Jackson Forest

The Jackson Forest Hopper kicks off in Caspar, CA, a small coastal town just south of Fort Bragg, before heading inland through the towering redwoods and winding roads of Jackson Demonstration State Forest. Riders will experience everything from smooth gravel and fast descents to rugged forest trails surrounded by ferns and coastal fog, a true taste of Mendocino County’s wild backcountry.

In Caspar and the surrounding Mendocino Coast, April brings classic spring conditions, cool mornings in the low 50s and daytime highs in the mid-60s, with a mix of sun, clouds, and the occasional light drizzle. The forest stays lush and green this time of year, and while the coast can be breezy and damp, the inland sections of Jackson Demonstration Forest are often warmer and more sheltered. Expect some moisture on shaded trails, but when the sun breaks through, it’s about as good as it gets for riding, cool temps, tacky dirt, and crisp ocean air.

Friday:
5:00-7:00 PM: Packet Pick Location TBS

Saturday:
6:00-8:00 AM: Registration and Packet Pickup
7:30-8:00 AM: Roll Out

1:30-5:00 PM: Lunch
3:30 PM: Podium at Casper Community Center

• Registration opens November 1st, 2025 and closes April 21st, 2026 at 9pm PST

• For the best registration experience, create a Movemint account to easily manage all your registered events, track your results, and integrate your Strava account. More information here

• Day-of registration is available if the event is not sold out and incurs an additional $20 fee on top of standard registration fee.

• The deadline to transfer your registration to another rider is April 21st, 2026 at 11:59PM PST

• Day of transfers to another rider are allowed ($20 fee)

For more info check out the registration policy in the FAQ on the “About Us” page

How to Register a Team:

When registering, the team captain should create the team first.

How to create a team on movemint

Once the team is created, other riders can select that team name from the drop-down menu during registration.

Teams or groups of 5 or more planning to register together can reach out to us before registering to receive $10 off for each rider 

All team members must register under the same exact team name for results to be grouped correctly.

Teams are an awesome way to build camaraderie, represent your community, and bring extra energy to every Grasshopper.

Referral's: Once you register, you’ll receive a unique referral code to share with friends. Each friend you refer gets $10 off their registration, and you’ll get $10 back for every friend who signs up.

Grasshoppers have always been about adventure, exploration and pushing your limits. Come to race, or come to adventure and explore. Riders may choose their category and licenses are not required. All Hopper routes are open and riders must obey all traffic laws and rules. See RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

Long Course

• Men: Pro, U19, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+

• Women: Pro, U19, 19-29,30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+

• Non Binary

Short Course

• Open Men

• Open Women

• Juniors 16-18

• Junior U16

• Non Binary

Friday: 5:00-7:00 PM

Saturday: 6:00-8:00 AM

Location: TBD

There is no camping at the venue.

We will update update with camping and lodging info soon!

We will update update with camping and lodging info soon!

You can ride Jackson Forest on a gravel bike, but the course is best suited for a hardtail or XC mountain bike. Expect a mix of smooth dirt roads, rough forest tracks, and some rooty, rocky sections through the trees.

If you’re on a gravel bike, go with the widest tires you can fit (around 40–45mm) and make sure they’re in good shape. Lower pressure and a bit of tread will go a long way.

If you’re on a mountain bike, run fast-rolling tires and keep things light, you’ll appreciate the control and comfort on the rougher parts.

Recommended tool kit:
2 tubes, 2 CO₂, small pump, Dyna Plug, multi-tool, tire boots, and patches.

Conditions can change quickly with weather, so be ready for anything from hero dirt to muddy corners. Whatever bike you bring, make sure it’s dialed and ready for a big day in the forest!

Note: E-Bikes are not permitted at this event.

We’ve created a group page for riders. You can post if you are looking for an entry, looking to sell a spot, have questions about tires and road conditions, looking to ride share, camping/lodging etc. To join the group go to Grasshopper Group. (Note: This is NOT the Grasshopper FB) page)
Online Transfer Cut-Off is Tues. May 6th at 11:59 PM. DAY OF TRANSFERS +$20

More Info soon

• A crazy hard, super fun adventure with a bunch of your new and old cycling buddies.

• Bottle Drop for long course

• Fully stocked Feed zones with Skratch Hydration Maurten gels, and other snacks

• Awesome prizes at the finish from our generous sponsors.

• Event timing and results.

• Hot coffee and fresh baked pastries from Black Oak Coffee Roasters the morning of each event.

• Delicious lunch, cold Yerba Madre and Best Day Brewing beer at the finish.

• Podiums for Top 3 All Categories long courses, and for Top 3 M/W/NB Overall short courses and Top 3 for shorts course Juniors U16 and Juniors 16-18

• Cash prizes for Top 3 Pro M/F Overall.

• Emergency Medical Support en route.

• Unforgettable stories of adventure.

• Free event photos from FinisherPix.