After mountain biking in Oregon all winter with little or no snow, I came to eastern Idaho with big hopes of continuing my riding. After talking to several local riders with the same enthusiasm of biking and noticing that there was no snow left in Rexburg, I decided to check the snow conditions to see how close we were to opening the season in the mountains.
Just a short drive outside of town I reached a muddy road that soon turned into a wall of snow that my corolla couldn’t handle. The snow is at about 6000 feet, so we’re going to have to wait another couple weeks to get higher into the hills.
There are a few alternatives for those who want to get out there, but are willing to play down here in the valley. A new trail that I investigated is near the Menan buttes. It’s along an old gravel road that follows the river for miles. You can choose how long you’re willing to go. Park at the boat ramp off of Twin Butte Rd. Head Northwest. You might have to jump a few cattle fences, but the scenic ride is worth it. While I was riding a few rafters even went by and said hi. The map to the trailhead is at the bottom.
Since the downhill sections aren’t open, it’s a great time to make sure that your bike is in good shape before you hit the hills. First thing that needs to be done is making sure all your main components are working correctly. This includes checking all the gearing system and the brakes. After thinking about how to explain adjusting those parts of your bike, I decided to just let some knowledgeable guys on YouTube explain.
View Snake River Trail in a larger map
