About TVTAP

Mission & History

Mission Statement

Teton Valley Trails and Pathways promotes a trails and pathways connected community. The organization brings together citizens, businesses, and local governments to expand the Valley’s opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature appreciation, while linking communities, providing access to National Forest trails, and promoting healthy mountain lifestyles

Goals

To build and maintain a complete, connected network of pedestrian and bicycle pathways and trails throughout Teton Valley to create a practical alternative to driving as a means of both transportation and recreation.

History

TVTAP was formed in the fall of 1998, with the focus of creating a paved, pathway along Teton Creek between Driggs and Teton Canyon. The Valley’s first paved pathway, built in 1997 by the Idaho Transportation Department between Victor and Driggs, encouraged the founding members to form TVTAP to pursue additional pathways throughout the community.

We are a small non-profit supported by the volunteer efforts of our Board of Directors and approximately 900+ members. Trails and Pathways has three full-time employees, Executive Director Dan Verbeten, Program Director Nick Beatty, and Outreach and Development Director Caitie Quinn, and one full-time seasonal employee, Winter Trails Manager Kevin Emery. During the summer months we gather over 140 volunteers to work on trails and in the winter months we have over 25 volunteers that contribute weekly to the community winter trails program.

Programs

Trails and Pathways currently has three primary pillars of operation. The Community Winter Trails Program provides groomed nordic ski (skate and classic), fat bike, and snowshoe trails in Teton Canyon, Alta, Sherman Park in Victor, Teton Reserve Golf Club, South Valley Trails at Mike Harris, and the Driggs Nordic Track. All of these trails are free for public use. In the summer months, TVTAP's focus turns to Public Lands Trails. Our partnership with the US Forest Service is essential to help build, maintain, and restore trails in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, and we've developed a relationship with the Bureau of Land Management Upper Snake River Field Office to begin working on BLM land on the west slope of the Tetons. Year round, we are planning and working for plans around Community Trails and Pathways. We work closely with the local, county and state agencies to build a Valley-wide connected pathways network. The Executive Director, and Outreach and Development Director with help from board members, regularly write grant applications for organizational support to obtain funding for new pathways in Teton Valley. Trails and Pathways facilitates a summer wilderness volunteer program which amasses over 1,200 hours of volunteer work annually in the National Forest. TVTAP also offers community events such as trails forums, full moon gatherings, hikes and walks, staff and board members spend time offering education and stewardship at trailheads, and partner with individuals and organizations to groom venues to support ski races. Volunteerism and partnerships are key to TVTAP's success.