A secret mountain route known only to locals in Idaho’s Teton Valley has become the talk of the town, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
The trail, Reclamation Road, provides a detour over the Teton Mountains, allowing residents to avoid traffic into the wealthy enclave of Jackson Wyoming
The obscure mountain road gained attention after the main route for workers, Highway 22, which travels between Idaho and Jackson, literally fell off the side of a mountain earlier this month.
This forced many commuters to take the long way through Star Valley.
But as word spreads about the little-known road between Idaho and Jackson, the National Park Service is now concerned about an influx of frustrated motorists trying to use it. The Cowboy State Newspaper reported.
A secret route known only to locals in Idaho’s Teton Valley is becoming the talk of the town as residents seek alternatives to the busy main roads leading to Jackson, Wyoming
The obscure mountain road gained attention after the main route for workers commuting between Idaho and Jackson literally fell off the mountain
Many people who work in Jackson can’t afford to live there, so they usually commute from the city via Highway 22 over the Teton Pass.
But the route became impassable last week when a massive landslide caused much of the road to collapse in a ‘catastrophic failure’.
Reclamation Road, also known as Grassy Lake Road, is a dirt and gravel trail that begins about 25 miles north of Tetonia. To find it, drivers should look for the Squirrel Cemetery near Ashton before heading east.
While half of the journey allows speeds of up to 120 km/h, the remaining stretch requires a much slower pace.
Despite the incredibly rugged terrain, there is generally no traffic, just miles of potato farms and silos.
But Grand Teton National Park spokesman Jeremy Barnum warned commuters against taking this road.
He told Cowboy State Daily that with two to four inches of snow still falling, he is concerned about commuters getting stuck in snowbanks and recommended people wait until the snow melts.
“There are still snowdrifts from 10 to 4 feet high in the shaded areas, and we will be moving through that over the next few days. The road is expected to be open on Monday,” he said.
“I would hate for people to jump in their Jeeps and think this is a viable solution.”
The road is also difficult and slow at times, so many commuters are likely to experience bumper-to-bumper traffic jams, more like what you’d see in LA than what small-town Wyoming and Idaho are used to, the outlet said.
This trail, Reclamation Road, offers a detour over the Teton Mountains, but is not for the faint-hearted
Part of Reclamation Road runs along the beautiful Grassy Lake Reservoir
“Reclamation has been nicknamed the ‘Jeep Trail’ because it’s a little rough in places,” Tetonia resident Jim Beard told The Cowboy State Daily.
The rugged trail eventually connects with U.S. Route 191 about eight miles north of Jackson.
However, Google Maps offers little help in navigating this remote part of the Potato Belt.
But with the primary route from Jackson to Idaho’s working-class communities out of service, locals don’t have many other options.
Losing Highway 22 was a significant setback for Idahoans.
Tourism has also slowed since then and gas prices have risen.
At the Sinclair station in Tetonia, gas prices have risen to $3.54 per gallon.
Losing Highway 22 was a significant setback for Idahoans. Tourism has also slowed since then and gas prices have risen. At the Sinclair station in Tetonia, gas prices have risen to $3.54 per gallon
“I miss having tourists here,” gas station manager Erica Black told the outlet.
“The people who live here have been hit hard by the closure of Teton Pass,” said Zach Bennett, who runs a resort in town called the Teton Peaks Resort in Tetonia. “We’ve seen a lot of cancellations because everyone thinks there’s nothing to do here.”