Here’s an interesting fact about Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Teton is the wealthiest county in the country, with a median household income of $1.3 million. And did you know that Yellowstone Park, just an hour from the center of Jackson, is the world’s first national park? Another interesting piece of trivia is that Jackson Hole Airport sits inside Grand Teton National Park, making it the only commercial airport in the United States that can state such a claim.
This convergence of Mother Nature and modernity makes Jackson Hole — to be clear, Jackson Hole is the 42-mile-long valley between the Teton and Gros Ventre mountains that holds Jackson, other towns, the airport, the parks and ski resorts within it — one of the most popular destinations in the country for an elevated winter getaway.
But here’s another fascinating factoid: Jackson Hole is far from being a destination that only delivers in the chilly months. With outstanding fishing, awesome bike trails and some great shopping, the region wants you to know that it looks good in flip-flops and fast-drying shorts, too.
Welcoming when it’s warm
Whenever the wind blows you in the direction of this scenic stretch of the West, reserve accommodations at Hotel Yellowstone at Jackson Hole. Sitting on four acres of sophisticated solitude that opened in August 2024, this adults-only retreat already has weekend cowboys screaming its praises from the top of Mount Owen.
The hotel’s nine cabin-like structures contain 36 elegantly appointed suites that sprout from the elevated terrain like Douglas firs. The interiors blend in with the rugged outdoors seamlessly thanks to generous patios, fur-covered chairs and dark wooden headboards.
But no matter how much you’re in awe of the swaying cottonwoods, the Calacatta marble baths can’t be ignored. Nor can the toiletries from Swedish brand Byredo or the electronic toilets from Toto. You’re in the rough, sure, but there’s no roughing it.
As the mercury rises outside, so too does the number of activities that can be arranged by the resort. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to get wet (tubing down the Snake River), wild (side-by-side UTV ranch tours), a little romantic (a charcuterie-and-wine picnic at Grand Teton), or if you’re do something in the morning (complimentary breakfast from onsite all-day eatery Olivia’s) or the evening (the Suite Dreams add-on includes items like an aromatherapy turndown and magnesium L-threonate packets), the hotel has you covered this summer.
In town, seasonal fun can be had with live music (Concert on the Commons summer series, Sundays through August 17), major art events (Fall Arts Festival, September 5 to 14) and theatrical productions (Jackson Hole Playhouse’s Cat Ballou, through September 27).
Just a few miles from Jackson’s Town Square sits the National Elk Refuge. When it’s warmer, the namesake deer may migrate away, but bighorn sheep, eagles and coyotes can still be captured by cameras. And the cutthroat trout always seem to be biting this time of year at the refuge’s Flat Creek. You’ll have to work a bit for a shot at the elusive bison, but you’ll get your Ansel Adams moment with a little patience and a lot of luck.
Comforting in the cold
When the snow starts falling, the scene around Hotel Yellowstone looks like something straight from a Taylor Sheridan storyboard. The Teton Range, covered in powder, amazes as far as the eye can see. In the valley below, herds of cattle can be seen moseying about.
On the property grounds, things are just as tranquil. Back in the suites, you’ll find heated bathroom floors and gas fireplaces. At Olivia’s, the menu runneth over with soothing options like lobster mac, baked crap dip and duck confit empanadas. Over in the spa, you’ll not only find an outdoor sauna — it’s five steps in the snow to get there — but a treatment menu of warm services like the hot stone-aided therapeutic massage as well.
Like in July or August, the hotel can arrange day trips to one of the national parks with Backcountry Safaris in December and January. Sure, you could take your rented SUV and fend for yourself at Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Park, but without one of Backcountry’s expert guides, you’ll likely overlook the moose kneeling in the snow-topped brush and miss the best angles to capture lockscreen-worthy shots from the Jackson Lake Dam and Reservoir.
But what’s wintertime in Wyoming without the slopes? Jackson Hole remains one of the country’s premier options for downhill fun because of its trio of ski resorts: Grand Targhee Resort, Snow King Resort and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The latter is a perennial favorite for its vast and varied terrain. It has an avalanche of après-ski options, too. Offering adult sloshies (Mangy Moose), slow-braised elk (Spur Restaurant & Bar) and fresh sakura rolls (Shin Shin), the bars and restaurants in Teton Village are attractions themselves.
The same goes for spots around Jackson’s Town Square. There are quaint shops and little restaurants that give the area a quintessential small-town feel. Come Christmas, though, all eyes move to the four twinkling archways at the corners of the square. These aren’t just any arches, though. These are made of shed antlers that area Boy Scouts have collected over the years. The unique displays are easily some of Jackson Hole’s most photographed scenes.
Another big Town Square draw is Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. The iconic address’ upstairs is all about pitchers of local wheat ales and country DJs spinning Morgan Wallen hits, yet the basement steakhouse is where the sweet tunes from the sizzling stovetop can be heard. But here’s the thing about juicy, chimichurri-topped rib-eyes: they taste great no matter if the temperature is a blistering 20 F degrees or a balmy 83.
