Idaho · Cross-country skiing · Near Jackson

Southern Valley Trails

0.9 mi
round trip
277 ft
climb
6,803 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Southern Valley Trails open right now?

No closures listed

The Forest Service lists no closures for Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Southern Valley Trails is a cross-country skiing route in Idaho's Caribou-Targhee National Forest, within the Teton Basin Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is about a mile from the nearest town. The route is an out-and-back of about 1.8 miles, with a total elevation gain of 277 feet. The climb starts steep, with a 7% grade at the beginning, and the high point reaches about 6,800 feet. The trail is rated moderate. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 29°F with lows near 12°F and about seven snow days. By June, the station records highs near 69°F with no snow days, and July is the warmest month at about 79°F. Mike Harris Campground, about half a mile away, offers camping and cross-country skiing. Yeti's Loop and Nemo are hiking routes within about half a mile. Trail Creek campground is about 2.4 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Mike Harris

    Campground

    Campground · 0.5 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Flat Creek Overlook

    Viewpoint

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Jackson

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Southern Valley Trails

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      29° / 12°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    2. Feb

      32° / 13°

      8 wet · 6 snow

    3. Mar

      40° / 21°

      9 wet · 6 snow

    4. Apr

      48° / 27°

      9 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      60° / 35°

      10 wet · 2 snow

    6. Jun

      69° / 42°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 48°

      5 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 47°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 40°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 30°

      7 wet · 2 snow

    11. Nov

      38° / 20°

      8 wet · 5 snow

    12. Dec

      28° / 12°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Alta 1 Nnw, WY, 14.9 mi away at 6,440 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

Jackson Hole Mountain ResortPhoto: Enricokamasa, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

~20 min drive

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming has 17 lifts and 99 runs with 4,089 ft vertical.

SKI

Trail Cr Main Loop Xc Snow

~17 min drive

5.30-mile out-and-back trail in Wyoming with 123 ft gain.

SKI

Game Cr Snow

~36 min drive

5.02-mile out-and-back route in Wyoming with 1,378 feet of elevation gain.

SKI

Mike Harris Campground

Next door

0.10-mile out-and-back ski trail at Mike Harris Campground, Idaho.

SEE

Grand Targhee Resort

~29 min drive

Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming has 6 lifts, 65 runs, and 2,238 ft of vertical.

SKI

Cache Creek Snow

~32 min drive

10.57-mile out-and-back trail in Wyoming with 993 ft gain.

SKI

Mike Harris Campground

~1 min drive

0.19-mile out-and-back ski trail at Mike Harris Campground, Idaho.

SEE

Snow King Mountain

~30 min drive

Snow King Mountain in Wyoming has 9 lifts, 28 runs, and 1,701 ft of vertical.

SKI

Southern Valley Trails

Next door

0.22-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 28 ft of elevation gain.

SKI

Campground to WY/ID Stateline

~2 min drive

0.20-mile out-and-back from campground to Wyoming/Idaho state line.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors