VICTOR, Idaho— This summer, patience was a virtue for commuters over the pass as crews worked on the new Centennial Trail Project. Today the wait is finally over. According to Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, and the City of Victor, the project will be completed today and open to the public tomorrow, Sept. 17.
This 2.3-mile section of trail begins at the parking lot south of Moose Creek on the Old Jackson Highway and ends at the Trail Creek Campground just across the border in Wyoming. Two underpasses allow users to safely cross the highway at the Mike Harris area and Trail Creek Campground. Allowable uses for the trail are walkers, cyclists, class 1 and 2 electric bikes and horseback riders. Dogs need to be leashed at all times given the grades of the trail, proximity to the highway and wildlife in the adjacent forest. This project is dedicated as non-motorized.
This project connects campgrounds and trail projects on the Forest Service-managed lands to the multi-use designated Old Jackson Highway and pathway system of Victor and greater Teton County, Idaho.
The Centennial Trail Project began in 2013 with the first Federal Lands Access Program Grant submitted by the City of Victor. Changes to the scope of work including the underpasses caused project costs to go beyond the original grant and necessitated re-application in 2017. Funds were then federally appropriated in 2019 and despite being one year behind on the completion schedule, the project was under the budgeted amount.
Various partners were responsible for completing this project: the City of Victor, Teton Valley Trails & Pathways, Idaho Department of Transportation, US Forest Service Teton Basin Ranger District, Wyoming Pathways, Wyoming Department of Transportation and Teton County, WY.
