The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is seeking public comment on a proposed project that would improve the steep, hazardous, and rutted dirt roads and trail leading to Packsaddle Lake, a popular recreation site in the Big Hole Mountains northwest of Driggs.
âAnyone who has been to the area knows how steep, slippery and difficult the trail can be,â said Jay Pence, Teton Basin District Ranger, in a press release issued Thursday.
The CTNF is planning to remove and reclaim stretches of FS Roads 381 and 951 and FS Trail 212, and reconstruct those sections in safer, more sustainable locations with less impact to natural resources. Currently 951 and 381 are too steep to meet road standards, and 381 travels through two meadows where large mud holes develop as drivers try to chart a course through the bog. The trail from the undeveloped parking lot to the lake is steep and eroded, and can be unsafe for hikers. The trailhead parking area will be relocated downhill to the intersecti
Changes in the works for Packsaddle Lake
USFS
Example of road conditions accessing Packsaddle Lake
DRIGGS, Idaho (KIFI) The Teton Basin Ranger District is looking at making important improvements to the Packsaddle Lake Recreation area and is asking for the public’s input.
Located just outside of Tetonia, Idaho, Packsaddle Lake is a popular recreation area nestled within the Big Hole Mountains.
“Packsaddle Lake is a popular destination,” said Jay Pence, Teton Basin District Ranger. “However, anyone who has been to the area knows how steep, slippery and difficult the trail can be.”
Steep roads, poor drainage and other erosion concerns are often exacerbated by seasonal weather conditions, resulting in a less than ideal experience.
Some of the best day trips can be found locally in Idaho Falls. Find something fun for the entire family or make a date night out of these outdoor activities. Either way, don’t forget to pack your coat and some gloves!
On the penultimate day of 2020 the Teton Board of County Commissioners signed off on the vacation of the old Packsaddle Road and the dedication of its replacement, wrapping up a conversation that started in 2014.
âDoes anyone have the champagne?â asked attorney Sean Moulton after the final approval during a special meeting on Dec. 30. Moulton represented the property owners in the contract negotiations with the county.
The former Packsaddle Road west of N9000W was in substandard condition and included Kayâs Hill, the precipitous eroded doubletrack that rises above Kayâs Dairy and reaches grades of 19 percent (nine more than the countyâs accepted maximum), and in the past often stranded hapless motorists, to the consternation of nearby residents and ranchers. After months of preliminary discussions in 2014 and 2015, the owners of Ag Rim and Grandview Ranch applied to reroute and rebuild Packsaddle to provide better access to ten large ranches to be developed