Best Mountain Biking Adventures in Jackson Hole Wyoming
The bicycle is the nearly ideal accoutrement to the mechanics of the human body. It facilitates efficiency and speed and so allows us to see places we could not access by hiking or backpacking due to the distances. Mountain biking is an adventure that challenges the most physically fit among us and rewards those intrepid souls with endorphin hits that enhance the view and the ambiance.
That is why the mountain biking adventures in Jackson Hole Wyoming keep us coming back again and again. You cannot beat the “Wow” factor of Lithium trail, the new downhill trail from Teton Pass. This is an expert’s only trail but there are many easier trails for the novice and intermediate rider.
Where to go: In Jackson you can leave your car at your motel and ride your bike to some of the best mountain trails in the area. There are maps for the bike trails available at the bike shops in town or the Snow King Trails kiosk or the Cache Creek trailhead has a supply of trail maps. You can work out a plan that fits your energy and fitness level from the maps. There are both double track and single track options. Check with Hoback Sports if you want to participate in guided mountain bike adventures. Fat Tire Tours are guided by trail riding experts who can help you chose your bike and advise on what to take with you. Hoback Sports is Jackson’s oldest and largest Bike Shop but it is not the only bike shop in town. There is Fitzgerald’s Bicycles which you will find behind the Brew Pub, The Edge which provides professional repair service and has rentals, bike maps and children’s equipment available, and Teton Cycle Works which claims to have the friendliest staff in town (I got that information from the telephone book). Ten minutes drive from Jackson at the bottom of the Teton Pass you will find the town of Wilson. Wilson Sports is located on 1230 Ida Drive in downtown Wilson and features sales and rentals of mountain and road bikes along with cycling clothing and shoes and local trail maps.
Supplies: Ask a bevy of experts what to bring and you will get a plethora of advice. Experts may not agree on the smaller details but there are some clearly critical items you must take with you.
1. Take 16 to 20 ounces of fluids, water or energy replacement drinks for each hour you intend to be out.
2. Carry at least one energy bar for every hour you intend to be out plus a high carbohydrate lunch ensemble for every three hours you intend to be out. Plan to eat before you feel hungry and drink on a routine schedule even if you do not feel thirsty. It is easy to get dehydrated and energy depleted in the high country.
3. Take tools to do simple bike repairs such as broken chain repair and brake adjustments. Due to the mountain terrain you should plan on fixing a flat tire. Take a spare tube, the patch kit, tire levers, and the tire pump. If something breaks that you cannot fix you should consult your map and start walking.
4. Beyond your basic bike riding clothes you will want to take a windbreaker. I have found that a sturdy 33 gallon garbage bag will protect me from sudden wicked wind and rain squalls. They are not classy or fashionable but they are cheap and they weigh next to nothing.
Rules of the road: Because many bike paths are dual use tracks you must take care not to spook horses over the nearest cliff or run over an unsuspecting hiker as you barrel down a mountain trail. So here are some rules that closely adhere to the official trail and biking guidelines of the International Mountain Bicycling Association.
1. Ride only on designated biking trails and stay off of private property, fragile ecosystems, and tracks intended for horseback riding only.
2. Keep your trash in a zip lock type bag in your bike pack and take it out with you. When you leave an area there should be no sign you were ever there.
3. Some trails have bicycle speed regulations; they are there for a reason- obey them so you and others will be safe.
4. Never force other users off the trail but be prepared to stop and step off the trail yourself. If we show great respect for other trail users we will be more likely to be welcome, but if we startle, bully or spook the wildlife (including the other trail users) a movement to get us off the trails could cause future problems.
5. If you open a gate, close it behind you. If you find it open, leave it open.
6. Wear a helmet and the proper safety gear
7. Leave an itinerary including your planned route, time of departure and time of return with a responsible person who will initiate a search if you do not show up when you said you would. Then of course be sure to check back in with that person when you return from your excursion.
So take your favorite mountain bike or rent one in Jackson and explore the mountains and meadows of Snow King Mountain, Teton Pass, and Jackson Hole.
