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Jackson Hole

Wyoming, USA · North America · northern hemisphere

SkiingWildlifeHiking

Jackson Hole is at its best for skiing in January to March. Good but not prime in December.

JFMAMJJASOND
Skiing
90
90
90
42
17
12
13
13
13
16
16
67
Wildlife
90
90
90
15
67
67
42
42
67
67
67
67
Hiking
12
15
17
16
42
70
90
90
90
64
12
12

No reliable monthly crowd data for this destination — the proxy used elsewhere did not pass its checks here, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.

Swipe the table sideways for the rest of the year.

primegoodpossibleoff-seasoncrowds, on this place’s own scale

The short version

Some of the steepest lift-served terrain in America, and the National Elk Refuge on the edge of town where several thousand elk winter — so the ski season and the wildlife season are the same season

What the walking is like

Alpine day walks with tram access, at altitude. No guide needed, bear spray essential.

When not to come

Assuming it is a beginner mountain. Roughly half the terrain is expert and the famous Corbet’s Couloir is a cliff drop — Snow King in town is smaller, not gentler — nearly half its runs are advanced.

Busiest

July and August for the parks above all, then Christmas–New Year and February

With children

The town is walkable and the elk sleigh rides are a genuine highlight. The mountain itself is unforgiving for beginners, and winter here is properly cold.

Where to stay

Teton Village is ski-in and expensive. Jackson town is twenty minutes away, cheaper and has the restaurants; Victor and Driggs are over Teton Pass in Idaho for far less again.

What can go wrong

Avalanche risk

Serious terrain with a serious record, and Teton Pass closes for control work regularly.Jan · Feb · Mar · Dec

Kept out of the score on purpose. Averaging a rare catastrophe into a monthly number would tell you something false; the warning is the honest form.

Dates that matter

  • Elk sleigh rides at the National Elk Refuge (mid-Dec–Mar)
  • Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival (Sep)
  • Elk coming down to the refuge (Oct–Dec)

Walks

  • Sleeping Indian and the Gros Ventre — quieter than the Tetons across the valley
  • Rendezvous Mountain — take the tram up and walk down 1,260m, or the reverse for the fit
  • Granite Canyon — a long valley walk into the southern Tetons, moose and bears

Grand Teton National Park is twenty minutes north and has the better-known trails. Bear spray is standard here in summer, and the valley floor sits at 1,900m.

See everything else at its best in Jan

Elsewhere in North America

Napa & SonomaFinger LakesBig Sur & MontereyOlympic National ParkKenai FjordsLake TahoeWhistler BlackcombChurchill