How to Crush a Weekend in Ketchum
Small Town, Big Life. That’s the motto of Ketchum, Idaho, a quaint mountain town that packs a big punch. Surrounded by countless hiking and mountain biking trails, the biggest challenge on a trip here is figuring out just how much you can conquer in a short time. On our road trip, we only had one afternoon to spend in Ketchum, so we had to make it count. Trust us, you will want as much time as you can get here.
We headed straight to the The Elephant's Perch to get set up for a mountain bike adventure. This shop is run by locals who know every turn of every trail and are incredibly helpful when it comes to getting sized up and suggesting trails depending on skill level and timing. Their arsenal of bikes is top of the line and extremely well maintained. All geared up, coupled with the knowledge that we were in good hands, and confident that we knew what we were getting into, we headed out.
One of the best things about Ketchum and the surrounding trail system is the accessibility directly from town, as well as the cyclist-friendly roadways. The city is lined with biker lanes, and there is a bike trail that weaves its way through town.
With a quick 15-minute ride through town, we arrived at the Adams Gulch Trailhead where we assessed our trail options.
With limited time, we opted for a ride that cut a very famous loop in half (Adams Gulch Intermediate Loop) in order to get the most bang for our buck. We knew that it would require more climbing right off the start, but also that it would all be worth it for the fast descent back! Life is all about making choices, and that applies to cutting up your MTB routes and accepting the pain for the gain!
For a full description of the loop we did, check out: Mountain Bike the Griffin Butte Loop. It’s a fast and dirty ride that allowed us to feel like we really got a feel for the area. If we had more time, we would’ve made a few more connections, but the weather was dishing out some intermittent high winds and cold rain.
After completing the loop, we cruised up and down some nearby trails to explore more of the area because the sun had decided to show up again to warm us up.
Grumpy's
With our hearts full of glorious adventure, bodies covered with mud and spirits fulfilled, it was time to head back to town for an early dinner at a local favorite: Grumpy’s! We locked up the bikes just outside the patio and huddled around a picnic table to order burgers and beer.
It was a lot of fun making friends with the bartenders, servers and locals who all had outrageous stories to share about Grumpy’s. It’s a crazy fun and laid back atmosphere that compliments the great beer selection and greasy burgers!
We were in Ketchum for just half a day, and we feel like we have stories for days. It’s no wonder this town is a favorite for Idahoans and visitors alike.
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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