General Weather – Variable and Skiable
Friday quite early, Sunday and Monday look like great mornings to get out on your skis! Conditions will get soft as temps rise in the afternoons, and remember copious sunscreen! Find detailed daily forecast at mountainweather.com.
The last groom of the Alta track was Thursday morning, April 10. The track was fun and sporty, connecting over the crust to avoid walking a few dirt section. The snow has corned up and the track may still be fun for the next few mornings. And if it is not good when you get there, just hop back in your car and go to Teton Canyon.
Yes, there is still a little groomed track!
- Teton Canyon – skiing well and will be groomed for Friday and Saturday
- Grand Targhee Nordic – plenty of snow and good track through April 20
- Southern Valley Nordic – grooming is paused and may resume, temps dependent
Grooming is dependent on conditions and groomers may change their regular habits to produce the best results with warmer days of spring. Great idea to check the notes from the groomer on Teton Canyon by clicking through the link above, and at Grand Targhee by visiting their website before you head out. Thank you groomers!
Where else to Nordic Ski?
Trip Report: The perfect spring Sunday in the Park
Sunday, April 6: Arrived north of Taggart trailhead near Cottonwood by 9:30, to be on our classic and skate skis by 9:45. The overnight temps had been well below freezing. In general the warmer the morning the earlier the start and potentially the shorter the ski to ensure the crust is firm, but not too icy. With crust it can be a little tricky to find the sweet spot for having nice glide and good purchase, but even if you are a little early or a little late it is still fun. The snow is still smooth and deep enough north of Taggart with no signs of sagebrush (yet). You can ski in any direction! Windy Point parking area also has wide open meadows to ski, if you prefer to avoid the busy Taggart parking area. We skied from 9:45 until noon, then exchanged our skis for bikes and rode north to String Lake. The Teton Park Road is closed to vehicle traffic until May 1st and was full of happy families, people of all ages, dogs on leash, kids in chariots and on strider bikes for the first mile.
Togwotee Pass Crust and Adventure
As the days get warmer down low, you may want to venture up in elevation. Skiing on Togwotee Pass is delightful. You can park at any number of pullouts, put on your skis and explore. Click on the image below to link to the NWS SNOTEL site to see temperatures on the pass to help predict your best ski window. Editor’s note: I ski with bear spray up there at this time of year.
If you want inspiration or more detailed descriptions, there are several mapped trails to choose from. Insert “Togwotee” in the search bar of the trails home page to narrow the field.
Temp snapshot ending midday April 10.
Info and Inspiration
Can’t get enough of winter?
Go to Corn Camp! Crust cruise through high alpine meadows beneath towering volcanic cliffs. No passport needed for this epic adventure on the continental divide of Wyoming. April 29 – May 2
Give wildlife space.
Wildlife are coming out of winter into the abundance of summer. Give bears, large carnivores, and large nesting birds at least 100 yards of space. Give all other animals, including bison, elk, and moose at least 25 yards of space.
Switch out your bike.
Fat biking has come to an end for the season, thank you amazing groomers! Now road and gravel can keep you biking until the trails dry up. Head over to Velo22 for summer events, trails and info on Tuesday Night Rides.
Go play outside today.
