The Skiers' Guide to Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole is a resort that demands your best. With over 4,000 feet of verticality, 2,500 acres of some of the most challenging in-bounds skiing in North America, iconic runs like Corbett’s Couloir, and excellent side-country access, Jackson Hole truly deserves its legendary reputation.

Located about 12 miles from the town of Jackson, Wyoming, in the world-famous Teton Range, Jackson Hole averages a whopping 436 inches of snow a year. Skiers and non-skiers alike will enjoy exploring the entire Jackson Hole Valley, which includes entrances to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and the town of Jackson.

Holders of a full Ikon Pass get 7 days on the mountain with no blackout dates. Ikon Base Plus Pass holders receive 5 days with some date restrictions. Jackson Hole access is not included with Ikon Base and Session Passes.

While the majority of Jackson Hole’s terrain is best suited for intermediate or advanced skiers, there are beginner runs at the bottom of the mountain. Generally speaking, Jackson Hole gets more difficult from skier’s left to skier’s right (or looker’s right to left if you’re standing at the base of the mountain, facing it). Regardless of where on the mountain you’re riding, however, make sure to observe and follow all signs and ropes. There are cliffs and other hazards that pose a serious danger to rope-duckers.

That said, beginners have nothing to worry about; Jackson Hole is a mountain with something for you as well. If you plan on sticking to greens, the Teewinot and Eagle’s Rest Quad chairs are your best options.

Once you have your feet under you and you’re ready to mix in some intermediate runs, ride Casper Quad for laps of Easy Does It and Sleeping Indian, then traverse to the Teton Quad chair to ride Crags Run down to the top of Après Vous Mountain—the first portion of Jackson Hole Resort to open to skiers in 1965.

After lunch (or during it if you want to avoid the crowds), navigate to the Sublette Quad chair to reach the highest point on the mountain accessible without riding the tram or skiing advanced terrain. Take the Rendezvous Trail back down for stunning side and backcountry views.

Advanced riders will have no difficulty finding world-class lines at Jackson Hole. While the majority of the best advanced and expert terrain is on Rendezvous Mountain and accessed via the Aerial Tram and Sublette Quad Chairs, tree skiers should look on the other end of the map for their turns and ski off the Teton and Après Vous Quad Chairs. While there are trees and glades on Rendezvous Mountain, there are also lots of cliffs and rocky features that it wouldn’t be fun to sneak up on.

If you’re skiing Rendezvous Mountain, you’ll almost certainly begin by packing into the Aerial Tram for a ride to the summit. Once at the top, you’ll have the best the resort has to offer below you. As you descend the wide-open Rendezvous Bowl, take a left for a bucket list descent (or just a peek) into Corbet’s Couloir.

If you’re into quad-burning bump skiing, navigate to Pepi’s Run via the Tram and Rendezvous Bowl or by riding the Sublette Quad Chair, then Laramie Traverse or Dogface. Once you’re there, lock in for a long, flowy ride on huge moguls tucked between trees. If that’s not enough of a thrill for you, take one of three exits from Pepi’s Run into the double-black Alta Chutes for steep tree skiing with optional cliff jumps.

For some extra cardio, pop off your skis and take a hike from the top of Bridger Gondola to Headwall or Casper Bowl. The roughly 10-minute hike is worth it for the reliable powder fields of Headwall and the cliffs and chutes of Casper Bowl. Headwall is also accessible via Sublette Quad and the Tensleep Traverse.

While there’s enough phenomenal skiing at the top of Rendezvous Mountain for weeks of enjoyment (and far too many classic runs to mention in this guide), some of the most fun terrain on the mountain is below the bottom of the Sublette Quad Chair. South, Middle, and North Hoback and Lower Sublette Ridge are all wide-open, playful runs that hold snow well.

While you don’t need man-made features to catch air at Jackson Hole, there are two terrain parks and four Burton Stash Parks, essentially terrain parks built from wood and other natural materials, scattered across the mountain.

If the resort’s 2,500 acres of in-bounds terrain doesn’t satisfy your appetite, Jackson Hole offers access to incredible side-country skiing. Drop off the back side of the resort or its Southern end (skier’s right) for long, steep runs in expert and extreme terrain, but leave your expectations of avalanche mitigation and ski patrol rescues behind you when you leave the resort. Only enter the side-country through one of the seven access gates, or you’ll risk cliffing out. Consider hiring a guide if you’re new to skiing beyond the ropes, and as they say on the Tram, if you don’t know, don’t go.

The Jackson Hole dining scene is excellent but expensive. Regardless of whether you’re eating at the base area, AKA Teton Village, in the town of Jackson, or the neighboring town of Wilson, you’ll find ample options for any palate, but expect to pay handsomely.

The only casual options worth noting in Teton Village are The Mangy Moose and Teton Thai. The Mangy Moose is a Jackson Hole staple, serving classic pub grub since 1967, the same year the resort opened to the public. Teton Thai is a great spot for a big plate of warming Thai food, but get there early, late, or prepare to wait for a table.

If you’re looking for a more refined option in Teton Village, Spur, Piste Mountain Bistro, and Il Villaggio Osteria all receive high marks.

The town of Jackson is also home to plenty of fantastic restaurants. The budget-minded should check out Snake River Brewing Company for brewpub-style food and excellent beer. If you’re comfortable paying a bit more for a great meal, you won’t have to work hard to find one. Cafe Genevieve has a great brunch and lunch menu, Glorietta serves Italian spins on classic Western fare with some Italian staples, and Gather is a great choice for upscale American food. For those looking to splurge on a fine dining experience, Snake River Grill has been the standard bearer for refined Western fare in Jackson Hole for over 30 years.

Calico, in Wilson, which is about halfway between the resort and Jackson, is a great casual pizza spot.

Swing by Cowboy Coffee Company for a cup of coffee and breakfast burrito on your way to the mountain, or grab a pastry from Persephone. If you’re already in Teton Village, a lot of the restaurants mentioned above also serve breakfast, but for a quick bite, the Taqueria Paciano, in the Mangy Moose, has grab-and-go items.

There are two heavyweights when it comes to Jackson Hole nightlife—The Mangy Moose, in Teton Village, and Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson. While there are certainly other options with trendier cocktails, richer interiors, or fewer tourists, The Mangy Moose and Million Dollar Cowboy Bar are the classics and are both worth a visit.

The Mangy Moose is a cafe, restaurant, saloon, and live music venue in Teton Village. It’s kitschy but iconic—it’s been open as long as the resort has—and can get pretty rowdy during peak après. Many consider it one of the best après bars in the country.

The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is located on the square in downtown Jackson. You can’t miss its massive light-up sign, complete with a rotating neon bucking horse and rider. Inside, you’ll find standard bar offerings, live music, bar stools topped with leather saddles, and even a gift shop. What you might have trouble securing is a table. The bar is packed nearly every night during ski season.

Jackson Hole's skiing isn’t geared towards beginners, so less-experienced skiers and riders are limited in their terrain options. However, there are plenty of activities for families off the slopes, and the town of Jackson is very family-friendly.

Activities for Non-Skiers at Jackson Hole

Non-skiers may have more options to join in on the outdoor fun here than any other ski area in North America. With Grand Teton National Park essentially next door to the resort and Yellowstone National Park a two-hour drive from downtown Jackson, nature lovers will have some of the most dramatic landscapes and best wildlife viewing in the country at their fingertips.

Both parks are open, albeit with some road and other infrastructure closures, during the winter months. Visiting during the winter is a great opportunity to experience solitude in two of America’s premiere national parks, and snowshoes, cross-country skis, snowmobiles, and fat-tire bikes are the best ways to see them. Both parks offer ranger-led programs to help get you out there.

Other outdoor activities available in the valley include ice fishing, ice skating, sleigh rides, dog sledding, tubing, and hot springs soaking. Less adventurous folks will enjoy good shopping in Jackson.

The main areas visitors to Jackson Hole stay, in descending order of distance from the lifts, are Teton Village, Moose Wilson Road, Jackson, and in the Teton Valley of Idaho.

Teton Village is the resort's base area, and thus, it is the closest to the mountain. It’s also typically the most expensive option. Accommodations are pretty standard for a ski resort: a mix of hotels, condos, and rental houses.

When drivers leave Teton Village, they turn onto Moose Wilson Road. Drive South for about ten minutes, and you’ll start to see houses and condos. This is the town of Wilson, most of which sits on Moose Wilson Road. It’s essentially halfway between Jackson and the mountain and has some more affordable options. It also has a handful of restaurants, bars, and a small grocery store; definitely enough to sustain you for a weekend or longer.

The town of Jackson has the most hotels of the accommodation options, and therefore does have some relatively affordable options. Houses and condos in Jackson tend to be just as expensive as those in Teton Village, but you’ll be swapping the convenience of being at the base of the mountain for being able to walk just about anywhere in town. It’s about a 20-minute drive from the town of Jackson to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Bargain hunters can look over the border to Idaho for a better deal on accommodations. While you’ll have to drive over windy Teton Pass to get to the mountain, the small towns of the Teton Valley, which include Victor and Driggs, do offer a cheaper alternative to the Wyoming options. The drive from Victor to Teton Village is 35 minutes on a good day, but navigating the pass in winter weather can be tricky. On a good powder day at the resort (read: bad driving weather), Teton Pass may close, so consider that when deciding where to save a buck.

Jackson Hole resort is powered by 100% wind power, and all new construction in Teton Village must pass sustainability requirements. The resort also partners with the United States Forest Service and Protect Our Winters to support conservation and advance environmentally mindful policies.

Pros

• World-class expert and advanced terrain
• Access to fantastic side-country
• High average snowfall and epic powder days
• Iconic resort steeped in ski history
• Great culinary and après scenes
• Awesome geography and nature-watching
• Close to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks

Cons

• Not a great mountain for beginners
• Very expensive
• Unrelenting crowds on powder days, and first turns are reserved for those willing to pay for them
• Remote—flying directly into Jackson Hole is expensive, and the closest big city is Salt Lake City, Utah which is a 4.5-hour drive away
• Jackson Hole has become a playground for the ultra-rich, which has come at the expense of some local charm