We're excited to host the first of our Go Bikepacking! events in Teton Valley, our first-ever bikepacker gathering! Mountain Bike the Tetons and Bikepacking Roots together invite y'all to Wydaho's Teton Valley for a 2.5-day event - August 13-15, 2021!
About the Event
The Bikepacking Roots Go Bikepacking! events are community-building, educational, non-competitive grassroots bikepacking experiences. Go Bikepacking! events will
The GO Bikepacking! Teton Valley event is a collaborative event put on by Bikepacking Roots and Mountain Bike the Tetons, a local mountain bike advocacy organization. The event will consist of 2 days of supported bikepacking on one of two route options, a supported gravel route or an unsupported mountain bike route on technical trails (see route details below). While riding an attainable distance each day and camping together, each group will share the bikepacking experience, explore the landscape, and share with and learn from each other and Bikepacking Roots and Mountain Bike the Tetons staff and volunteers. A free, optional full-day“How to Bikepack” pre-event will be offered for participants new to bikepacking to learn the foundations of bikepacking prior to heading out on the trip.
The pilot year of this event will be free for all participants, made possible by the generous support of event sponsors. Participants will be responsible for providing their own bike, cycling and camping clothing and equipment, food, and covering their lodging for Friday night prior to our departure on Saturday morning. A limited supply of bikepacking bags will be available for rental from Bikepacking Roots. The workshops and educational aspects of the event are a part of the event, but the event is not guided. Participants will be expected to self-navigate along the route and will be responsible for their own safety while traveling and camping.
Scroll down for more information on the routes and for registration links.
About the Event
The Bikepacking Roots Go Bikepacking! events are community-building, educational, non-competitive grassroots bikepacking experiences. Go Bikepacking! events will
- Offer participants an opportunity to connect with other bikepackers through camping and riding
- Build participants’ connection to the landscape, conservation issues, and bridge riding and trail stewardship
- Reduce barriers to bikepacking through mentorship, bikepacking bag rentals, and bikepacking skills development
- Bring attention to Bikepacking Roots' route development projects, local trail organizations, and our business partners' support of the adventure cycling community.
The GO Bikepacking! Teton Valley event is a collaborative event put on by Bikepacking Roots and Mountain Bike the Tetons, a local mountain bike advocacy organization. The event will consist of 2 days of supported bikepacking on one of two route options, a supported gravel route or an unsupported mountain bike route on technical trails (see route details below). While riding an attainable distance each day and camping together, each group will share the bikepacking experience, explore the landscape, and share with and learn from each other and Bikepacking Roots and Mountain Bike the Tetons staff and volunteers. A free, optional full-day“How to Bikepack” pre-event will be offered for participants new to bikepacking to learn the foundations of bikepacking prior to heading out on the trip.
The pilot year of this event will be free for all participants, made possible by the generous support of event sponsors. Participants will be responsible for providing their own bike, cycling and camping clothing and equipment, food, and covering their lodging for Friday night prior to our departure on Saturday morning. A limited supply of bikepacking bags will be available for rental from Bikepacking Roots. The workshops and educational aspects of the event are a part of the event, but the event is not guided. Participants will be expected to self-navigate along the route and will be responsible for their own safety while traveling and camping.
Scroll down for more information on the routes and for registration links.
Teton Singletrack Route Option
40 miles with 5,700’ elevation gain
The Teton Singletrack Route (click here to view the planned route in Ride with GPS) is for participants who have both experience and fitness for mountain biking on backcountry trails and want to experience transferring their day-riding skills to a bikepacking environment. The ride on this route will be self-supported; participants will have to carry their own gear, food, and water.
This route will utilize the backcountry trails of the Teton region. The riding is characteristic of typical backcountry riding on mountain trails - there are steep climbs, sections will be very rocky, rooty, loose, rutted, and overgrown (by wildflowers), and descents can be challenging in places on a loaded bike. We don’t ask that you come with any bikepacking experience. We are excited to support your learning process in the ways of bikepacking. We do, however, ask that you come with sound mountain biking skills, adequate fitness for 4-5 hours of riding a loaded bike at altitude (9,000’), and a positive attitude. The riding is slow up there, so please don’t underestimate the mileage! It is common to travel at 3-6 miles per hour on these trails, and there will be hike-a-bike, both up and down. That said, we have tried to create routes that will give you time and energy to enjoy the place and the journey.
This route is mountain bike territory - do not come with a gravel bike or a drop-bar setup inspired by Tour Divide. Tires at least 2.2” wide, low gearing, and at least front suspension are highly recommended for the trail route. We have intentionally tried our best to create a route that balances challenging yet fun singletrack with sustainable riding more suitable for learning to bikepack. Staff will be on full-suspension bikes with 28-tooth chainrings and knobby 2.5” tires.
Teton Singletrack Day 1:
We’ll meet at the Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead where participants will leave their vehicles. We’ll ride trail through the local Horseshoe Canyon network to access a steep two-track climb to gradually gain the crest of the Big Hole Mountains. Traversing Relay Ridge, we’ll ride with sweeping views of Teton Valley and the whole Teton Range. Two-track will transition to a chunky moto trail that traverses the Big Hole Crest towards Garns Mountain. A bit of hike-a-bike will take us up to Elk Flat where beautiful singletrack will lead us to camp (camp is not accessible by vehicles). Camping will be dispersed in the meadows and pockets of trees near treeline on the Big Hole Crest. There are no facilities, and participants will be asked to practice a high standard of both Leave No Trace practices and bear camping (and yes, bear spray is required).
Teton Singletrack Day 2:
On the second morning, we’ll pack our bikes and climb from Elk Flat up to Garns Mountain, the highest peak in the Big Holes. From Garns, we’ll descend down a motorized singletrack to reach Piney Pass. The Piney Pass ATV trail follows a long descent to where we’ll leave the drainage to climb up non-motorized singletrack to regain the Big Hole Crest, followed by one last singletrack descent into Teton Valley awaits. A shuttle provided by Mountain Bike the Tetons will transport us back to our vehicles at the Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead.
40 miles with 5,700’ elevation gain
The Teton Singletrack Route (click here to view the planned route in Ride with GPS) is for participants who have both experience and fitness for mountain biking on backcountry trails and want to experience transferring their day-riding skills to a bikepacking environment. The ride on this route will be self-supported; participants will have to carry their own gear, food, and water.
This route will utilize the backcountry trails of the Teton region. The riding is characteristic of typical backcountry riding on mountain trails - there are steep climbs, sections will be very rocky, rooty, loose, rutted, and overgrown (by wildflowers), and descents can be challenging in places on a loaded bike. We don’t ask that you come with any bikepacking experience. We are excited to support your learning process in the ways of bikepacking. We do, however, ask that you come with sound mountain biking skills, adequate fitness for 4-5 hours of riding a loaded bike at altitude (9,000’), and a positive attitude. The riding is slow up there, so please don’t underestimate the mileage! It is common to travel at 3-6 miles per hour on these trails, and there will be hike-a-bike, both up and down. That said, we have tried to create routes that will give you time and energy to enjoy the place and the journey.
This route is mountain bike territory - do not come with a gravel bike or a drop-bar setup inspired by Tour Divide. Tires at least 2.2” wide, low gearing, and at least front suspension are highly recommended for the trail route. We have intentionally tried our best to create a route that balances challenging yet fun singletrack with sustainable riding more suitable for learning to bikepack. Staff will be on full-suspension bikes with 28-tooth chainrings and knobby 2.5” tires.
Teton Singletrack Day 1:
We’ll meet at the Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead where participants will leave their vehicles. We’ll ride trail through the local Horseshoe Canyon network to access a steep two-track climb to gradually gain the crest of the Big Hole Mountains. Traversing Relay Ridge, we’ll ride with sweeping views of Teton Valley and the whole Teton Range. Two-track will transition to a chunky moto trail that traverses the Big Hole Crest towards Garns Mountain. A bit of hike-a-bike will take us up to Elk Flat where beautiful singletrack will lead us to camp (camp is not accessible by vehicles). Camping will be dispersed in the meadows and pockets of trees near treeline on the Big Hole Crest. There are no facilities, and participants will be asked to practice a high standard of both Leave No Trace practices and bear camping (and yes, bear spray is required).
Teton Singletrack Day 2:
On the second morning, we’ll pack our bikes and climb from Elk Flat up to Garns Mountain, the highest peak in the Big Holes. From Garns, we’ll descend down a motorized singletrack to reach Piney Pass. The Piney Pass ATV trail follows a long descent to where we’ll leave the drainage to climb up non-motorized singletrack to regain the Big Hole Crest, followed by one last singletrack descent into Teton Valley awaits. A shuttle provided by Mountain Bike the Tetons will transport us back to our vehicles at the Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead.
Teton Gravel Route Option
82 miles with 4,100’ elevation gain
The Teton Gravel Route (click here to view the planned route in Ride with GPS) is for riders looking to try bikepacking on easier terrain or for riders who prefer riding a gravel bike. The Gravel Route will be easier both technically and physically than the Singletrack Route but will still offer two full days of pedaling. Vehicle camp support will be available for those who wish to carry less on their bikes and dabble in riding loaded to the level they desire. Riders can plan on a moving average pace of 10-15 mph for this route. A gravel bike or hardtail mountain bike is ideal for the route. We do not recommend a road bike as the route is primarily on dirt, some of which is unmaintained.
Teton Gravel Day 1:
We’ll meet at the Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead and ride the Horseshoe/Packsaddle Road north through the forested foothills of the Big Hole Mountains. We’ll then descend into the western edge of Teton Valley and connect quiet farm two-tracks north, cross the Teton River, and continue connecting quiet potato farm roads north through the rolling agricultural lands of Teton Valley. The views of the Tetons will be outstanding, and the riding will be a mix of graded dirt road to relatively smooth tractor tracks. Once at the northern end of the valley, we’ll climb into the western foothills of the Tetons and wind our way along through the forest to camp where vehicle support will await us. Camping will be dispersed in the National Forest; there are no facilities, and participants will be asked to practice a high standard of Leave No Trace and bear camping (and yes, bear spray is required).
Teton Gravel Day 2:
Day two of our gravel ride will descend through the lodgepole pine forests of the foothills into the wooded riparian Badger Creek area. We’ll ride beautiful gravel and quiet paved roads along the eastern edge of Teton Valley, straddling the Idaho-Wyoming border while heading south towards the town of Driggs. Passing right through Driggs, riders will have an opportunity to refuel with a cold drink or snack in town before heading west among the farms and grasslands that surround the Teton River in the middle of the valley. A short climb will bring us back to our cars at the head of Horseshoe Canyon.
82 miles with 4,100’ elevation gain
The Teton Gravel Route (click here to view the planned route in Ride with GPS) is for riders looking to try bikepacking on easier terrain or for riders who prefer riding a gravel bike. The Gravel Route will be easier both technically and physically than the Singletrack Route but will still offer two full days of pedaling. Vehicle camp support will be available for those who wish to carry less on their bikes and dabble in riding loaded to the level they desire. Riders can plan on a moving average pace of 10-15 mph for this route. A gravel bike or hardtail mountain bike is ideal for the route. We do not recommend a road bike as the route is primarily on dirt, some of which is unmaintained.
Teton Gravel Day 1:
We’ll meet at the Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead and ride the Horseshoe/Packsaddle Road north through the forested foothills of the Big Hole Mountains. We’ll then descend into the western edge of Teton Valley and connect quiet farm two-tracks north, cross the Teton River, and continue connecting quiet potato farm roads north through the rolling agricultural lands of Teton Valley. The views of the Tetons will be outstanding, and the riding will be a mix of graded dirt road to relatively smooth tractor tracks. Once at the northern end of the valley, we’ll climb into the western foothills of the Tetons and wind our way along through the forest to camp where vehicle support will await us. Camping will be dispersed in the National Forest; there are no facilities, and participants will be asked to practice a high standard of Leave No Trace and bear camping (and yes, bear spray is required).
Teton Gravel Day 2:
Day two of our gravel ride will descend through the lodgepole pine forests of the foothills into the wooded riparian Badger Creek area. We’ll ride beautiful gravel and quiet paved roads along the eastern edge of Teton Valley, straddling the Idaho-Wyoming border while heading south towards the town of Driggs. Passing right through Driggs, riders will have an opportunity to refuel with a cold drink or snack in town before heading west among the farms and grasslands that surround the Teton River in the middle of the valley. A short climb will bring us back to our cars at the head of Horseshoe Canyon.
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Event Registration
Choose the appropriate registration link below: |
This event is held in bear country.
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Photo credits: Will Stubblefield (photos 2, 4, 5) and Kurt Refsnider (photos 1, 3)
