Sidewinder's claim to fame is that it's on a South facing hill just above the Snake River. That means that when all the other trails in the Kelly Canyon Trail network are covered with snow and mud, Sidewinder is getting plenty of sun, keeping it dry earlier and later in the year. It's closed from December through April to accommodate wintering mule deer but is often rideable up until it's closed and as soon as its open.

The singletrack trail meanders through sagebrush for the first 1/4 mile before it gets into the switchbacks of which there are several. From there, the incline is pretty gradual and consistant until you get closer to the top. There are plenty of areas where it flattens out a bit for a little relief and several dips and even a little downhill. The downhill sections on the way up almost always precede a steeper uphill. It's a great way to get up a little speed to make the steep parts a little easier.

There's a little bench at the top of the trail where you can sit and enjoy the view before continuing to the ATV junction. Continuing upward on the ATV junction will connect you into the rest of Kelly Canyon's trail system. If it's wet, you'll find slimy clay mud. There are also sections of the trail that are covered with shale.

Going down makes it all worth it. Sidewinder is a great flow track with corners much tighter than you realized on the way up. There aren't a lot of well bermed corners so you'll see plenty of people go off the trail. Luckily, going off a corner usually just results in a ride through some sagebrush. You won't find any serious jumps but there's plenty of dips and turns to make for a great time.

Like any of the Kelly Canyon Trails, Sidewinder can get pretty dusty in the summer. It's best if you can ride it relatively soon after a light rain so it's just barely damp. The trail can get pretty crowded during peak times which can interrupt your climb momentum and your flow downhill. Please do your best to respect other riders.