Nothing beats a good East Jackson Mud run. Cruising along dry crisp trails throughout summer is nice, but
there is a special place in every runner’s heart for a classic mud run. It simplifies everything.
Forget about pace, time, or expectations and just have fun (and focus on not face planting). The
rain and mud can bring a special uniqueness/adventure to even some of the most routine runs
and routes (also decreases the number of people you’ll see!).
“You don’t need to look far for a great trail system in the Jackson area.”
There are endless places to run in Grand Teton National Park and Teton Pass, but (like the classic mud
run) the Cache Creek trail system is a perfect place for any run. Living in east Jackson, there is
no better place to run right from your front door than Cache Creek. A recent rainy Sunday
served as a perfect opportunity to reconnect with the love of the mud run.
A favorite route is about a 10 mile loop that starts and ends at the base of Snow King.
The loop starts at the base of Snow King, climbs to the top of the alpine slide to connect with
the Hagen trail, following the Hagen trail up Cache Creek until it connects with Putt Putt and
then all the way down to Nelson TH and finally back to Snow King base via some east Jackson
neighborhood loops. You can also add miles at the end of Hagen by continuing up the Cache
Creek rd for an out and back before getting onto Putt Putt. This particular run, I opted for a
few more miles up Cache to enjoy some additional mud!
This time of year is perfect for wildflowers and the temps are still relatively cool in the
mornings or evenings. The Hagen and Putt Putt trails can get particularly busy in the evenings
with mountain bikers, but if you follow the weather and watch for some rain, you’ll miss the
crowds and have a great mud run!
For mud runs, I like to use an older pair of running shoes. Be sure to pack a towel and
an extra pair of dry footwear for after. Rain or shine this is a great route to run that offers nice
rolling terrain, pretty views, river crossings, and a few steep hills along the way.
Enjoy!
Words by Skinny Ambassador Matt Chorney