Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
shortage of amazing hikes outside the parks. Many of the trails outside the parks are open
to mountain bikers as well.
One trail with immediate proximity to town that skirts the Gros Ventre Wilderness Area
is the Cache Creek Canyon Loop, which is part of the Greater Snow King Trail Network.
It is a popular trail for hikers, mountain bikers, and in winter, cross-country skiers. To get
to the trailhead, drive east on Broadway to Redmond Street, across from the hospital; turn
right and go 0.4 mile to Cache Creek Road. Turn left and continue just over 1 mile to the
parking lot at road's end. Hikers can amble along both sides of the creek on this 4-mile loop,
gaining only 350 vertical feet. Connecting trails lead to Game Creek and Granite Falls, or
back to Snow King in Jackson.
Ten miles west of town near Teton Pass is Phillips Pass, an incredible and somewhat
strenuous day hike at the edge of the Tetons and the Jedediah Smith Wilderness Area. The
trail is open to hikers and mountain bikers. To get to the trailhead, head west to Teton Pass
on Highway 22. Two miles east of the summit is Phillips Canyon Road (Forest Rd. 30972).
There is no parking at the trailhead, which is 0.5 mile down this road, so park safely across
the highway in a small pullout or on Phillips Canyon Road close to the highway. The 8-mile
out-and-back trail starts at 8,000 feet in elevation and is spectacularly beautiful, particu-
larly in late summer, and winds through flower-drenched meadows and forest to the alpine
country above the tree line. As always in this part of the country, be prepared for significant
weather changes and encounters with wild animals.
For excellent guided hiking in the Tetons and around the valley, contact The Hole Hik-
ing Experience (307/690-4453 or 866/733-4453, www.holehike.com ), which offers a wide
variety of trips from half-day naturalist-guided trips geared to families to strenuous all-day
hikes and even yoga-hiking combinations. For guided mountain bike trips for the whole
family (including kids on Trail-a-Bikes and in trailers) or more extreme riders, contact
Teton Mountain Bike Tours (800/733-0788, www.tetonmtbike.com ) for their half-day,
full-day, multiple-day, and specialty trip offerings.
For the best mountain-bike map of the region, highlighting more than two dozen rides in
the area, look for Adventure Cycling's Mountain Biking in the Jackson Hole Area, available
at local sporting goods stores or online through Amazon. Hoback Sports (520 W. Broad-
way Ave., 307/733-5335, www.hobacksports.com , 9am-7pm daily) has all kinds of rental
bikes for adults and kids, from road bikes and hybrids to full-suspension mountain bikes,
and can point bikers in the direction of any kind of ride they seek.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search