Jackson Hole/Grand Targhee, WY

What to do in Jackson Hole/Grand Targhee, WY

Skiing

Skiing in Jackson Hole is like scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef - it just doesn't get any better than the resort in Teton Village, Grand Targhee across Teton Pass, or Snow King right in town. With the highest vertical rise in the country, this is a playground for the best skiers in the world who come for some of the steepest, most challenging terrain in North America. Jackson Hole also offers almost 50% intermediate and beginner terrain and all 3 areas host professional ski schools as well as rental shops.

Free-riding

Big mountain riding at Jackson Hole offers everything that free-riders crave, like technical cliffs, chutes, tree-filled glades, groomed trails for carving, a halfpipe, and some of the best snow on the planet. An HPG Bombardier maintains a new halfpipe on Aprés Vous and create hits for the natural terrain park.

Cross-country Skiing

Broaden your view of Jackson Hole by touring through meadows at the foot of the Tetons. Because Jackson attracts so many cross-country enthusiasts, trails are quickly broken along more popular routes, making it easier for those who follow. Or perhaps you would prefer to venture into the backcountry with a guide for unmatched encounters with wildlife like moose, elk, and the grandest landscape south of Alaska!.

Snowmobiling

Take off on your own or join a tour to jet through miles and miles of mountains, lake shores, valleys, and springs. Some tours are epic, covering 122 miles in one go, others are an easy ride of about 25 miles, and somewhere in between. Guides outfit you with everything you will need and make plenty of stops along the way to enjoy sights like Old Faithful, Granite Hot Springs, Gros Ventre Mountain Range, Greys River, Mud Volcano Togwotee Pass, and even Yellowstone National Park. Depending on your tour, you might also be treated to breakfast or lunch on a ranch along the way.

Day Trip To Yellowstone National Park

With the recent reintroduction of wolves into the Yellowstone ecosystem, the park has returned to the state of nature it was in when the first white man encountered it in 1807. No where else in the country can visitors see wolves, grizzly and black bears, moose, elk and bison, bubbling mud pots, steaming geysers, and 200 foot waterfalls all before breakfast. The road climbs gradually through forests of lodgepole pine to some scenic overlooks above the Lewis River and leads you to the Continental Divide, 7,988 feet above sea level.

Day Trip To Grand Teton National Park

Originally established in 1929 at one-third its present size, Grand Teton was greatly expanded by John D. Rockefeller who, during the 1930s and 1940s, secretly bought enormous tracts of surrounding land slated for development, and then granted it to the park. It is a sanctuary of beauty, wildlife, and pristine lands. The towering Tetons are the youngest range in the Rocky Mountains and focal point of the park. Steep-sided canyons, alpine meadows, and glaciers are accessed by a network of well-maintained trails.

Dog-Sledding

A team of sled dogs pulling you through the pristine wilderness is a fun ride through natural history. In addition to the uniqueness of the experience itself, the natural, non-invasive method of travelling through the wild affords you a greater opportunity to see moose, wolves, elk, porcupines, and even bighorn sheep.

Heli-Skiing

Intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders thrill to runs on untracked deep powder reached by Bell 407 helicopters. The terrain covers ranges south of the Jackson Hole Ski Resort, including all of the Snake River and Palisades Mountain Ranges, and portions of the Hoback, Teton, and the Gros Centre Mountain Ranges. A typical day of heli-skiing includes six runs on 12,000-15,000 vertical rises, lunch, and transportation to the pad.

Horseback Riding

Few activities offer as much insight into the traditions and textures of the West. Rides range from 1- or 2-hour walks to half-, full-, or multi-day excursions in the backcountry. A favorite choice is the full-blown cowboy cookout at a ranch after a day in the saddle. Typical fare includes and inch and a half T-bone steak, corn on the cob and camp cooked potatoes.

Climbing

This is a favorite activity of summer visitors, and many famous climbers such as Lowe and Petzl pioneered the routes to the top of Jackson's spires. In addition to the Tetons' great climbing and mountaineering, the lesser known Wind River peaks to the east are also great spots. Don't get left out just because you aren't experienced! Guides will take you up one of the Tetons and teach you climbing in one of several easy routes in the valley.