Jackson Hole Winter

Jackson Hole boasts home to some of the best backcountry skiing in North America. With the Tetons as your powder playground, you can ski everything from mellow angle powder runs to steep and deep couloirs. Jackson Hole is home to several outstanding backcountry guide operations that offer everything from avalanche safety classes to single and multi-day backcountry ski/snowboard trips. Dip your toes into the world of backcountry skiing on your next visit to Jackson.

 

Endless miles of snow-covered plains and dogs that want to run. We’ve all heard tales of the famous Iditarod or Call of the Wild, but it isn’t every day that you can try out mushing for yourself. Hop on a sled pulled but Iditarod veteran pups themselves, and ride alongside a gorgeous creek in the Bridger-Teton National Forest to a hot spring pool. Warm up with a soak before heading back to the trailhead.

 

Feeling like a day off from skiing or shopping? Head to the National Elk Refuge – just a few minutes from Hotel Jackson – to take a horse-drawn sleigh through thousands of elk who spend the winter here. These sleighs have been used for over a century to feed the elk, thus the animals are accustomed to them and allow the sleighs to get as close as you will ever get to an elk. The Elk Refuge is home to more than 8,000 elk, 300 species of birds, wolves, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, and coyotes. The guides are extremely knowledgeable, and you are guaranteed to walk away with a new piece of knowledge about elk, Jackson Hole history, or local flora and fauna. A wonderful experience for all ages of the family!

 

The southern boundary of Grand Teton National Park is just four miles from our front door and the southern entrance to Yellowstone National Park is about an hour drive away. In Grand Teton National Park is the Teton Range -- breathtaking mountains that soar up more than a vertical mile from the valley floor. Grand Teton National Park has plenty to do in the winter, with an abundance of snowshoe, hiking, and cross country ski trails. Yellowstone National Park has otherworldly geothermal features and the world’s highest concentration of geysers. Both parks are home to grizzly and black bears, bison, wolves, mountain lions, elk, moose and over 300 species of birds.  Go on a safari with a local naturalist/guide to turn your park visits into an experience of a lifetime. Fun Fact: Winter is the best time of year to spot wolves!

 

Winter adrenaline rushes don’t have to come from snowboards or skis. Bundle up and get ready for the adventure of your winter - a snowmobile tour. There are a variety of places to explore; snow-covered meadows with breathtaking Teton views or through the Bridger-Teton National Forest to a natural hot spring pool. These exhilarating day-long or half-day tours are a blast for your whole group; whether it is a weekend getaway with your spouse, a family trip with the kids, or reunion with friends.

 

Hotel Jackson Exclusive Wildlife Safari + Photography Workshop!

This curated experience includes private instruction from a professional photographer while you explore famous Jackson Hole scenes. Learn about Ansel Adams, David Brookover, Thomas Mangelsen, and William Henry Jackson as you capture your own images. After a full day in the field, pick your favorite shot and we’ll have it printed, framed, and shipped to your home. A signed copy of David Brookover’s The Road is included.

Jackson Hole is home to some of the most renowned skiing in the world. With three resorts within just 90 minutes of Hotel Jackson, there is terrain accessible for skiers of all abilities. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, consistently ranked as one of the top ski resorts offers 2,500 acres of inbounds terrain and more than 3,000 accessible acres of backcountry terrain. With a 100-passenger tram that climbs over 4,000 vertical feet in less than 10 minutes, several high speed quads, two gondolas, and one of the country’s best ski schools, JHMR has something for everyone in the family. JHMR is just twenty minutes from Hotel Jackson, but no need to worry about transportation or parking; Hotel Jackson provides a complimentary shuttle from the hotel to the tram dock at the heart of the resort’s base area to fulfill your transportation needs. If you are looking for more mellow terrain and laid back vibes, head over the pass to Grand Targhee resort. Here, there are almost never lines, and powder stashes to be found even into the afternoon. People love the friendly, laid-back, local atmosphere at Targhee, and it is an excellent place to grow confidence in your skiing abilities! If you are hoping for an even quieter skiing experience, our town hill, Snow King Mountain, is perfect for you. Just six blocks from our hotel, you will find a smattering of locals, kids, and a few visitors enjoying the very family friendly resort. This is a great place to spend a day getting your feet back under you, or even putting on skis for the first time!

 

Jackson Hole is most famous for its downhill skiing, but the valley also offers an abundance of trails groomed for cross-country skiing. Some trails are just a five-minute drive from Hotel Jackson through beautiful snowy woods, others go for more than 30 miles through Grand Teton National Park. At the northern end of Jackson Hole, in Buffalo Valley, former Olympians groom about 10 miles of trail daily, and have a cozy lodge that serves a hearty lunch. This is a beautiful and serene way to get outside and see the stunning landscapes Jackson Hole has to offer. 

 

If small groups, personalized service and over 10,000 vertical feet of untracked powder are your thing, you are sure to love this experience. Let us arrange a heli-skiing adventure just for you. If you are not keen on air-time but still want to find fresh powder stashes, try out Cat Skiing. The cat-skiing operations here have access to over 600 acres and 20,000 vertical feet of fresh powder, complete with astounding Teton views.

Journey into the heart of winter via one of the most classic modes of winter travel: snowshoes. Tailor the day to your group’s desires. Spend a couple hours, a half day or a full day with a naturalist guide, exploring Grand Teton National Park or the surrounding National Forests. Follow animal tracks, learn about wildlife and winter ecology, or simply take a beautiful walk through the woods or park and enjoy the breath-taking beauty of Jackson Hole and the Tetons blanketed in white.

If you want a truly unique and unforgettable Jackson Hole experience, see the valley from a bird’s eye view. Fly along the winding and beautiful Snake River and cross over to the Teton range to fly through the tallest peaks in the valley. Escape into hidden and glittering alpine lakes, distant waterfalls and through towering canyons. Learn from your guide about the Native Americans, the legendary fur trappers and the unruly cowboys who conquered and settled Jackson Hole. Or, opt for an evening flight to see the gorgeous alpenglow – the optical phenomenon of the orange-pink glow that occurs on mountains as the sun sets below the horizon – on the Teton and Gros Ventre ranges; truly an unforgettable and majestic sight to see. 

If you’ve seen a fat bike, you’ve probably laughed at it. Its tires, which are up to 5-inches wide, are, without a doubt, clownish. But, these bikes, which have exploded in popularity in the last five years, are a novel way to explore snowy areas without requiring you to learn a new sport. Fat bikes look a little different than traditional bicycles, but riding them is the same. Get comfortable on the seat and start pedaling. Full- and half-day trips are available and include bike and helmet rental.

Perched on a hillside opposite of the National Elk refuge, the National Museum of Wildlife Art is one of the Jackson’s hidden gems. The museum holds more than 5,000 permanent works of art representing wildlife from around the world. Featuring work by prominent artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Robert Kuhn, John James Audubon, and Carl Rungius, the Museum’s unsurpassed permanent collection chronicles much of the history of wildlife in art, from 2500 B.C. to the present. Boasting a museum shop, interactive children’s gallery, Restaurant with gorgeous valley views, and three-quarter mile outdoor sculpture trail, the museum can keep one entertained for hours. Ask us for a list of current exhibits and events.

 

Have a blast—pun intended—safely learning about and using various firearms in a controlled environment and under the care of highly trained instructors. Choose from a variety of guns, fired on a western-style outdoor range with targets out to 600 yards. This is a family-friendly activity.