Snow King Mountain is a hill that rises 1600 feet from the edge of Jackson Hole. The Snow King Resort runs a chairlift up the hill all year round. It does not take mountain bikes over summer and there are no downhill trails on the ski slopes.
There is a four wheel drive track called Snow King Tail that zig-zags up the hill. Some intrepid out-of-town mountain bikers ride up it but it's steep and sadistic. It takes you to the top of the chairlift where the views across the town and the Elk Refuge to the Grand Tetons are stunning.
Most of the trails are well away from the chairlift on the north side of the mountain. They're cross-country trails with few new-school MTB features. They're all two way, and are shared with dog walkers, hikers and runners - flocks of them on weekends!
Two trails start from the top of the chairlift. Josie's Ridge Trail which descends steeply back to town in 2.4 miles and is nobody's favorite trail. The other one links to the summit hub at the top of Ferrins Trail.
Ferrins Trail is the best way up the mountain. It's grade 4 and starts a short way up Hagen Trail from the Cashe Creek trailhead and zig-zags its way to the saddle that is the summit hub for other trails on the mountain. It gains about 1400 feet in a steep and sweaty 3 miles. Some locals with limited time ride it to the top then turn round and ride it down again.
Putt-putt is a grade 3 trail that starts at the Nelson Drive trailhead, and goes up the north side of Cache Creek for about 4 miles. It takes in some nice views before passing the Cache Creek trailhead and carrying on up the river. It joins with Hagen at the top so together they make up the most popular loop in the network....
Hagen is a more technical grade 4 trail. It starts at the Cache Creek trailhead and goes up or down the other side of Cache Creek for about 3 miles. It's rooty, rocky and has a short section of steps that are fun to ride down if you have the skills...
Five trails can be combined for the premium ride of the network. They are Ferrins, West Game Creek, Game Creek, Cache Creek and Hagen. It's a challenging and beautiful 20 mile loop that takes you right over and behind the mountain. It offers some excellent cross-country riding with a genuine back-country feel.
Skyline is a grade 4 trail that starts at the saddle and goes down a ridge to Game Creek from where you can exit back to Cache Creek or go south to the Game Creek trailhead.
For a marathon of a ride right around the mountain, ride up Cache Creek on either Putt Putt or Hagen then Cache Creek, then Game Creek. From the Game Creek trailhead you have to ride back around the base of the mountain on roads or shared trails.
Sink or Swim is a grade 3 trail across the lower slops of the ski field not far above town. It links to the Cache Creek trailhead....
There are lots of sign posts to help you find your way and some even have a network map showing where you are. There is a toilet at the Cache Creek trailhead.
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