of the Tetons and Cache Peak, and loop options for hikers, runners, bikers, and equestrians.  The trail will travel by seven major points on the ridgeline contouring along open sage slopes, grassy saddles, wooded forests and rocky outcroppings.

The work day this fall was in memory of Luke Lynch who was killed last May in an avalanche.  Luke was a trail visionary and FOP friend and former board member whose tireless efforts were pivotal in Skyline’s approval.  We all have the opportunity to take action and start what Luke set out to build in of honor his brother Matt after his tragic passing 7 years ago.  The trails approval was known to Luke just days before he passed away.  It is up to us all to finish the effort.

First proposed in March 2011, the Skyline Trail has been discussed and studied in depth over the past four years.  A thorough system wide trail assessment and Snow King Area Trail Scoping document looked closely at the nine distinct geographic areas within the Jackson Ranger District, and more carefully still at the four zones within the Snow King Area.  After several rounds of public comment and public trail charettes, the USFS determined that the Snow King and Cache Creek areas were appropriate for greater trail density to accommodate growing recreational use.  The Skyline Trail was approved in May of 2015 with seasonal limitations on access as well as restrictions on Snow King lift service for bicycle access. (See all pertinent documents at the links below)

GSKA Scoping Decision
GSKA Trails Decision App B
GSKA Trails Decision App C
GSKA Trails Decision App D
GSKA Trails Decision Map Wildlife

After hundreds of hours surveying the ridgeline and taking into account concerns about wildlife, user safety, and building feasibility we arrived at the proposed trail alignment shown above.  We laid out a thorough project plan and budget and will utilize volunteers, local trail crews, regional conservation corps, and even a small trail machine to construct the Skyline Trail next summer.  A special thanks to Snow King Mountain Resort for letting us use the Summit Lift to access the project site!