GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — A newly paved segment of pathway is opening that will connect the Grand Teton Pathway to the existing pathway on North Spring Gulch Road.

Friends of Pathways (FOP) and Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Sagebrush Connector Pathway on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. at the corner of Sagebrush Drive and North Spring Gulch Road. GTNP Superintendent Chip Jenkins is expected to offer remarks at the ceremony.

The new stretch of pavement is 0.8 miles long and bridges the gap between the Gros Ventre roundabout and the area near Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club. FOP touts the pathway as a safe and separated route for nearby neighborhoods to access GTNP.

“The Sagebrush Pathway shows why persistence matters,” FOP Executive Director Katherine Dowson said in a statement. “Slowly but surely our schools, neighborhoods, businesses and public land areas are being connected to our county-wide pathway network, making it more enjoyable and safer for everyone — walkers, bikers and drivers alike — to move around our community.”

Photo: Nick Sulzer // Buckrail

David Axelrad and Liza Bercovici will also be in attendance in memory of their daughter, Gabriella, who was stuck and killed by a vehicle while biking in GTNP in 1999. FOP stated in a press release that Axelrad and Bercovici’s decades of advocacy helped make the park’s pathway network possible.

The pathway project was identified in GTNP’s 2007 Transportation Plan and Teton County’s 2007 Pathways Master Plan. It was seen as a long-term solution for a stretch of roadway with no shoulders and a speed limit of 35 mph. The pathway was funded through a Federal Lands Access Program grant, as well as a local match from Teton County of $370,000 and an $80,000 donation from FOP.

For those who would like to attend the ribbon cutting, walking or biking is encouraged. Anyone interested in traveling to the celebration with others on the local pathway network can join one of three group departures from the following locations:

  • Bridger-Teton National Forest Administrative Building on North Cache Street: Depart at 9 a.m. for a 7-mile ride with approximately 300 feet of elevation gain.
  • Cattleman’s Bridge on Spring Gulch Road: Depart at 9:15 a.m. for a 1.7-mile walk or ride.
  • Gros Ventre roundabout: Depart at 9:30 a.m. for a 0.5-mile walk or ride.

Monica is a Staff Reporter who studied journalism at Syracuse University and has been in the valley since 2015. She loves writing about the local food and bev scene, especially craft beer. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her paddle boarding, sewing, or whipping up a new recipe at home.