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Greater Yellowstone Trail Project Receives Major Grant

NPS - JACOB W. FRANK

Bicyclists will soon be able to use an 180-mile rails-to-trails through the Greater Yellowstone area, thanks in part to a $20,000 grant from the Doppelt Family Development Fund. Wyoming Pathways applied for the funding and Tim Young is the group’s executive director. He said the Greater Yellowstone Trail will be a mix of gravel and paved surfaces and will take riders on a scenic route over Teton Pass.

“It’s an ambitious trail project that can connect three states: Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. And connect both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and crosses three national forests,” he said.

Young said the Doppelt Family Development Trail Fund was very competitive this year, vying for about $6 million. Young said the Greater Yellowstone Trail will be a great addition to the state’s trail system.

“180 miles could be a terrific experience for a family for a whole week’s vacation,” Young said. “And they could stop in the small towns in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, enjoy the riding, much of which is fairly easy, some of which is somewhat challenging like Teton Pass. And the entire route is historic and scenic and really attractive from a travel and tourism standpoint.”

Young said the hope is to start construction later this summer. He said Teton County has also applied for Wyoming Department of Transportation funding to help build the trail over Teton Pass. 

Melodie Edwards is the host and producer of WPM's award-winning podcast The Modern West. Her Ghost Town(ing) series looks at rural despair and resilience through the lens of her hometown of Walden, Colorado. She has been a radio reporter at WPM since 2013, covering topics from wildlife to Native American issues to agriculture.
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