Steepest little hill in the country and one heck of a Hill Climb: 46th Snowmobile World Championships March 23-26 at Snow King Mountain Resort

 

46 years of revving up to the top of Snow King,  the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb is built on speed, spills and thrills. The event draws crowds from across the intermountain West to Jackson Hole.

 

About 20 members of the Jackson Hole Snow Devils started the small hill climb in 1975, and “what started as a few local boys high marking a ski slope” has grown into the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb.

 

The four-day event draws over 10,000 fans and more than 300 snowmobile hill climb racers from all over the US and Canada to the valley of Jackson Hole. Nearly 400 club members and volunteers now converge on Snow King to stage one of the largest non-profit charity snowmobile events in the United States.

 

The nonprofit aims to educate the public about winter activities and sports, and uses the annual Hill Climb as its flagship fundraiser for educational purposes like scholarship awards and lifesaving educational efforts like avalanche training.

 

The Hill Climb can be enjoyed from down on the streets of Jackson and on the Snow King Gondola before a ski down to join the rest of the festivities and the rowdy crowd.

 

A few things to think about when attending Hill Climb—try not to drive. Parking will be hard to find. While there is no dedicated shuttle to the event, it’s easy to make use of the Town of Jackson "Start" Bus system on their normal route. Bus schedules are online and should be available at your hotel's front desk.

 

Things Not to Bring: Dogs, packaged alcohol or beer.

 

Things to Bring: Snow boots, gloves, sunglasses, lawn chairs, hat,  sunblock,  legal ID if you wish to purchase or consume beer, binoculars,  and plenty of cash.  Please note that there are no ATMs on site and credit cards are not accepted by all vendors at the hill.  

 

Also, the Snow Devils will be asking everyone on the hill who is consuming alcohol for legal ID. 

There are no exceptions, so please remember to bring your ID with you. Security and Police will be on the hill, so please act and drink responsibly!

 

To enjoy one of the most unique ways to watch the competition as part of the Jackson Valley, get on the gondola for an unbeatable view. If you do ride the Snow King Gondola, you will need to purchase admission to the event prior to accessing the Gondola. The cost for the Gondola lift ticket is $30/per person for a round-trip ticket. No Alcohol is allowed on the Gondola lift—event staff will be checking.

 

Fans are waiting with bated breath to see if Keith Curtis who claimed his record seventh title Sunday at the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb on Snow King last year will take number one sled once more at the 46th annual race. The Dillon, Montana, racer rode up more than 1,500 vertical feet while navigating a course with gates. Hill Climb’s sled award categories are stock, improved stock and modified.

 

Last year’s event also saw the first tiebreaker in Hill Climb history in the 600 Modified race. Grand Lake, Colorado’s Wes Selby and Jackson, Montana’s Toby Shepherd went sled to sled in a tiebreaker. Selby garnered a narrow victory.