Save Teton Pass Trail
Press Release
Community-Led Campaign Seeks $5 Million to Build Next Section of the Teton Pass Trail
Save Teton Pass Trail aims to fund a new Trail Creek-to-Coal Creek section on the west side of Teton Pass—an ambitious, shovel-ready project that advances the long-term vision to connect the valleys of Jackson Hole and Teton Valley with a safe biking, walking, and skiing trail.
JACKSON, Wyo./Victor, Idaho, (Nov. 5, 2025) – A regional coalition has launched a campaign to raise $5 million by December 31, 2025, to fund the next phase of the Teton Pass Trail, a long-planned non-motorized pathway linking Trail Creek Campground to Coal Creek Trailhead on the west side of Teton Pass.
Led by the volunteer group Save Teton Pass Trail (STPT) comprised of Friends of Pathways, Teton Valley Trails and Pathways (TVTAP), Teton Backcountry Alliance, Mountain Bike the Tetons, Wilson Advocacy, Teton County, Wyoming, Town of Victor, Idaho, The White Line, Valley Adaptive Sports, Open Range Cycles, The Hub Bikes JH and many supportive individuals, the effort will complete a 3.6-mile stretch that has been engineered, permitted, and approved. Construction would begin spring 2026, when the snow melts.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Dave Bergart, campaign lead from Victor, Idaho. “The Teton Pass Trail is the most ambitious pathway project in the history of both Teton Counties—a lasting investment in access, connection, and community legacy.”
A Critical Link in a Larger Vision
The new section is key to the vision of the Greater Yellowstone Trail, a world-class regional trail system underway to enhance quality of life, connect communities to public land, and spur economic development opportunities along the unique and diverse 180-mile trail. Now 85% complete, the route connects Jackson Hole, Teton Valley, and West Yellowstone through a network of pathways, forest roads, and small-town routes. When completed, the Trail Creek-to-Coal Creek segment will move that vision significantly closer to reality, closing one of the most dangerous and challenging gaps in the cross-Teton network.
A Once-Audacious, Now-Ready Project
This portion of the pathway is regarded by engineers and planners as the most ambitious and technically complex section ever proposed in Teton County’s pathway system. It navigates steep terrain and side slopes requiring extensive retaining walls to route the pathway between Trail Creek wetlands and Highway 22—an achievement in design and environmental stewardship that has taken years to prepare.
A Model of Regional Collaboration
The project continues decades of cooperation among Teton County WY, Teton County ID, the U.S. Forest Service and local citizens. It builds on a legacy that began with the 1999 Millennium Trail Project, which first united both valleys under a shared transportation vision, and has since expanded through multiple Federal grants.
Momentum and Matching Funds
Almost $8 million of the $13.5 million total budget is already secured through federal grants and local government match funds. Raising the final $5 million will unlock an additional $1 million in Federal Land Access Program funding, ensuring that the Coal Creek underpass—a key gateway at one of the busiest trailheads on the Pass—can be built as part of the project.
Benefits for Cyclists, Hikers, and Skiers Alike
While the Teton Pass Trail will certainly be a premier summer cycling and recreation route, winter users stand to benefit as well. The Coal Creek underpass will improve year-round safety and connectivity at a congested trailhead that serves hundreds of backcountry skiers each