Jackson Hole's Famous Snowmobile Hillclimb Won't Happen This Year

Each spring, the pristine quiet of downtown Jackson Hole is replaced by the unmistakable braaap of snowmobiles for the annual World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb at Snow King Mountain.

Unfortunately, on Wednesday, March 4, the Jackson Hole Snow Devils, who put on the event, announced that it would be cancelled in 2026 due to insufficient snowpack at Snow King.

“There’s no way we could make it happen and have it safe, have a quality course, a quality World Championship Hill Climb,” said Mike Robertson, vice president of the Jackson Hole Snow Devils, told the Jackson Hole News and Guide.

The event consists of a race up the Exhibition ski run at Snow King, which features a steep 1,517 ft climb.

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Snow King Mountain sits right in downtown Jackson, Wyoming, and is known as the locals' ski hill and a popular place for after-work tours.

In the last few years, Snow King has also been home to a new summer concert series that takes place at the top of the gondola, and has drawn big-name music acts like Widespread Panic, Trampled by Turtles, Souls of Mischief, and more.

Snow King has received 97" of snow total this season, and is reporting a base depth of 20".

The World Championship Hillclimb typically takes place after Snow King's lifts have stopped spinning for the year, as it tends to do a number on their base snowpack. It was scheduled for March 19-22 this year, but after exploring a myriad of other options, the Snow Devils ultimately decided that cancelling was the safest option.

The cancellation of the annual Hill Climb is not just a disappointment for those who enjoy participating in and spectating the event each year. The event also significantly boosts local businesses' profitability before the shoulder season hits the town in April and May.

The event has only been cancelled a handful of times in the past: once due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, once due to avalanche risk in 2015, and once due to low snow in 1981. The ski area is reportedly working to come up with solutions for the coming years in the case of low snow to avoid event cancellation again.