If you plan to visit Jackson Hole in the winter, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your Jackson Hole stay.
What to wear:
Jackson Hole is frequently in the 20’s during the day and hovering somewhere around 0 in the evenings. We suggest plenty of layers, a warm coat (down if you have it), good winter boots with traction (packed down snow is slick), a hat and gloves.
How to prepare:
Our climate is dry which makes for great powder! But it also means that you can dehydrate easily so drink plenty of water before you come. Drinking water will also help with altitude adjustment…our valley floor is at 6200ft (1890 meters).
Where to stay:
In general, you can stay in the town of Jackson for cheaper rates but will have a 20-minute drive by car or public transport (START bus) out to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR). Alternatively, you can have the ease of the resort life by staying out in the “Village” (Teton Village) and can visit Jackson for a break from fresh ski turns.
Where to eat:
You really can’t go wrong with the majority of restaurants in Jackson Hole. Out in the Village, a couple of our favorite restaurants include the Spur**, the Alpenrose***, Teton Thai** and the Mangy Moose**. If you are staying in Jackson, we suggest Trio**, Rendezvous Bistro**, Snake River Grill***, and Bin 22**. A couple other great spots include Nora’s Fish Creek Inn** in Wilson, WY, Dornan’s* in Moose, WY and Stiegler’s*** on Moose Wilson Rd.
Where to ski and snowboard:
For alpine skiing, telemark skiing, and snowboarding, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King, and Grand Targhee offer a variety of trails for your ski level and plenty of both groomed and off-pitched snow-filled trails. Snow King is the town ski resort and provides great steep terrain. Grand Targhee is about an hour a way in Alta, WY but has great stashes of fresh powder. There are a couple of courses for cross-country and skate skiing in the valley as well (Teton Pines, Golf and Tennis, Shooting Star) along with trails on our bike paths. Consider renting cross country skis at Skinny Skis or at JHMR and going for a nice tour on the Grand Teton National Park’s groomed path starting from Bradley-Taggart Trailhead.
What else to do:
Jackson Hole has a plethora of activities in the winter aside from skiing. To name a few…visiting elk on the Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides, snowmobiling in Yellowstone and Togwotee Pass, sledding with King Tubes, riding the Snow King Rollercoaster, and watching Jackson Hole Moose Hockey with locals at the Snow King Center (base of Snow King Ski Resort in town). You can rent fat bikes at Hoback Sports and take a gander up Cache Creek Trail. Bring sleds for the sledding hills at Rendezvous Park on the Village Rd (Moose-Wilson Rd). Bring ice skates and visit the Snow King Center or Owen Bircher Park in Wilson.There is also great shopping on the town square in Jackson.
Where to find the locals:
If there is fresh snow coming, you will only see the locals in the lift lines. Fresh ski tracks are an important part of our culture. If the snow is a little bare, find us at the Silver Dollar Bar in the historical Wort Hotel in Jackson, the Stagecoach Bar in Wilson, the Calico on Moose-Wilson Rd., and Cutty’s.
Jackson Hole in the winter is a magical place. After you experience our little taste of heaven, keep it to yourself. We don’t want our little secret to get out!