8 Exciting Outdoor Winter Excursions in Jackson Hole, WY
Jackson Hole is a year-round outdoor destination, but the winter brings a unique beauty to the landscape and its own set of fun activities. There’s something for everyone to enjoy!
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In February, I flew to Jackson Hole, WY and spent as much time as possible outside trying out all the activities the area has to offer in the winter. I lucked out with perfect winter weather throughout the week, with days ranging from snowstorms to beautiful bluebird days.
If you’re wanting to enjoy the great outdoors in the colder months, Jackson Hole should be high on your bucket list. Here’s the top 8 adventurous outdoor winter activities to do in Jackson Hole, WY:
Skiing/Snowboarding at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Obviously the #1 draw of Jackson Hole in the winter is for its top-notch skiing and snowboarding at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The world famous Corbet’s Couloir is a major bucket-list item for expert skiers. If you have the skills and the guts to get past the daredevil entrance, the bragging rights alone will make it worth your while. Beyond that, the mountain is a paradise for advanced and expert skiers, as about half of the skiable trials are graded as a black or double black diamond. And if the lift accessible terrain isn’t enough for you, the hike up Headwall and gates into the backcountry give you access to even more extreme adventure.
The mountain isn’t as friendly for beginner or intermediate skiers. In addition to the relatively low number of lower graded slopes, Jackson Hole has the most aggressive trail grades I’ve ever seen. I’m not great at skiing, so opted to do other activities while Thomas conquered the terrain. Everything with a black grade he skied had features like moguls, trees, rocks, or varying pitches that give intermediate skiers fits, and their unique “double blue” grade could pass for a black at most resorts. But there are a few areas that are a bit more approachable. For someone used to riding blues and wants to venture beyond the base area, Thomas recommends skiing off the Casper lift.
[Related: 4 Indoor Activities in Jackson Hole]
Dog Sledding in Bridger-Teton National Forest
Dog sledding definitely tops the list as the most fun thing I did on my trip to Jackson Hole! I booked this tour with Continental Divide Dogsled Adventures and they took me round trip from my VRBO in town. The roads were a bit treacherous, so I’m glad I didn’t have to drive.
I’m not a dog person, but these Alaskan Huskies were so friendly and eager to run. Once the first dog got hooked up to the sled, all the rest wanted to be picked for the team too. Some of these dogs have even competed in the famous Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska!
My musher and I covered about 9 miles with our team of 12 dogs, but the dogs could have run for much longer. We took breaks along the way so the dogs could rest and eat snow to keep their core temperatures down. They prefer temperatures of -20 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit and it was about +20 degrees that day.
Halfway through, my musher and I switched places and I got to mush. Most important rule of mushing? Don’t let go!
While I booked this tour solo, you could fit up to 2 people in a sled + the musher on the back. Lunch was also included after we returned from dog sledding.
See Old Faithful Erupt on a Yellowstone National Park Tour
During the winter, the only way to access Yellowstone National Park is via a tour in a super jeep or via snowmobile. I had booked a snowmobile tour through Scenic Safaris, but they called the day before and switched me to a Jeep tour due to staffing issues.
That turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The snowmobile tour was the exact same as the Jeep tour, except that they were exposed to the elements all day long. I think 1-2 hours is the perfect length for snowmobiling, but this tour was almost 8 hours long. I was happier in a warm van and got to learn a lot more as our guide talked to us the entire time.
The tour took us through Grand Teton National Park and then through Yellowstone National Park. We made sure to stop to see Old Faithful erupt. In the summer, there can be around 6,000 viewers per eruption, but there were less than 200 people around me on this winter day. It felt less like a tourist attraction and more focused on nature. Old Faithful only erupts approximately every 90 minutes (+/- 10 minutes), so we had to wait around a bit before it erupted, but I was glad we did.
We also stopped at a mud pot, another geyser, and 3 waterfalls. Along the way, we spotted several bison, a fox, and different kinds of birds.
A bagged breakfast and lunch were included with this tour and there were plenty of places to stop for restrooms along the way. Though it wasn’t the tour I’d originally booked, it was a really fun day exploring Yellowstone (the world’s first national park).
Snowmobile to Granite Hot Spring
If I’d had an extra day in Jackson Hole, I would have done a snowmobile tour to Granite Hot Springs. In the winter, Granite Hot Springs is only accessible by snowmobile or dog sled. This half day excursion covers about 20 miles on a snowmobile to get to/from the hot springs. You get to spend about 30 minutes there, warming up in the middle of a snowy landscape.
I had so much fun snowmobiling when I went in Colorado and who doesn’t love a hot spring? It sounds like the best of both worlds to me. This tour also includes pick up and drop off. You can choose from a morning or afternoon tour and just need to be sure to wear a swimsuit under your winter clothes.
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Cross-Country Skiing
I had never cross-country skied before, but I’ve downhill skied, so I thought “how hard could it be?” Turns out, very hard. Downhill and cross-country skiing are like the fraternal twins of snow sports and the skillsets aren’t completely transferable.
We rented skis, boots, and poles from Teton Mountaineering in downtown Jackson for $25 each for 1 day. I was pleasantly surprised at just how comfortable cross-country ski boots are – they’re basically normal boots! I used the site JH Nordic to find a nearby trail and after we were done with work for the day, we headed out.
The Game Creek trail was mostly deserted by the time we arrived. We clipped into our skis and set off, slow and awkwardly at first. The trail wasn’t groomed and there was nearly a foot of fresh powder on the ground. That made our progress even harder. It was uphill on our way out and when we turned around, I learned that the way down came with its own challenges. I fell several times trying to slow down or turn.
Cross-country skiing is a really good workout. Be sure to bring water and a snack and dress in layers. There’s a reason Olympic cross-country skiers wear thin uniforms!
Snow Shoeing in Grand Teton National Park
I’d never been snow shoeing before, so I hired a guide through The Hole Hiking Experience. I met my guide at the Jackson Welcome Center and she drove us up to Grand Teton National Park. There, we strapped on our snow shoes and set out in the direction of the Tetons. She explained the local flora and fauna along our hike. We went roundtrip to Taggert Lake, which was frozen and covered in several feet of snow.
It was easier to walk in snow shoes than I expected, but I was glad I had poles for balance. While only about 6,000 feet above sea level, the altitude was enough for the hike to be noticeably more difficult than it would have been back home in Chicago. There was also an elevation gain of about 500 feet. However, the hardest part was going off trail onto untracked snow where you have to lift your legs much higher with every step and easy to get breathless quickly. Needless to say, I was humbled.
In 2 hours, we covered about 3 miles roundtrip. This tour was perfect for a first-timer, but next time I’d rather rent snowshoes and set off without a guide.
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Ice Skating
There are 2 primary places to go recreational ice skating in Jackson Hole: the town square in Jackson and in Teton Village at the base of the mountain. Both rinks are free if you bring your own skates. Otherwise, rentals are $18 in town or $15 at Teton Village (cash only).
The rink in Teton Village was nicer and had better walls. If you’re a novice skater like me that’s important so you can keep your balance! Both rinks are pretty small though, so if you’re a competitive figure skater, you may feel constricted by the size and all the children skating around.
If you’re staying in town, do know that Teton Village is about a 20 minute drive away, but if you go in the late afternoon, you can park in the lot for free. There may also be increased traffic from the mountain towards town as people return from a day on the slopes.
Take a Sleigh Ride to the National Elk Refuge
Just outside of the town of Jackson is the National Elk Refuge, which is home to about 5,000 elk during the winter. I hadn’t heard of it before arriving but decided to check it out. You can buy tickets at the visitor center, just a short walk from downtown Jackson. Tickets cost $35 + tip for adults. I had no issue just showing up and buying a ticket at the last minute.
From there, you hop on a shuttle to the edge of the National Elk Refuge where you board a red sleigh pulled by 2 horses. Be sure to bundle up for this tour. It may not feel too cold when you board the sleigh but the further you get into the refuge, the stronger the winds are as you’re in an unprotected open field.
The sleigh ride allowed us to get quite close to the elk without them feeling threatened. Our guide explained the history of the refuge. The officials work to strike a balance between protecting the elk and them becoming dependent on humans for survival.
We were also lucky enough to spot some bald eagles, ravens, and coyotes on our tour. The whole tour lasted about 1 hour and while I felt it was a little overpriced, I’m glad I went.
I’ve visited some ski towns that solely revolve around the mountain and don’t offer many other activities in the area. That’s not the case in Jackson Hole. Everywhere you look there’s something to do, whether you want to challenge yourself physically, get in touch with nature, or both.
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