PINEDALE – Mountain biking continues to grow in popularity in Sublette County. A fun ride located a few miles outside Pinedale is the Sweeney Creek-Blue Grouse Trail, a roughly 8-mile round trip.

The Sublette Trails Association adopted the trail and has done a wonderful job keeping the pathway maintained for mountain bikers. The trail is rated moderate, although the final mile is a decent climb, so bring a good pair of lungs. Overall, the elevation gain is approximately 1,400 feet and change.

The trailhead is at Forest Road 746, located about 8 miles up Skyline Drive. Parking is available in the lot off Skyline Drive about 100 yards south of the trailhead. The first 0.75 miles follows a double track along FR746. The road dips into the Sweeney Creek drainage where bikers have to ford the stream.

Continue right onto Forest Road 744. The double-track lasts a few hundred yards before turning into single track as the trail climbs the Blue Grouse Ridge, offering beautiful views of Half Moon Lake and beyond.

The single track winds through sagebrush-studded meadows, slopes filled with wild flowers, aspen groves and lodgepole pine forest before the final, steep push to the top of the ridge and stunning views. The maintained portion ends approximately 8 miles in. Mountain bikers can ride an additional mile to the wilderness boundary, although the trail is steep with loose gravel and rocks.

For those with the time, lungs and energy, hiking 1 or 2 miles into the wilderness rewards the adventurous with outstanding views of the Wind River peaks.