The Definitive Jackson Hole Mountain Biking Review.
Let me first say that I was mistaken in my expectations of Jackson Hole. I was assuming that since they are a world-class ski and snowboard destination, I expected them also to be a world-class mountain biking destination. Errrrrrr! Wrong!
The Teewinot Quad chairlift is the only uphill lift servicing mountain bikers.
- The chairlift rises 500 vertical feet.
- The trails serviced by this lift are either relatively flat out-and-back type or uphill and super-rocky.
- The cost is $10.
Mountain bikers are able to ride up to the summit of the Bridger Gondola via Solitude Road.
- This is an uphill ride of 5+ miles that you are not allowed to ride DOWN!?!
- You must buy the Gondola pass ($19) to come back down.
- A liftee told me last weekend they had a race up the Road that the winner road in 58 minutes! To get an idea of a similar climb- I climbed Sawtell Peak Road which was 10 miles and it took me 3 hours to get up it. The bonus was I got to ride down the same route! Imagine spending that much time and then having to sit in a gondola on the way down!
The Aerial Tram is under construction.
- This means that any trail that passes under where the Tram lines run is closed. WHICH IS HALF THE AREA THAT HAS TRAILS!
- You can’t go over to the summit of the Tram even if you were to ride to the top or take the gondola, because it’s under construction.
- I bet it would be fun – and I don’t know if they allow it – to take the Tram UP and then BIKE down. Check next summer – who knows?
So to summarize. Go to Jackson Hole to ski or snowboard or hike. Do not go to Jackson Hole to ride your Mountain Bike. It is not a ‘lift serviced downhill biking experience’. Or if you do go, don’t pay $10 for the lift (or $19 if you are going to bike up). If you do ride up, stash your bike before you get to the top and act like you hiked up – grab a bite to eat – then go get your bike and bomb down the mountain!
I give this mountain 3 endo’s.
