The Hillbender and Grumpy Loop is made up of two trails found in the Mike Harris trail network. Astute hikers will notice that these trails are primarily intended for mountain bikers, but hikers and equestrian riders are also welcome. It should be noted to stay alert though as mountain bikers frequently race around turns (as they should), so be sure to be aware and move off the trail since you’ll likely notice them before they notice you.

As for the trails themselves, this particular loop offers both scenic vistas of the surrounding area, as well as lots of time in a deep and old forest, giving hikers an intimate view of the mature woods. If you’re short on time, you can also simply do one of the loops to get some quick and rewarding movement in.

View more images available as prints from the Snake River Mountains

Hillbender and Grumpy Loop Trail Description

The trail begins on the Nemo Trail, which forks off at a signpost to the right at 0.1 miles in to begin the Hillbender Trail. After a short parallel of the power line road, the trail crosses the road and then cuts eastward to casually begin climbing the hill, offering increasingly scenic views of the eastern landscape.

Once the trail passes below the power lines, the trail will cut back in the opposite direction as it reenters the forest. The peaceful forest helps to drown out some of the road noise from the nearby highway, though it’s short-lived since the trail wraps back around the hill to pop out with a more dramatic view to the south over the main highway. A spectacular vista of the Snake River Mountains to the south sadly lies behind the large power lines.

A gradual climb brings you back into the forest, interspersed gorgeously with towering aspen trees. Shortly after, at 0.8 miles in, you’ll reach the fork to begin the official loop for the Hillbender Trail. In this instance, I went right, so that’s what this write-up will reflect.

The trail will climb once again up an exposed hillside as it once again heads back toward the highway. As the trail cuts back toward the west, scenic views of both the lower Teton and Snake River Mountains open up in the distance before a long meander in the forest, the trail never getting too steep.

After the long meander the trail winds around the top of the hill where views into the Teton Mountains can be seen through the trees along the hike. It’s a peaceful little section of the trail before it winds back into the interior of the forest for some flat easy hiking with the road noise still audible, but more in the background.

Soon you hit 1.8 miles where you’ll intersect with the Grumpy Trail. If you’re short on time and want to get back, head left to close out the Hillbender Trail. Both straight or right will begin the Grumpy Trail, and in this instance I went right, so the following will reflect that.

The trail begins as a gradual descent through the thick woods, as the descent continues for a lengthy stretch. A small meadow breaks up the peaceful forest as the road noise fades into the distant background. After more descending, the trail cuts back into the forest and begins climbing again after making a rough large U-turn.

While the trail is never quite as gradual as it has been, it’s also not terribly steep either. It continues climbing steadily through both thick and thin forests with brief respites in the ascent.

Upon reaching 3 miles, you’ll intersect a connector trail for the nearby Nemo Trail. Continue left to close out the loop, where after more peaceful climbing through the forest, you reach the junction with the Hillbender Trail once again at 3.5 miles in. Head right to close out the last loop.

The Hillbender Trail at this point flattens out for a consistent descent through the forest, the road noise gradually increasing as you make a straight shot back toward the highway. It soon opens into a more open hillside for a moment before continuing its descent back into the forest. At 4.5 miles in you’ll reach the initial fork for the Hillbender Loop, where continuing straight will bring you back to trailhead via the same brief stretch along the Nemo Trail that you did in the beginning.

Getting There

From downtown Victor, head south on Highway 33 for 3.9 miles, turning right into the Mike Harris Campground turn. A parking area and trailhead will be on the right just after crossing Trail Creek.