Are you planning a trip to Jackson Hole in the winter? This article lists the best things to do to maximize your time spent in the Last of the Old West!
Jackson Hole is a 50 mile valley nestled between the Grand Teton and Gros Ventre (pronounced ‘Grow Vaunt’) mountain ranges amidst the Rocky Mountains in Western Wyoming. Jackson Hole is made up of many small towns including Jackson, Wilson, Teton Village, Hoback, and more. Jackson, a tiny mountain town situated at the bottom of Snow King Mountain, is seen as the heart of the valley with it’s cultural appeal and attractions.
Due to the amount of snow that gets dumped on Jackson Hole in the winter (it’s one of the snowiest towns in the US!), a lot of summer activities aren’t feasible. There are, however, plenty of winter adventures available to make your experience in Jackson Hole one to remember.
I was lucky enough to get a travel med tech contract in Jackson- where I ended up staying for 6 months! I compiled a list of my favorite Jackson Hole winter adventures to share with you all!
**If you’re curious how to become a travel med tech- or other travel health care professional- check out my post ‘How to Become a Travel Med Tech‘ below for more information!**
**Tip- If you’re flying to Jackson Hole, snag a seat on the right side of the plane- the Tetons will be on the right when you fly in! Opposite that, make sure you get a seat on the left when you fly back out!**
1. Visit Jackson Town Square
The Town Square of Jackson is where you’ll see the famous Elk Antler Arches along with plenty of locally owned mountain shops and restaurants. Stop in at Persephone Bakery for coffee and pastries or Pearl St. Bagels for coffee and fresh made bagels! You also don’t want to miss out on a visit to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, it’s worth a visit. You’ll find food, live music, dancing, and the infamous saddle barstools!
If you’re visiting around Thanksgiving, don’t miss the Town Square tree and antler arch lighting! This a great activity for kids as well because Santa visits! Check Google for the dates and times the lighting occurs each year.
2. Drive through Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is essentially a big loop, and unfortunately nearly ⅓ of that loop is closed from November-May (depending on road conditions), but there is still plenty of park to see! Take Highway 26/89/191 North out of Jackson where you’ll run right into the entrance to Grand Teton National Park.
Continue for about 20 minutes until you reach the Moran Junction (this is where you’ll pay to enter the park). Entrance is $35.00 for a 7 day pass. Check out Jackson Lake and the Jackson Lake Dam, and keep your eyes peeled for elk, moose, buffalo, and the elusive pack of wolves!
You can follow Highway 191 TOWARDS Yellowstone while inside GTNP, however, you’ll hit a road closure from November-May and can’t actually access the park.
**Note- closed park roads are still accessible via over-snow transportation. Check out snowmobile or dogsled tours during your visit!**
T. A. Moulton Barn is located in Mormon Row right off of Highway 26/89/191 in Grand Teton National Park. Take Antelope Flats Road for about a mile where you’ll unfortunately run into a road closure. HOWEVER, it’s only about a 0.5-1.5 mile walk (depending on where they decide to close the road) to reach T. A. Moulton barn, and the views are amazing! If weather permits and you’re up for a short walk, I’d recommend not missing it!
3. Ski or snowboard at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain, or Grand Targhee Resort
Located just 20 minutes from downtown Jackson, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (aka The Village) is easily the most popular ski resort in Jackson Hole. The range and difficulty of terrain, the number of slopes, number of powder days, and the infamous Colbert Couloir drive thousands of avid skiers and snowboarders to this mountain every winter.
**Don’t be discouraged if you’re a newbie, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has some of the most experienced and practiced instructors onsite to get you on the black diamonds in no time!
Snow King Mountain is located in the town of Jackson making it the most easily accessible if you’re staying in downtown Jackson. Because Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is so close, Snow King Mountain is typically less crowded and lacks the lift lines that The Village sees. Don’t let that deter you, Snow King Mountain still has some challenging terrain. It has the steepest ski racing course in the lower 48 states!
Grand Targhee Resort is very similar in terrain to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort being that it’s on the same mountain, just the opposite side! This being said, you’ll have about an hour drive to reach the resort. Don’t let this dissuade you though, Grand Targhee can compete with the The Village in every aspect. Grand Targhee is also where I learned to snowboard at 26 years old- my instructor was awesome and made learning a new sport as an adult a great experience! They have what’s called the Shoshone lift which leads to a number of beginner trails and costs half the price of a regular lift ticket- this saved me so much money as a beginner who could only go down a limited number of trails!
4. Snowmobile, Snowshoe, Dogsled tours
Jackson Hole offers a number of different snowmobile, snowshoe, and dogsledding tours throughout the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. This is a very interesting and unique way to see the parks while the roads are closed!
5. National Elk Refuge
Drive through the elk refuge to see the hundreds of elk gathered for the winter. You’ll be able to see a number of elk from Highway 26/89/191, but don’t miss out on the other side of the elk refuge. Here you have a better chance of seeing the big horned sheep!
You can also take a sleigh ride through the elk refuge! Horse drawn wagons will take you directly into the refuge and right up to the herd of elk! This is a great way to see the wildlife up close and a great chance for a photo op! Tickets are $38 for adults, $23 for children, and children 4 and under are free. Find more information on elk refuge sleigh rides here.
6. Jackson Hole Moose Hockey
Another favorite winter activity of mine was going to the Jackson Hole Moose Hockey games. They play their home games at the Snow King Sports and Events Center Friday and Saturday nights from mid-October to mid-March, and are very entertaining! There’s usually a fairly large crowd, live music, beer, and an overall exciting atmosphere. Stand at the glass or sit under the heated bleachers and enjoy the show! Buy your tickets in advance online here for $10 or pay $15 at the door!
7. Pedigree Sled Dog Race
Witness the annual Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog race in the heart of Jackson! The race launches in the Town Square and concludes about a week later in Dubois, WY. Grab some food and a hot chocolate (or a beer) at one of the many vendors stationed in the Town Square and watch the dogs take off! Click here for more information on the race!
There you have it! The best (and my favorite) things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming during the winter months! Hopefully this list of activities gives you the best experience in this beautiful area! Leave me a comment of your favorite adventure(s) if you make it Jackson Hole this winter!
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