Jackson Hole Winter Travel Guide

I was blessed with a beautiful trip to Jackson Hole with my lovely friends (shoutout to you BECCA). It was not only amazing because I was surrounded by people I love, it was amazing because I was surrounded by mountains that I always love. The Jackson Hole mountains are unlike anything I had seen in the USA, and I used to live in Colorado. The mountains were like Switzerland style, very jagged and sharp at the tippety tops.

There is so much to do or see in this beautiful destination. It is a playground for the outdoorsy type whether it be summer or winter. If you like to ski, go in the winter. If you like to hike or want to see Yellowstone, go in the summer. Needless to say, I experienced Jackson Hole in the winter, my next trip there will absolutely be in the summer.

Winter in Jackson Hole can look a lot different than summertime. Be prepared to ski epic trails and get swallowed by the falling of the snow.

Side note: the whole town and city shuts down from mid-November to early December. I would suggest going between January – March.

Where to Stay in the Winter

If you are going in the winter, you are most likely taking advantage of the ski mountains. I highly suggest staying in Teton Village. The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is going to be your best and biggest mountain. Plus if you stay in the village it gives you easy, walkable, access to the ski lifts.

Four Seasons, Caldera house, Teton Mountain Lodge & spa

Activities in the winter

Skiing

This is an absolute must. We honestly didn’t get to experience much of the mountain as we wanted because there was a heatwave but the mountain was sick! Jackson Hole is part of the Ikon pass or you can get tickets online here.

Ride the Tram

If skiing isn’t your thing but you still want to experience the beautiful mountain view: ride the ariel tram to the top. This tram is included in your skiing day pass or it is a $40 purchase. It takes you to the top of the mountain while enjoying some of the most epic views. At the top, you can head into the Corbetts Cabin and grab yourself a yummy waffle and a spiked hot chocolate. The tram is located near the Caldera House.

Visit Snake River Lookout

In the winter, Grand Teton National park is closed to hiking due to the snow and unpaved roads. This lookout is going to give you the best views of the mountains anyways. The Snake River lookout is famous for Ansel Adams’ capture. Ansel Adams used his photography around America West to preserve the land and petition for national parks. This one picture at this specific outlook was the reason the Grand Teton National park was created. For this, I would definitely suggest renting a car. Stop at Dornan’s for lunch either before or after.

Snowmobiling or Dog Sledding to the Grand Teton National Park

When the winter rises and snowfalls, the national park shuts down to car traffic because of its unpaved roads and icy conditions. That just means you will have to experience it a different way. Snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or dog sledding are all great ways to experience the mountains without dangerously driving. Below is an incredible company to book all your guided tours through. I would highly suggest Get Your Guide if you are looking to do a snowmobiling or dog sledding tour.

Hot Springs

The most popular hot springs in Jackson Hole is the Granite Springs. Unfortunately though, in the winter these hot springs are unreachable by car because of the road closures. As stated above you can rent a snowmobile or dogsled to them. If that doesn’t fit your budget, I would suggest the Astoria Hot Springs Park. It is easily reachable by car and is only $18. Reserve your timeslot and tickets online here.

Tour Around Downtown Jackson

Downtown Jackson is super cute and shouldn’t be overlooked. It has a whole lot of shopping and thrifting at relatively decent prices. There are also great lunch and dinner spots here as well. Some amazing breweries to check out: Snack River Brewing, Melvin Brewing, StillWest Brewery.