Jackson Hole Trails Project Update

The Jackson Hole Trails Project is a collaboration between Friends of Pathways, Teton County, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Resort, and the Forest Service is funded 50% by an innovative Wyoming Business Council Grant that was awarded by Governor Dave Freudenthal and top elected officials last January. This has made 2010 the best year ever for sustainable trail construction in Jackson Hole.

Friends of Pathways’ talented 7-person Trail Crew led the way along with contract crews and hard working volunteers. These community partners helped the Forest Service complete approximately 12 miles of major single track trail construction and reconstruction on Teton Pass and in the Greater Snow King Area. The Teton Pass and Snow King trails are part of a highly successful long-term Challenge Cost Share Partnership in place between Friends of Pathways and the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson Ranger District.

Project highlights include:

• New Phillips Ridge Trail totally complete - 6-miles of some of Jackson's best singletrack.
•  History Trail Reroute, about 1 mile that provide hikers and horses a fully separate trail to the top of Teton Pass.
•  Fuzzy Bunny, new 2-mile downhill bike trail from summit of Teton Pass to connect to Candyland, constructed by contract between FOP and Teton Freedom Riders, and paid with the State grant.
•  Upper Game Creek, about 2 miles of major reconstruction to make it sustainable for all users.
•  Josie's Ridge, 1 mile of reconstruction.
•  Snow King Nature Trail, very accessible scenic loop trail off the summit of Snow King Chair lift. 
•  Concept Design completed for the Snow King Bike Park, for spring 2011 construction.
•  Hagen Trail and Cache Creek Sidewalk reroutes started, to be completed in 2011.

Maintenance: On top of the new trails, Friends of Pathway Crews invested 500 maintenance hours on trail repairs and tree clearing - the best maintenance season ever. 

Economic Impact Study: Friends of Pathways is working with a UW Graduate Student on a study of the business benefits of trails, to be published in spring 2011.

Additionally, grant partner the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has completed a substantial portion of the new Teewinot Bike Park and new hiking trail from the Tram to the Gondola.