Grand Targhee ski area summit(u)
A ride to the Grand Targhee ski area is one of very few
two-way summits into the Teton Range. I only know of two,
this one and Teton Pass. This may sound like an out and
back ride, but with a mountain bike you can continue
climbing past the ski lodge and take a somewhat different
way back down to the base station, voila two way summit.

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1.(00.0km~00.0mi, 1868m~6129ft)
START-END EAST 1: jct Id33 - Ski Hill Rd, Driggs,
Idaho
2.(09.8km~06.1mi, 2015m~6611ft) jct with Teton
Canyon Road on right
3.(20.0km~12.4mi, 2482m~8140ft) Grand Targhee ski
area lodge.
4.(24.1km~15.0mi, 2999m~9840ft) TOP: ski lift top
station on Fred's Mountain
5.(29.9km~18.6mi, 2518m~8261ft) START-END EAST2:
trail rejoins road to Fred's Mountain, just past
point3 near ski lodge |
Approaches
From West -1. The turnoff from Driggs to the
Grand Targhee resort is located in the center of town and it
is signed. A wide paved road starts to climb at an
imperceptible rate towards the Teton Range. Like most other
towns in scenic locations, Driggs has its new luxury real
estate developments on the outskirts, and this road passes
them. Here the houses seem to be a lttlemore discretely hidden
in the woods than in other locations, like Jackson. The first
views of the Tetons show up as the road passes a guest ranch.
The slope increases noticeably past the dirt road turnoff up
Teton Canyon. Immediately afterwards a wide scenic switchback
gives the impression of a rugged alpine roadway. But then the
road hides in the forest again. There is a wide shoulder for
climbing and traffic is extremely light in summer, which makes
for a very pleasurable ride. Before the base station of the
ski area the road climbs a very small saddle and descends to
the lodge.
On the right side in the main passage of this base station
is a information room that dispenses little maps for hiking
and biking, as well as verbal advise. The service road to the
highest point in the ski area is termed "Teton Vista
Traverse" on this map. It begins to the right of the
lift, then a left following immediately afterwards and right
immediately after that. The service road climbs steeply and is
bordered on the right by a drop that slowly grows into a
canyon. Much of this road is too steep for riding. After
roughly two thirds of the way to the summit the road veers
left and now assumes the proper slope for riding, while views
of Teton Basin become better and better. Turning just at the
right moment you may also see the highest peaks in the Teton
Range. Back to the right on top of Fred's Mountain the road
and lift end. A few feet of walking will get great views of
the ranges to the east. Most of the picture in the photo page
were taken from that single vantage point.

From West -2. The descent back down to the base
station is strictly speaking a different route, but it
parallels the service road closely. The ride is different but
the views are very similar. The "sidewinder-trail"
is the most obvious way down. It stays uphill parallel to the
road for the inital traverse, then crosses to the north side
of the road to wind through fields of wild flowers in the
summer. There are several banked turns along the way.
Approaching the lodge the trail takes several long switchbacks
across the road and the slope becomes shallow. All 3.9 miles
are extremely rideable. Shortcuts over steeper terrain are
also available. The trail is mostly used downhill even though
no regulations state this.
The profile on this side is an approximation and reality
contains many more small ups and downs that do not show up on
the profile.

Tours
Dayrides.
PARTIALLY PAVED / DIRT ROAD / SINGLE TRACK
A mostly out and back ride from Teton Canyon campground
> down Teton Canyon > up paved FR25 > Grand Targhee
resort base station > up service road to Fred's Mountain
> Grand Targhee ski area summit(u) > down Sidewinder
trail > down paved FR25 > Driggs > back up FR25 and
Teton Canyon to starting point: 42 miles with 4000ft of
climbing in 4:2hours (m3:10.8.9).
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