We absolutely loved Jackson Hole. We have previously stayed three times in Estes Park in winter and we were worried it would not compare for non skiers …
Spoiler alert! We were wrong. We liked Jackson Hole just as much if not MORE than Estes Park!
So if you are thinking about Jackson Hole this winter. GO! Book that trip now!
You will not regret it and while you are at it, keep reading for what we ranked the top 11 things to do in Jackson Hole in winter for couples who don’t ski or snowboard!
Jackson Hole’s famous Elk Antler Arch
We spent last New Years in Jackson Hole (we visited Jackson Hole in December and January) and had one of the best winter experiences of our life. Saying Jackson Hole is a winter wonderland is really an understatement.
While Michael loves to snowboard, skiing/snowboarding makes me a little nervous to be honest. I personally don’t love the idea of spending a holiday hopping around on crutches (and I saw people there in this boat!) so I prefer to avoid skiing on vacation.
Unlike Estes Park which offers no real skiing opportunities, Jackson Hole is famous for skiing.
BUT, Jackson Hole is one of the most advanced ski resorts in the country, which is great for advanced skiers but not so great for novice skiers such as ourselves.
The ski resort is home to Corbet’s Couloir, a ski jump considered by many to be the most difficult ski run on the continent. I’m scared just watching the videos of people stacking it on this run. How do they allow jumps this difficult to stay open is beyond me.
With this all said, we were a bit worried what Jackson Hole would have on offer for us, but we needn’t be. There was plenty of outdoor and snow fun for the non skier.
Read on to find out what we ranked the best winter activities of Jackson Hole. You can also see great tours you can book in Jackson Hole here. We met an English family who did a full day wildlife tour in Jackson Hole and absolutely loved it.
- Quick link to a seriously stunning hotel in Jackson: Cloudveil Autograph (a bit expensive but worth it)
11 Things to do in Jackson Hole in Winter for Non Downhill Skiers!
Exploring Grand Teton National Park which is just outside of Jackson Hole
1. Explore the picturesque Jackson town and have coffee at the famous Persephone Bakery
The main town of Jackson Hole is SO cute! It is seriously like a winter wonderland and because it was designed in a square around a park (which becomes a cute ice skating rink in winter), it was giving me some serious Gilmore Girls Stars Hollow vibes.
Spend an hour or two ice skating with your boo and remember to get a picture with Jackson Hole’s famous Elk Antler Arch. It is an iconic must have picture.
There are so many great shops, restaurants and coffee shops to explore in town but if you have searched Jackson Hole on tiktok or instagram you’ll know you have to make a stop in the SUPER cute Persephone Bakery for great coffee and baked treats.
This was the biggest brownie I have ever seen. Good serving size and tasty too!
I would recommend the giant brownie, it is beyond delicious. I will say, it is a really small shop so make a stop there in non peak times to ensure you get a seat. You can sit outside but it is seriously way way too cold in winter to do this!
Here are a list of other coffee shops we tried and liked in town in case Persephone Bakery is busy:
- Snake River Roasting Company (50 W Broadway, Jackson, WY);
- Cowboy Coffee Co (Town Square also available at Teton Village if you go there);
- Picnic Cafe (1110 Maple Way b, Jackson, WY);
- Overview Cafe in Teton Village (3295 Village Dr, Teton Village, WY)
Persephone Bakery in winter
2. Get your cowboy on at the world famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
Being fans of country music, we were very excited to visit the world famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.
Make sure you have a drink at the bar on the bar stools which are saddles. Who can resist bar stools which are saddles?
The bar serves cheap drinks, good bar food and you can also play a game of pool.
If you come later at night there is a cover charge and the lines can get long so be aware of that. This is especially the case when performing acts are on.
The Grand Teton beer is quite good!
One aspect we were a bit disappointed in with the bar was the lack of country music! That has to be a sin in a country bar.
We randomly ended up talking with the new mayor of Jackson, Arne Jorgensen, while we were enjoying a coffee at Snake River Roasting Company one morning and he said they do usually play country music so we got a bit unlucky I guess. He is a really nice guy by the way and doing some great work in the town.
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole in January
3. Go Cross Country Skiing @ Teton Park Road in Grand Teton National Park
In the winter, due to conditions, a lot of Grand Teton National Park is closed. However, you can still access a small part of it which is great for doing some cross country skiing.
Note: The Teton Park Road is closed November after enjoying 1 to April 30 from Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge.
If you want to go cross country skiing you can park at Taggart Lake Trailhead , or just beyond before the road closure, and ski Teton Park Road which is groomed for skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking from mid-December to mid-March.
It is about a 9 miles round trip from the Taggart Lake Trailhead to South Jenny Lake, with roughly 200 feet of elevation gain.
We went in the afternoon cross country skiing after enjoying a relaxing morning in town so we didn’t have enough time to reach Jenny Lake. As the sun sets early, you will need to allocate the full day if you want to complete this route.
If you don’t feel like cross country skiing, you can hire snow shoes and go for a walk.
The snow is so deep in Grand Teton National Park in winter, we had some real fun making some snow angels.
You will need a National Park pass to go cross country skiing in the National Park. You can buy a weekly car pass at the gate for $35.00 for a standard vehicle. If you are going to visit multiple National Parks in the year with your family it is always worthwhile to purchase an America the beautiful National Park pass which allows you to enter unlimited National Parks in the year.
You can hire cross country skis at this shop in town at Highcountry Outfitters (50 E Broadway Ave). It has some pretty cool gear on sale in the shop too which is worth checking out. Cross country ski hire is $30.00 a day.
The staff in the store are super helpful and if you want to cross country ski for longer, they have a map of all the best routes in the area.
Cross Country Skiing @ Teton Park Road in Grand Teton National Park
4. Eat the BEST Bison and Elk of your life at Gun Barrel Steak Game House
We are a huge fan of game meat, especially when it is cooked to perfection like it is at Gun Barrel Steak Game House in Jackson Hole. The restaurant was so good we visited 3 times during our trip.
The restaurant is located slightly out of town but it is worth the 5 minute drive.
I’ll save you the hassle and tell you exactly what to order:
ELK LOIN – 6 ounce, mesquite grilled, served sliced with a red wine & huckleberry reduction with Baked potato as the side;
BISON TENDERLOIN – 7 ounce, mesquite grilled, red wine bordelaise with Sweet potato with maple butter as the side.
Elk loin with a side of baked potato
While it may not look like much, the Baked potato is so good my husband and I fought over it so the next time we visited we both ordered our own. And…that was too much Baked potato. Sharing the Sweet potato and Baked potato side between us was a much better selection. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing it turns out.
If you aren’t a vegetarian, you must come here. The decor is even very cool with a life size (aka massive) bison at the entrance of the restaurant. At Christmas he is decked out in a santa hat.
Other noteable restaurants to visit in Jackson include:
- Kampai Japanese restaurant (175 Center St, Jackson, WY) – A local told us about this one and it was really nice although a bit on the expensive side. It’s so popular it’s hard to get a seat so book in advance if you want a table. We had to dine at the bar;
- Gather (72 S Glenwood St, Jackson, WY)– We went there for the Bison which was all sold out unfortunately by the time we dined in. We ended up ordering a burger and the Elk Bolognese which I would rate a 7/10. I would like to go back and try the well-rated Bison. I don’t know I would bother for a burger and Elk Bolognese again however;
- Local (55 N Cache St, Jackson, WY) – The Buffalo Wellington is a must have. It was mouthwatering;
- Hand Fire Pizza (120 N Cache St #1137, Jackson, WY) – This pizza is actually so good. It’s wood fired and honesty one of the best pizzas I have tasted in my life.
5. Hike Taggart Lake Trailhead
One negative is that there are not many winter hikes in Grand Teton National Park as a lot of the park is closed compared to say the Rocky Mountains National Park in Colorado where most of the park is open in winter.
Taggart Lake Trailhead is one of the few good, open winter hikes near Jackson. If you like getting out in nature, I would highly recommend it. It is absolutely stunning hike and one of my favorites in the USA!
On the edge of Taggart Lake in winter
We wondered whether we needed to hire snowshoes to complete this hike and there was conflicting information about this online. We decided just to attempt this in our crampons and were totally fine. The trails is well used so the snow is usually pretty compacted.
The trail is a total of 4 miles out and back. It is a fairly easy hike 2 miles each way to a lake.
You will be entering the National Park to reach Taggart Lake Trailhead so you will need a National Park pass. As we mentioned above, you can buy a weekly car pass at the gate for $35.00 for a standard vehicle.
Taggart Lake Trailhead
6. Buy a hat at Kemo Sabe
Full disclaimer: this is not a cheap activity (a hat here will set you back $400+) but honestly for the quality of the hats and the *Holiday Fun Factor* makes it totally worth it.
I first heard about Kemo Sabe watching Kyle Richards and the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills visit the store in Aspen. It looked like such a fun experience that I really wanted to go.
Going to get a cowboy hat at Kemo Sabe is not just buying a hat it is a whole experience. You get to tailor make your hat to your individual preference, including feathers and bands, all while enjoying a refreshing alcoholic beverage of your choice.
I had a lot of fun and got a great hat.
Was it worth the $400 I spent? I think so.
If you want to keep the cost down, ask them to see the hats in rabbit fur as they are the more affordable choice to beaver fur.
Feel like some good Japanese right after your hat purchase, Kampai Japanese restaurant, a local favourite is a few doors down.
The owner of the shop we rented snowmobiles from (see below) told us about it and it was very nice Japanese, although a little on the expensive side.
Ask for the restaurants recommendations as to what to order. I turned my nose up to what the waitress suggested (unagi | freshwater eel) but decided to give it a go anyway and it turned out to be delicious!
7. Snowmobile OR Dog Sled to Granite Hot Springs
Now, if I had to pick the single best winter activity in Jackson Hole, this would be it. This snowmobile trip was seriously so much fun!
Granite hot springs was absolutely magical in the snow it was truly like a winter wonderland.
One thing to note is the springs are cash only and cost $12 a person for adults, and $7 for children. There are some limited snacks and drinks for sale but nothing substantial so bring a packed lunch with you if you want something more than the basics.
You can book a tour but we decided to DIY it by hiring a truck, trailer and snowmobiles from Jackson Hole Adventure Rentals.
It is about 50% cheaper hiring your own snowmobiles than going on a tour and it is relatively easy if you are comfortable parking a trailer in the snow.
Jackson Hole Adventure Rentals are really helpful too. They provide you with a map to get to the parking lot. Half way through the drive there, which is about 30 minutes, you lose reception so GPS doesn’t work but the directions provided by Jackson Hole Adventure Rentals meant that we easily got there.
I would suggest arriving early to the parking lot as it is small and gets full. We spent a leisurely morning in town and arrived to a FULL parking lot which was very stressful with a large trailer, especially for people who don’t usually drive in the snow, let alone with a trailer.
Eventually someone left and we found a park by the skin of our teeth so our top tip is GO EARLY.
You will need around 4-5 hours for the full trip and the sun sets early in winter. Plus, the rentals need to be returned by 5pm.
The trail to the hot springs is about 10 miles long and takes about 20-30 minutes on the snowmobile to access the spring from the car park. The drive to the hot spring is stunning as you pass through snow filled forests and creeks.
We passed dogsledding tours to the hot springs which looked equally fun!
You will probably want 30 minutes to 1 hour in the springs before heading back. There are basic change-rooms and toilets at the spring but no lockers as far as I saw. People just left their backpack on a seat near the spring and kept an eye on them.
8. Soak in a Hot Spring
There are a few hot springs to enjoy in the local Jackson area.
Our favourite Granite Hot Springs is mentioned above. The downside of this hot spring is that it is only accessible by snowmobile or dog sledding in winter.
Technically, you can snow-bike and cross country ski there too but keep in mind the time it will take you to do this. I would say you would need to be quite competent due to the 10 miles each way to the spring.
If you don’t want to have to snowmobile or dogsled to access a hot spring, you can visit Astoria Hot springs in the nearby area. We recommend booking in advance if you would like to go as they were sold out when we visited.
It costs $25 per adult to access Astoria Hot Springs. If you don’t want to spend the money or feel like something a little more natural, we recommend checking out these Free Hot Springs near Astoria. Honestly one of the best free things to do in Jackson Hole in winter if you like adventure!
There are also free hot springs right near the paid Granite Hot Springs if you prefer a more natural experience. Personally, I would advise to shell out the $12 for the pool, it’s really nice and there are also some facilities available there.
9. Go tubing @ Snow King Mountain
Just because you don’t want to ski doesn’t mean you can’t visit Snow King Mountain and have some seriously fun tubing!
Each year in winter Snow King Mountain opens three smooth groomed lanes for snow tubing with a magic carpet to take you up the hill. I have to say, the thing I dislike the most about sledding is having to run up the hill each time. What can I say I’m lazy haha.
You have to be at least 42″ tall to ride if you are traveling with kids and you can’t double up on the tubes.
It got so icey while we were there that they only allowed us to go down on our belly. I honestly thought they were joking at first. It made the ride faster but you could control the speed by digging in your feet. I guess it is because you are closer to the ground if you fall off?
It costs $30 for 1 hour of tubing fun. You can purchase your tickets at the ticket office at the bottom of the slopes. If you go at the time of the day you get heaps more more runs in but it is a little colder.
If you feel like another activity after there is also the Cowboy Coaster ride (basically a coaster down the side of a mountain) at Snow King Mountain.
10. Drive through or do a sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge
One of the most popular things to do in winter in Jackson is go for a sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge.
The sleigh ride helps you get up more close and personal with the Elk. It is part of this popular full day wildlife tour in Jackson Hole.
We didn’t feel like we needed to do the “up close and personal” elk tour as we had previously seen a lot of elk in Estes Park in Colorado so we just decided to drive through the refuge ourselves.
It is free to enter the refuge without a tour. From the town square of Jackson, drive east on Broadway Avenue until you reach a sign that reads “National Elk Refuge.” From there, you are on the Refuge Road. From December 1 – April 30, the Refuge Road is open for 3.5 miles for public access.
As expected, the elk were too far away to get a good look (that is why the tour is good) but we saw some cool Bighorn sheep up on the hill which was cool.
10. Visit the ski town of Teton Village
Another place people choose to stay or ski in the region is the nearby town of Teton Village. If you are planning to ski, this ski resort is better for beginner and intermediate skiers.
It is only around a 20 minute drive from Jackson to Teton Village.
It is a traditional ski town with paid parking. This came as a bit of a shock to us as parking is all free in Jackson.
Prior to our trip, we weren’t sure if we should stay in Jackson or Teton Village so we wanted to go check out Teton Village to see if we made the right decision staying in Jackson.
For non skiers, I would say it is much better staying in Jackson. Teton Village did not have the same level of activities, restaurants and shops for non skiers to enjoy.
There are some nice hotels in Teton Village if you do decide to base there.
Regardless, it is a fun place to have a stroll around. Have a coffee at Overview Cafe or enjoy a drink in front of the fire at the Four Seasons Hotel.
11. BONUS: Watch the New Years skiers in Jackson
Each year talented skiers ski down the slopes of Jackson carrying fire torches.
Not just anyone can participate in this. You have to apply and be accepted. You also have to be a skilled skier to partake for obvious reasons.
It is absolutely magical to watch the skiers come down and something I would highly recommend checking out if you are in Jackson at New Years.
7 Day Jackson Hole itinerary
If you are wondering how to break up your days, here is a 7 day Jackson itinerary that you can use to guide you.
Day 1:
- Visit Persephone for breakfast
- Go cross country skiing at Grand Teton National Park
- Visit the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar for dinner/drinks
Day 2:
- Visit Snake River Roasting Company for breakfast
- Hike Taggart Lake Trailhead
- Visit Gun Barrel Steak Game House for dinner
Day 3:
- Visit Cowboy Coffee Co for breakfast
- Snowmobile to Granite hot springs
- Visit Kampai Japanese restaurant for dinner
Day 4
- Visit Picnic Cafe for breakfast
- Go shopping in town, go ice skating, get some souvenirs and possibly a cool cowboy hat at Kemo Sabe
- Visit Gather restaurant for dinner (***if the bison is available***)
Day 5
- Visit Inversion Cafe for breakfast
- Visit Astoria Hot Springs
- Visit Local restaurant for dinner
Day 6
- Visit Being Healthy Juicery for breakfast
- Drive through or do a sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge
- Have Hand Fired Pizza for dinner (either have in or take away – it’s the best pizza ever!)
Day 7
- Have breakfast/a coffee at Overview Cafe in Teton Village (It is just a hole in the wall cafe but is serves a good cup)
- Have a morning stroll around Teton Village
- Go tubing/ ride the Mountain Coaster @ Snow King Mountain
- Back for a final time at Gun Barrel Steak Game House for dinner (Because it is that good, one time is just not enough!)
FAQ
How many nights do you need in Jackson Hole?
It depends how fast or slow you are willing to go and what activities appeal to you. I would say 3 nights minimum for the essentials and a week or beyond if you want to take it slow and soak it all in.
What to wear in Jackson Hole?
It gets really cold in winter in Jackson. And I mean REALLY cold like t snows frequently and temps can range from 0 to 30 °F with frequent snow. You’ll want a good quality snow jacket and thermals.
Where to stay in Jackson Hole?
There are lots of great hotels and apartments in Jackson Hole so you are really spoilt for choice.
Quick link to a seriously stunning hotel in Jackson: Cloudveil Autograph (a bit expensive but worth it).
You might also like to check out hotels in Teton Village as it is only 20 minutes drive away. As mentioned above, I think it is a better place to stay for people who want to spend the majority of their vacation skiing.
Scenery driving through the National Elk Refuge in Jackson
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We loved Jackson and had a 5/5 star trip. If you have any comments/extra cool places to share or have any questions, please leave a comment below.
