Cross-continental bike route could pass through Jackson Hole

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The cycling town of Jackson jumped onboard in support of a movement to create a nationally recognized bike route across the U.S.

The US Bicycle Route 76 is being developed by the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS), led by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA). To date, 17,873 miles of U.S. Bicycle Routes have been established in 31 states.

As preliminary talks begin in Wyoming, town officials signed off on a letter to Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) at the request of Pathways director Brian Schilling. Pathways staff has worked with ACA to define the proposed route through Teton County and the Town of Jackson.

The ACA is also actively working with WYDOT and other states on the designation of US Bicycle Route 76, which runs from Oregon to Virginia and will pass through Wyoming. All states east of Colorado have already designated the route and ACA is working with WY, CO, ID, and OR to get it designated in those states.

If it all comes together, the route through the state of Wyoming will be particularly brutal on bikers, with frequent elevation gains of 3,000-plus feet.

Description of route on Teton County/Town of Jackson facilities (from the north):

• Mile 0.0: North 89 Pathway at Gros Ventre River. Follows the pathway from Grand Teton National Park to the Town of Jackson (Flat Creek @ North Park).
• Mile 5.8: Merge onto N. Cache St.
• Mile 6.8: Right turn onto Snow King Ave.
• Mile 7.9: Left turn onto Scott Lane
• Mile 7.9: Right Turn onto Maple Way
• Mile 8.0: Left Turn onto Elk Run Lane
• Mile 8.1: Left Turn onto Garaman Pathway. Follow Garaman Pathway along Flat Creek to Gregory Lane.
• Mile 9.2: Cross Gregory Lane to School Pathway. Continue on School Pathway to Middle School Road/South Park Loop.
• Mile 10.1: Cross South Park Loop to Indian Trails Pathway. Continue on Indian Trails Pathway to WY22. Mile 11.3: Turn Left onto Path 22. Continue on Path 22 to Stilson Ranch.
• Mile 14.2: Turn Left onto Centennial Pathway at Stilson Ranch. Continue on Centennial Pathway to HHR Ranch Rd.
• Mile 15.4: Turn Left onto HHR Ranch Rd.
  Mile 15.5: Turn Right onto WY22 (WYDOT jurisdiction).
• Mile 16.0: Cross WY22 in downtown Wilson to access Millennium Pathway. Follow Millennium Pathway up Teton Pass to Trail Creek Rd.
• Mile 17.1: Merge Left onto Trail Creek Rd.
  Mile 18.0: Continue up Old Pass Rd. (US Forest Service jurisdiction)
  Mile 21.5: Continue straight on Teton County Pathway at end of Old Pass Rd. (top of Teton Pass)
• Mile 21.7: Teton Pass parking area – end of Teton County/Town of Jackson jurisdiction.