The Grand Tetons, Everything you need to know about Jackson Hole Ski resort

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Skiing and snowboarding can be dangerous activities, please ride within your ability levels and respect others around you

Quiet possibly one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the United States, the Tetons, which are part of the Rocky Mountains, lie about 40 Miles long on the north west side of Wyoming. Surrounded by these breath taking peaks is Jackson Hole Resort, a playground for winter enthusiasts that ski or snowboard. Riding the resort and being in this part of Wyoming gives off a wild west feeling, God’s Country if you will. A feeling that can’t be found at many other ski resorts.

About twenty minutes from the resort is the town of Jackson, a quaint western style town filled with shops, restaurants, lodging and old time bars. There’s a handful of lodging options close to downtown Jackson and the town itself is easy to get around. If you don’t have a car, no problem, public transportation can take you to and from the resort as well as different parts of town.

One trip to Jackson and the resort, town, and mountains will leave a lasting impression. In this post I’ll be going over how to get to Jackson Hole, where to stay/eat, what to expect, ski resort info and where to ride. Alright, lets gooo

Photo Keegan Rice

Photo Keegan Rice

History of Jackson Hole

The name for Jackson Hole came from the geological formation of the Tetons millions of years ago. As the mountain range rose, the valley sank, hence the name Jackson “Hole”. While the mountain range is one of the youngest in the country, the rocks themselves are some of the oldest. Some of the first groups of people to enter Jackson Hole were the Native Americans before the 1800’s to hunt for game in the valley as well as the surrounding area. To this day bison, elk, and other wildlife roam this part of the United States. It is said that John Colter who was one of the guides for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, went through part of Jackson, which is now Yellowstone National park, making him the first European-American to do so.

Mountain Stats

Hours of Operation- 8:30 am-4pm

Base Elevation- 6,311 feet/1924 meters

Summit Elevation- 10,450 feet/3185 meters

Skiable Acres- 2,500 inbounds

Number of Trails-133

Beginner terrain- 10%

Intermediate- 40%

Advanced-50%

Average annual snowfall- 465 inches/1181 cm

The first part of the 19th century brought many fur trappers to the area, due to an abundant Beaver Population. Most of the trapping occurred outside of the Jackson Hole area, yet there were routes that still went through Jackson. Like most of the western United states in the Late 1800’s, Jackson became a sought out destination for Mining. Unlike California and Colorado, the Jackson Hole area didn’t have any major success with Mining.

After World War II the popularity for Skiing increased and by 1946, Snow King, a resort in the town of Jackson installed their first chairlift. Barry Corbet and Paul McCollister first made their way to Rendezvous Mountain in 1960 to check out the area. It was at this meeting they discovered the famous Corbet’s Couloir, a steep run down a rocky chute with a mandatory cliff drop at the top. By 1965 Jackson Hole Ski resort was open and by 1966 the Tram started taking people to the very top of Rendezvous. Today Jackson remains a destination for many outdoor and travel enthusiasts in the winter and summer due to the ski resort, Grand Teton National Park, as well as Yellowstone National Park!

How to get to Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole is going to be on the North West side of Wyoming, pretty close to the Idaho border. The resort is about 20 minutes from the actual town of Jackson. I personally like staying in the town because of the history and ease of walking around. Also, the drive to the mountains is pretty easy and the views are incredible as you head to the base of Teton Village. Jackson has an airport and if you decide to fly, there are plenty of options for transportation to Jackson or Jackson Hole resort. Jackson’s airport is the only commercial airport located within a national park, so you should be able to book a flight with most major Airline Companies.

Also, if you don’t rent a car, public transportation to the resort is an option. If you keep reading, I’ll go over that in more detail. Below I’ve listed times and distances to the town of Jackson as well as the resort.

If you decide to drive Please Be Cautious of Wildlife and Icy Roads. Make sure to have an emergency kit and proper winter tires. AWD is recommended as well. Times are an estimation and weather will typically add time to your trip.

Jackson Airport

To Town- 9 Miles/15 Minutes

To the Resort- 21 Miles/33 Minutes

Salt Lake

To Town- 277 Miles/4.5 Hours

To the Resort- 304 Miles/4.75 Hours

Boise

To Town- 369 Miles/6 Hours

To the Resort-346 Miles/6 Hours

Bozeman

To Town- 217 Miles/4.5 Hours

To the Resort- 218 Miles/4.5 Hours

Denver

To Town- 512 Miles/8.5 Hours

To the Resort- 521 Miles/8.75 Hours

Where to Stay

As mentioned above you can stay in the town of Jackson or at the base of the resort or even halfway between both. The one thing I love about lodging in Jackson is it is much cheaper then other resort towns. I guess Jackson is more of a summer destination because of the national parks.

If being closer to the resort is more your thing check out Continuum in Teton Village and the Aspens, a group of condos in between Jackson and the resort, or Gravity Haus at the base of Teton Village.

I stayed right in the town of Jackson at Mountain Modern; great amenities, good parking, really nice rooms, and close enough to town. Also it was about a 20 minute drive to the Mountain from this hotel depending on traffic. On powder days make sure to leave earlier!

What is the town like

I honestly love the town of Jackson, it has western feel to it, mixed with your standard tourist shops like t-shirt stores and souvenirs spots. Some people might say it’s too wealthy and not original, but I still like it. There will be some side streets with restaurants and shops too. But the majority of shopping and eating will be right in the center of town. If you like ice skating, there’s a town ice rink as well.

A popular photo spot downtown will be the Elk Horns. Lots of couples and families get their picture taken here!

From town you can see Snow King Resort. What is kind of surprising is that the mountain could be getting a lot of snow, but the town might only get a dusting of snow. So don’t let that fool you when waking up in downtown Jackson, check the snow report!

What is the mountain like and where should we ride

Beginner to Intermediate Trails

Jackson is one of the coolest mountains I have ever ridden due to the layout, scenery, and terrain. Although the resort continues to improve and add more intermediate terrain, most of the mountain is steeper compared to other resorts I have snowboarded at. When you arrive you will see that there is one central base area with retail/rental shops, a Lift Ticket office, coffee shop, food, and even a general store. To your left is the tram and if you keep walking you can see two gondolas; Bridger and Sweetwater.

The Sweetwater Gondola is a good place to start if you want to get the blood flowing. It will also stop about halfway up where the lesson area is for people who have never skied or snowboarded before. Once at the top of Sweetwater you can either ride down through more challenging trees or cruise some of Jackson’s blue runs right to the base.

If you decided to take Bridger gondola, you have access to a lot of terrain. It’s an awesome starting point if you’ve never been to this resort before in my opinion. Follow Sundance all the way down to get a feel for the steepness of the resort, even though you’ll be on blue runs most of the way down! Lots of good groomers off of Bridger!

Not too much beginner terrain in Jackson, but there is still enough runs for those wanting to experience Jackson, being in the mountains, while still learning. With that being said, beginner areas will be off of Eagles Rest Chairlift, Sweetwater Gondola, Teenwinot Quad Chair, and Union Pass Quad Chair. The Teenwinot chair will be green runs and once you start to get comfortable, graduate to the Apres’ Vous chairlift. Go left off the lift and there are a number of intermediate blue runs. It’s also a fun area to venture to if the lines are longer on other parts of the mountain.

Some of the best blue and easy black runs can be found on the Casper and Teton Quad lifts. On powder days if upper terrain is closed or takes a minute to open up these are fun areas to ride. The Saratoga will be not as steep and will have some nice powder stashes on snow days. I don’t think as many people venture over there compared to other areas of the mountain, kind of a quiet zone. For families with young kids who can keep up, the Casper area is great!

As mentioned, runs that would be considered easier at other resorts will be a little more challenging at Jackson Hole. Lower Sundance just under the Bridger Gondola, I swear, even on the deepest powder days, it gets icy towards the end of the day.

One of my favorite parts about chasing storms is towards the end of the day when there’s still a lot of untracked areas, and the light starts to peak through the clouds. Riding through some of the trees if you have the energy at the end of the day can be magical. Photos below were from Trees off the Casper Lift and Apres Vous.

Advanced and Expert Terrain

What Jackson is known for; steep and technical. I’ll talk about a few advanced areas if you keep reading that are my favorite places to ride, however going to mention a number of advanced and expert areas worth skiing or snowboarding if your skill level is there. The first area if you don’t mind waiting is going to be the tram. For awesome snow days, arrive early! Be prepared for wind at the top and tough visibility. Rendezvous Bowl, the Hobacks, Cheyenne Bowl, and Bernies Bowl will all be fun areas to ski or snowboard if the snow is good. I can imagine if it isn’t spring riding or a powder day that these areas would be tough to go down.

Sublette chair will also have a number of advanced runs like the Alta Chutes as shown in the two photos right below.

The Hobacks are these steep wide open fields with boulders and cliff drops in certain areas. The area will pop you out to Union Pass Traverse. Needless to say it is a fun place to ride once it is open for the season.

The Casper Traverse, will have some nice tree riding, although make sure to follow signage and don’t just “send” it as you might come up on some cliffs and rocks. I like to drop in to Woolsey Woods and pop out kind of where the Stash Park is.

Views of the Laramie ski run from Grand Trees. A more popular run that funnels people down to the Sublette Chair or South Pass Traverse.

Amphitheater is a well known run at the resort in the photo below

Don’t feel like hiking the headwall, you can still take Ten Sleep Bowl and ski or board down the Cirque Bowl!

Off the Thunder Quad lift and right under the Tram will be some spread out trees that are fun to ride through and not too steep. I believe this run is called Cannett, but I could be wrong. Take the Riverton Bowl to end your lap. There’s a few boulders to jump off of in this bowl if the snow is deep.

Jackson is full of cliff drops including these ones below off of the Sublette chair! I’ve seen tracks going off cliffs from taking the lift up that I can’t believe someone would take, in terms of height and technicality.

Steep runs off in the distance including the Laramie bowl, a pretty steep blue run at Jackson.

Most people like to ride the Hobacks, but don’t forget about Cheyenne Gully to Lower Sublette Ridge. A narrow run through trees that will open up into either a powder field or skied out/mogul run.

Photo Keegan Rice

Jackson Hole Tram

The tram is what separates Jackson from all the other resorts in North America. A giant gondola that can fit up to 100 people and takes 12 minutes to get you to the top. If the line looks long, don’t worry!, it moves quick. This tram will take you 4,139 vertical feet/1261 meters to the top with awesome views of the different mountain ranges and the resort. Once the tram stops there is a brief speech about not going into the Back Country uneducated and unprepared with the words “If you don’t know, don’t go!” (there are gates on the resort to access back country terrain). Back Country terrain is areas of the mountain that aren’t monitored by ski patrol or the resort. You’re essentially on your own.

At the top of the Tram you will see, Top of the World Waffles, a must stop for hot fresh waffles. I like the traditional with brown sugar butter, but they also have ones with whip cream, peanut butter, and chocolate. Although, I read that the Waffle cabin will be torn down with a bigger restaurant, hopefully Jackson Hole still keeps making waffles in the new location.

After you get a few pictures, you can ride down Rendezvous bowl and then from there you can take a few different routes down. Once you’ve ridden down the face of Rendezvous Bowl, take Laramie Traverse to Laramie Bowl or Rendezvous Trail down to other trails and chairlifts. Rendezvous trail is a cool traverse that opens up to awesome views of Laramie Bowl from below and the surrounding trails. Hop on the Marmot double chair to ride back to the central area of the resort, the top of Bridgwater Gondola.

Please note, there is no beginner terrain off the tram, don’t let this deter you from taking the tram up for scenic views and waffles as it can take you back down. You don’t have to ride any of the terrain to get the tram experience and to take your photo at the top. There’s a new tram every 10 minutes and you can take it back down if you just want to get the experience!

Rendevous Bowl on a clear, fresh snow, none windy day, is pretty special. When the trees get caked with snow we call them ghost trees. Ghost trees make some of the coolest photos.

Favorite places to ride on the Mountain

I’ve ridden Jackson a handful of times and I always discover somewhere new to ride each time. Snow will be a large determining factor on where you decide to ride. If the resort lacks snow or has been skied out, just be cautious when riding steeper more technical terrain as there could be exposure of rocks, icy conditions, and bumps. However if the snows great, it’s fun to explore as much of the mountain as possible. Also make sure to review the trail map if you decide to ski or snowboard more up top terrain as there are cliffs and drops that aren’t always marked. It is not a fun experience to get cliffed out if you aren’t comfortable with 10 foot plus drops!

Taking the Sublette chair will allow you traverse over to the Headwall and Casper Bowl hikes. This particular chair gets extremely windy at times, luckily it was replaced recently from a two person to a 4 person lift with more coverage on the back of the chair.

I love to hike the Headwall , although the bowl is a short run, I like how mellow the hike is along with the terrain. It’s a pretty open area to drop into and doesn’t get tracked out as quick as the rest of the mountain. Just make sure to follow the boot pack, and if someone is faster then you, step to the side and let them pass. It’s more relaxing when your not being pressured from behind, so take your time and enjoy the hike. To get to the hike you take the Tram or Thunder Quad Lift up and then ride down to the Sublette Chair. You’ll then take Ten Sleep to the top of Cirque and from there start hiking the boot pack. The hike closes at 2pm!

The last area that is a gem if open, is Casper Bowl. This terrain is really for advanced to expert skiers or snowboarders, but what I love about it is the free ride/backcountry feeling, even though it’s inbounds. It has wide open bows, steep chutes, and even a tiny bit of tree riding in areas. It’s honestly the ultimate experience if you make a trip to Jackson Hole in my opinion. To ride this terrain you’ll want to take the same hike you did up to the headwall, but keep hiking!

As you hike across the ridge you’ll eventually see a sign for Casper Bowl. I dropped pretty much right in the middle and it was wild. Steep, lots of snow and some amazing turns. There’s a number of places you can drop so use your best judgement and be cautious riding this terrain! I would also recommend riding with a partner even though it is inbounds. I wish I had one once I was on the ridge.

What is Corbets Couloir

Corbets is a very steep narrow run at the top of the Tram with a drop into the run. I’ve never tried it, I would imagine it would be a rush to ride something like that. Jackson will put on an event called Kings and Queens, a snowboard/ski competition of athletes doing spins and flips into Corbets.

Side Country/Back Country off the resort

There are a few gates on the resort for Back Country Access. Make sure to have the proper education, equipment, and riding partner before you venture into the back country. Cody Bowl and Rock Springs Bowl are right off the resort and you exit through gates to access them. Cody Bowl is still considered inbounds as they do avalanche mitigation there, but depending on weather and snow conditions it’s recommended to still have the proper knowledge and avi gear when riding this face. I personally ride alone when I go up to Jackson Hole, so I have yet to ride in these areas, but Cody Bowl looks amazing if you are prepared.

Is Jackson Hole Ski resort Ikon or Epic and are Lift Tickets expensive

Jackson Hole is on the full Ikon pass. With the full Ikon you get 7 days with no black out dates. You will also get two days at Jackson with the Mountain Collective pass, no black out dates.

If you’re looking for a full season pass at Jackson Hole, they offer four different passes; The Midweek Bypass, the Grand Bypass, The Grand Pass, and the Rendezvous Peak Pass. The Rendezvous pass allows unlimited riding at Jackson Hole, but also includes an Ikon Base pass and other perks. There are only so many passes sold each season, so my best advice is to purchase one when they first go on sale in the spring/summer. Prices will also be the cheapest when passes are first available to purchase. These passes will also contain black out dates, so make sure to check the fine print when purchasing. Something to keep in mind is that prices will vary within each pass option. You have Adult, Senior, Teen, Youth, and College options.

Jackson Hole has automated pickup boxes at the base for pre-purchased lift tickets in places like Bridger Center and the Guest Service Center at the base. That way you can get on the mountain faster.

Like most resorts Lift ticket prices are expensive and can get over $200/day depending on the time of year. Booking ahead as well as multiple days can save you money. Ikon also offers buddy passes that can save you up to 25% off the ticket window price. Since supplies is limited, it’s best to purchase tickets ahead of time and also make a reservation if you plan on using an Ikon Buddy pass.

One thing that is really rad that Jackson Hole does, is if you own a season pass anywhere in the world (Not just Jackson Hole) you get half off lift tickets during specific date periods early and late season. It’s called the Golden Ticket. This also applies to Ikon pass holders after their days expire.

How long is the season and when is the best time to ride Jackson Hole

The resort typically opens around Thanksgiving and typically stays open a few days after the first week of April. The reason resorts don’t stay open later is because they usually have a lease with the National Forest Land that doesn’t allow them to operate later, regardless if there is a lot of snow on the mountain still. Like most ski resorts, the busiest times of the season are Holidays followed by weekends, making weekdays and none holiday periods the best time to ski or snowboard. Since Jackson isn’t close to any major city, the resort isn’t as busy as other ski resorts and every time I’ve gone, lift lines are almost none-existent.

That being said, the Ikon pass has brought a lot more visitors to this mountain which has it’s positives yet also negatives. Snowfall can differ from season to season with December and January being the snowiest months on average at the resort. However, past seasons, February produced record numbers in snowfall. If you like skiing or snowboarding in warmer temps with less snowfall, historically March can be a great time to visit. April can still bring snow storms and is a great time to visit because lodging is cheaper and the town and resort are less crowded.

Is Jackson Hole working towards Sustainability

In 2019 The lifts, buildings, and base operations all became powered by Wind Energy, pretty cool stuff in my opinion. They also work with brands such as Mammut, Burton, Yeti, and Smartwool to name a few, that work towards reducing their environmental impact and improving sustainability.

Where can you Rent and Buy Ski or Snowboard gear

There’s a lot of outdoor gear shops in the town of Jackson with great footwear, outdoor clothing, gloves, hats, and winter Jackets. However, I didn’t see hardly any ski or snowboard shops. With that being said there is a Surefoot in town if you’re in need of ski boots and the resort in town has a retail/rental shop, Snow King Mountain Sports. Hoback Sports will be the best Local shop in the town of Jackson specializing in retail, rentals, and tunes for skiing and snowboarding. For outerwear, check out Stio, founded in Jackson. A good pro tip if you plan on renting is to book online ahead of time with shops, to not only secure your equipment, but to also save up to 20% on rentals.

My favorite shop that seems to have to just about everything you would need for skiing, snowboarding, and the outdoor winter environment is Jackson Hole Sports at the base of the mountain in the Bridger Center. They have a tune shop for overnight services, a snowboard department upstairs (Hole in the Wall snowboard shop), and ski department downstairs mixed in with outdoor clothing, footwear, and accessories. It’s a really cool shop with a knowledgeable, friendly staff.

They also have an entire rental department for skiing and boarding, as well as top of the line ski boot fitting services. One service offered by Jackson Hole Sports that you won’t find at many ski resorts is outerwear rentals for people in need of a jacket or pant, but are not looking to purchase.

Does Jackson have a Terrain Park

Jackson has couple terrain parks and what makes this mountain unique is they also have a handful of Stash parks. Burton Snowboards are the brains behind Stash Parks and they built the first one in 2006. It was a way to bring natural features you find on the mountain into a terrain park setting.

Traditional Terrain Parks

These can be found near the base of the Teenwinot chairlift. Although these parks don’t have the number of features you would find at a Woodward park, there is still a lot of fun stuff. What I like about these parks is they are at the bottom of the mountain, so you can still lap everything the mountain has to offer and then roll through either one of these parks towards the base.

Antelope Flats- Smaller boxes, rails, jumps, and a couple smaller hips. This is a fun park to just lap.

Bronco- This park will have larger Jumps, rails, and features for the intermediate to advanced park rider. Nothing too “insane” in this park making it also a fun place to cruise through.

What other terrain parks are on the Ikon

Although Jackson has a terrain park, the resort really is for those looking to ride the mountain. However, If you are looking for a more advanced terrain park that is on the Ikon Pass. Three of my favorites will be Copper Mountain, Bear Mountain, and Mammoth Mountain. These parks will have a wider variety of features, more advanced park builds, and the park lap will be much longer.

Photo Chip Proulx

Another favorite of mine is actually Steamboat because it has a simple/old school feel to it. Steamboat has two different parks for different ability levels, one being pretty close to the base of the resort.

Stash Parks

Log rails, Wooden Platforms, and the famous Jackson Hole wooden quarter pipe are some of the features you will find in the stash parks.

The snowfall for the season and the time of year will dictate which features in these park are available to ride. There are 4 different set ups spread through out the mountain.

Little Stash- a good park for beginners or families looking to hit small features. This park is located towards the bottom of the run next to Lower Werner and the Teewinot lift.

Campground- More advanced features located close to the Casper lift. This park has the famous Stash Quarter pipe. There will be a couple of intermediate features as you first enter this park which keeps it fun. I personally don’t always like hitting the biggest features in a park when I’m out of town on a snowboard trip (Have to make it back in one piece lol).

Stashley Ridge- This park will be the most advanced out of all the Stash parks. The features in this park are pretty big and I would only recommend hitting them if you have the experience. Located off the Ashley Ridge run, between the Sweetwater Gondi and Teton chair lift.

Does Jackson offer ski or snowboard Lessons

Yep, they offer lessons for kids, adults, individuals with a disability as well as private options for all different ability levels. These are done out of the Mountain Sports School right off of the Sweetwater mid station. Private lessons include a half day or full day option. Make sure to book your lessons ahead of time as spots fill up quickly.

There’s also lessons offered for people looking to get into the back country. These are full day guided back country tours that educate you on out of bounds terrain. These require bringing your own equipment unless you booked a Mountain Sports School Back Country Booking. These guided tours will take you to Teton Pass as well as have you practice using your equipment at the top of the tram.

What’s unique about Jackson is they also offer multi day camps for more advanced/steep terrain, the back country, and even camps for adaptive skiers and snowboarders.

Where can I park at the resort for free and how does public transportation work

There’s a handful of ways not to pay for parking if you don’t want to. There’s tricks to the trade for avoiding the $30/day. If you don’t mind paying for parking, paid lots will be at the base of the resort consisting of the Village Lot, Crystal Springs Lot, and the Cody Lot. The Ranch Lot is paid if you don’t have at least three people in your car. Get your carpool ticket ahead of time, when entering the Ranch Lot, so that when you exit you won’t have to deal with parking fees. The Ranch Lot is very close to the base and offers a shuttle if you don’t feel like walking.

The Stilson Lot is another alternative to avoiding paid parking. Seven miles to the resort this lot has 850 spaces with free shuttles to take you to the resort. There’s also a transit center with bathrooms on-site.

Public transportation from the Town of Jackson is going to cost a small amount of money. This is a great option if you don’t have a car or don’t feel like driving. There’s bus stops all over the town and I would make sure to keep track of the route you are on (labeled by color), so when you are returning to the town you get on the right bus. I’ve made the mistake of getting on the wrong bus and then wasted time having to walk back to my hotel. Buses run from about 7am to 6pm at night. Head to the Town of Jackson website for a map and bus route times.

Are there any restaurants on the Mountain

Yep, there’s restaurants at the top of Bridger Gondola and also near the Casper Lift. The Casper Restaurant has outdoor seating and a deck with amazing views on sunnier days. This will be your typical ski trip comfort resort food. Just looking for a quick snack? Near the Tram at the base of the resort, you’ll find a General Store.

Where are some of the best Apres’ spots

The Mangy Moose will be at the base of the resort in Teton Village as well as The Handle Bar in The Four Seasons. Both are great places for happy hour to grab a drink or some food after a day on the mountain. Mangy Moose has that local ski town vibe while the Handle Bar is more upscale, but with a great menu. Lastly the Tram Dock will have food and drinks.

I got a recommendation to check out Teton Thai near the Ranch Lot for Apres. It has cool artwork inside mixed with eclectic music and amazing food. Loved the hang out after you ride atmosphere here.

Teton Thai

The Mangy Moose

Tram Dock

Recommendations on where to eat

Awesome restaurants in Jackson if you don’t feel like cooking. I’ve listed a handful of restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, and breakfast spots below.

Breakfast

Pearl Street Bagel is perfect if you need something quick and on the go. The Bunnery Bakery is a classic sit down diner style breakfast and Persephone Bakery will have healthier more creative options with ingredients from Local Farmers and Ranchers.

The Bunnery Bakery

South Cable Cafe (Base of the Ski Resort)

Pearl Street Bagel

Persephone (Love the coffee here)

Coffee Shops

Overview coffee will be at the Base of the resort (just past Teton Village Sports) and is perfect if your like me and can never get to the mountain on time, but are in need of a nice cup of coffee to get the day going (closed Tuesdays). Lastly, local coffee brand, Snake River has a location in downtown Jackson with breakfast food too.

Persephone Bakery

Overview Coffee

Snake River Roasting Company

Dinner

I was able to find some good restaurants to check out after talking with a couple locals. King Sushi had delicious sashimi, rolls, and sake. Make sure to try the deep fried cheesecake for desert! Snake River Grille has been in town for 30 years and has seafood, pasta, steaks, and drink options with creative flavors. Make sure to book a reservation in advance for both places unless you plan on eating at the bar. For a quick stop, check out Jackson’s Drug Store. Classic diner food and awesome milkshakes! Jackson’s Drug store is my favorite because it has this old fashion restaurant feel on the inside and the menu is pretty simple.

I also had dinner at Local right in town, which is another local steakhouse worth checking out! Great ambience, service, and food. Plus it’s right in the downtown square area.

King Sushi

Snake River Grille

Noodle Kitchen

Jackson’s Drug Store

The Bistro

Local

Calico

Pinky G’s Pizza

Bars & Breweries

Roadhouse will be right in town and has food menu too. Beers are really good and if you like sports bar feel, this is the place. Definitely more noisy then Snake River Brewery. Also if you like bars make sure to go into the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.

Million Dollar Cowboy Bar

Snake River

Roadhouse Taproom

Is there a Grocery Store in Jackson

There’s a handful of different grocery stores in Downtown Jackson. Albertsons and Smith’s will be your standard Grocery’s. For organic options you’ll find a Whole Foods as well as small markets such as Pearl Street Market, close to the town square. If you’re staying in Teton Village and forgot something there’s a market halfway to Jackson called Aspen’s Market. Keep in mind, smaller markets will be more expensive then traditional grocery stores in resort towns.

Any downsides to riding Jackson Hole

Not too many downsides to this beautiful resort, however a few things to consider when booking a ski or snowboard trip are.. there isn’t a whole lot of beginner terrain. The intermediate to advanced terrain is also steeper then most resorts. The resort can also be more challenging to get to as there is only one nearby airport and flights tend to be more expensive. The positive side to this is the airport is very close to the ski resort.

Like any resort, the mountain can get windy, with poor visibility as well as not ideal snow conditions. It’s the risk you take when booking a ski or snowboard trip.

Last minute tips for a ski or snowboard trip to Jackson Hole

Be prepared for the winter weather. Make sure to pack the right winter clothing and gear. I lised important items below in my packing list. Make sure to look over the trail map and road map if you decide to drive. Make reservations ahead of time for equipment rentals, restaurants, and ski lessons. If you don’t have a season pass, purchase lift tickets before hand.

Make sure to check out Teton Gravity Research if you are into Outdoor Films! Starting in Jackson, TGR has been making outdoor films for the past 25 years and they also have a cool little retail section with t-shirts, hoodies, and hats.

What to Pack

There’s a lot different things you should pack when going on a ski or snowboard trip. If you’re a snowboarder I recommend shopping on Burton.com, They’ve been around since 1977! and have a wide selection of gear. Make sure to check out Step On! if you are looking for something that makes it easy to get in and out of your bindings. Below I listed Items that you’ll need. In case you forget something, as mentioned, there are great shops at the resort and in town to assist you.

• Waterproof Snow Jacket and Pants

• Beanie

• Gloves or Mittens

• Snow Goggles

• Socks meant for skiing or snowboarding

• Base Layers (For under your Jacket and Pants)

• Mid layers (for Colder Temperatures)

• winter footwear

Don’t forget sunscreen and Lip Balm with Sun Bum out of Encinitas California being some of the best. Apply at least 15 minutes before you get on the slopes

That’s it for a trip to Jackson Hole Ski Resort. As always, appreciate every person who reads the blog and would love for anyone reading this to experience this awesome place in the winter! See you on the next post!

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Skiing and snowboarding can be dangerous activities, please ride within your ability levels and respect others around you

Ever considered taking a ski or snowboard trip to Utah? Known to be one of the best places in the world to ride, on a good week the snow can stack up quick giving one a taste of the “champagne powder.” A coined term of light fluffy powder that you can experience if good snow rolls through. There are some amazing ski resorts to ski or snowboard at in Utah, but one of my favorites is Brighton. It’s close to Salt Lake and also not far from Park City.

Established in 1936, the resort still has that old school feel to it. Parking at the base of the resort, an old A Frame Tavern, and the Brighton Lodge all give it that mom and pop feel that seems to be disappearing from the ski industry. Lift tickets are still under $100 for the day and you’ll notice a brown bagged section in the lodge, designated for those who packed a lunch, but want to eat inside. Although the mountain itself offers a number of groomed trails for beginner to intermediate riders, there is plenty of terrain for the more experienced rider. Chutes, trees, and what I’d like to think of as a natural terrain park are all things you’ll find inbounds at Brighton.

In this post I’ll be going over where to stay, how to get to Brighton, where to buy/rent gear, and what to know ahead of time. Let’s get into it!

Where is Brighton

Located at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton Ski resort is about 35-40 minutes from downtown Salt Lake city, without traffic. You’ll drive up a road with a series of switchbacks until you pass the Brighton General store on your left and arrive at the parking lot. It can be sunny and warm in downtown Salt Lake and snowing up at Brighton, which is what makes Utah unique. However if it’s snowing or raining in the city, typically you know it’s going to be a deep day up at Brighton! I listed times and distances from a few major areas below.

Park City: 60 min/44 miles

Salt Lake: 45 min/31.5 miles

Ogden: 1 hour and 20 min/67 miles

Where to stay

There’s a number of different places to stay in Downtown Salt Lake that will be close to the canyon. I’ve stayed in Park City before when riding Brighton, but the thing I like about Salt Lake is the close proximity to the Canyon. But if city life isn’t your thing you can stay in Park City and even up by the resort. There’s a number of rentals and a couple lodges close to Brighton. I listed places to stay below.

Salt Lake- I stayed in this tiny home as well as this 1 bedroom through VRBO. They were both really nice and not too expensive, yet close to Brighton. There’s also a number of hotels with free breakfast on hotels.com

Park City- Park city is a ski town, so you’ll be able to find anything from 1 bedrooms all the way up to townhomes and private homes

Brighton Resort- Look on VRBO for places to stay in Big Cottonwood Canyon or check out Silver Fork Lodge along with the Brighton Lodge.

Where to eat

One thing I love about staying in Salt Lake, is being in the city, there are some great restaurants. With a lot to choose from, below are the breakfast, dinner, and coffee shops I tried during my time in Utah!

Breakfast

Hub & Spoke Diner- A classic diner spot with a modern take on some of the menu options. What I loved about this restaurant is the '“from scratch” kitchen including all of the sauces. Great place to go before you get to the mountain, just make sure you get there early if Brighton has a pow day so that you can get up the Canyon and grab a parking spot!

Eggsburgh- Located right in the downtown area, I would say what stands out about this breakfast spot is the creativity behind the menu. Grab a booth right by one of the big windows and enjoy the city like feel of this restaurant.

Coffee

When I was looking up coffee shops, Cupla popped up and I decided to try the location in downtown Salt Lake. Cupla means Twin in Irish, as the business was started by two twins. The Latte I tried was one of the best I’ve had. There’s also going to be a breakfast and lunch menu that focuses on low carb and low sugar. Swing through even after your day on the mountain as they are open until 7:00 pm.

Dinner

Both places I went to for dinner (The Copper Onion and Pago) were honestly really good. I did some reserarch on these and was pretty impressed with the service, food, and just overall ambience. The Copper Onion has this 1930’s vibe going on inside. Very classy and a great place to, grab a meal and a drink (s) with friends. They source ingredients that are local and sustainable. I would say the food is classic American comfort, but with the upscale touch.

Pago is a true farm to table restaurant with a number of their menu items coming from local farms. Located in a nice area of Salt Lake with other shops, small businesses, and restaurants around, Pago is part of this little slice of Salt Lake. Known especially for their wines, I would make sure to at least try a glass if you are looking to grab a drink. Make sure to book a reservation in advance and enjoy a nice meal in this unique spot.

What is the average annual snowfall

Brighton’s avg annual snowfall is 500 inches a year! That is one of the amazing things about Utah, they seem to get a lot of snow through out the winter. Track a storm and try to plan a trip is the name of the game if you can.

Where can I buy or rent ski/snowboard gear

Being close to a big city in the mountains means there will be a lot of choices for where to rent or buy ski and snowboard equipment. My favorite retail shop is Evo, they have a pretty large selection for ski’s, snowboards, jackets, pants, goggles, etc. The best core snowboard shop will be Milo and for ski’s only I would check out the Lifthouse, for retail along with rentals. Other rental shops include Ski n’ See as well as Brighton Mountain Sports, right at the base of the mountain!

I also recommend checking out WNDR (Wonder Alpine), a small locally owned shop in Salt Lake. Their ski’s and boards are all made without Petroleum, a company that puts sustainability at the forefront.

If you plan on renting, just make sure to book a reservation ahead of time. Shops will offer rental packages based on your ability level. Depending on where you rent ski’s or snowboards from, the shop will have a try before you buy program which is called, Demo. This allows someone to try different ski’s or snowboards out before purchasing them.

Where to park

Parking can be tricky at Brighton because there really isn’t that much parking space overall. The first thing to note is that you have to make a parking reservation for Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays on Brighton’s website. They have a list of guidelines I would recommend checking out. There’s been talks of a gondola from the base of the canyon to the resort, but I’m not sure when that will start to happen. With that being said, if you’re able to park in the main lot, you are right at the base of the resort, which is pretty amazing.

There is also a little bit of overflow parking at the Brighton General Store if needed.

There’s also a very limited amount of parking at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon with a free shuttle that can take you up to the resort. They have two lots a smaller one and an overflow lot. Just arrive very early on good powder days or weekends. Below I have links to these parking lots.

East Big Cottonwood Park and Ride

Overflow Big Cottonwood Park and Ride

PLEASE NOTE: Since you are in a City don’t leave anything valuable in your car when parking in these lots

What pass is Brighton on and how much are lift tickets

Other then the Brighton Season Pass, you get 5-7 days on the Ikon, depending on which Ikon pass you purchased. Lift tickets are only $79 for the day and $89 dollars if you plan on night riding at all.

Does it snow a lot

Utah in general receives these snow storms that seem to just stack up on one another, with winter of 2023, resorts were having record numbers of over 800 inches! That’s what I’ve noticed when I go to Utah to snowboard is when it snows, it snows.

What makes Brighton special

The mom and pop feel you get when you park at the base of the resort. There’s cliff drops, easy greens and blues, and then side/back country access right off the resort. You can also cover most of the resort in 3 days and lift tickets are still under $100/day. Plus night riding 6 nights a week makes this place hard to beat.

Photo by Kevin McAvey

Where to ride

The mountain is split into 3 sections with Crest Express, Western Express, and Milly being the starting lifts to access the runs on those parts of the mountain.

Crest Express and Snake Creek

The runs off of these lifts is where you’ll find the majority of the green’s and blues, perfect for just cruising, warming up, or progressing! If you plan on dropping into some of the tree areas right off of Crest, be prepared for a short hike out. I think it’s worth it to ride through those areas even with the hike out. Not many people do, so you get some untracked lines when there’s fresh snow. For people looking step up from the bunny hill, hop on the majestic lift!

Photo by Kevin McAvey

At the end of the day I’ll Take Pacific Highway and catch a good view on the way down and ride through some of the trees on Wren Hollow. If you have kids, the runs off of Crest are great because they aren’t too steep and everyone can kind of stay together as a family. The base area of Crest can get cluttered, but with the lift being a 6 person chair, the line moves quick.

Snake Creek will also have some beginner to intermediate runs if you were to take a left off of the chairlift. However! they also have some amazing trees and steeper lines if you go right off of the lift, terrain such as Snake Bowl and Doyles Dive is awesome to ride on a powder day. You’ll be cruising through some trees and then all of sudden it opens up with natural terrain to jump off of and areas to slash a few good turns.

Milly

My favorite area of Brighton will be the runs off of Milly. It has just about everything from little drops to cliffs, trees, and even some blues and greens. If the snow isn’t deep or great I’ll usually stick to the groomed terrain, but if it’s a powder day as in the photos below, take a left off the lift and traverse as far as you’d like and then drop in! FYI, make sure you know where you are when riding through terrain off of Milly to avoid getting cliffed out. Cliffed out means the only way down is to jump off the cliff.

My favorite run through Milly is Scree Slope because it’s a steeper wide open bowl that fills in nicely after a snow storm. The turns through these areas are amazing after a storm, especially if you get first chair! For more advanced and experienced skiers or snowboarders, there’s an inbounds hike right off the lift that drops into Milly Bowl. Make sure to be aware of your surroundings and what terrain is in-bounds or out-of-bounds when doing the hike.

Photo by Kevin McAvey

Not experienced enough to ride some of the steeper terrain off Milly? Take a right off the lift and there will blues and greens, such as backdoor and backbone

Great Western

To access the Great Western Lift, you’ll need to take the Snake River lift and go left off the lift, follow the trail signs for Great Western. There’s a lot of terrain to cover on this part of the resort and I honestly haven’t spent too much time on this side of the mountain. A couple of my favorite places to ride are the Aspen trees off of Golden Needle and I also like to ride down Western Trail, it’s kind of like a cat walk and then you can drop in wherever looks good. Western Trail is a blue so if you don’t feel like riding steeper terrain, just take this run all the way until it connects to another Blue run.

Below you can see some of the runs on Great Western off in the distance.

Is there a terrain park

The parks at Brighton are pretty sick with beginner, intermediate, and advanced rails, jumps, and features. These can be easily accessed off the Crest Express and Majestic Lifts. Even if you are just starting out in the park, there’s going to be some very small boxes and jump at Brighton, great for learning the fundamentals while keeping it fun.

The other cool thing is the terrain park off Majestic is open during night riding! Take a few laps under the lights and don’t forget to bring a clear lens for your goggles.

NZ snowboarder Josh lapping through the Jump line

Any back country access from the resort

There will be back country gates right off the resort as well as some side country zones. You’ll notice out-of-bounds signage for these areas, which I mostly noticed off the Milly Lift. I would highly recommend having the proper equipment, partner, and knowledge if you were to access any of these areas!

Best Apres’

The best place for Apres’ will be right at the base of the resort at Molly Greens Tavern. Awesome vibe inside and great place for a drink or some appetizers. Depending on where you sit, you’ll also get some views of resort and Wasatach mountains

On mountain Dining

Other then Molly Greens, Brighton has a number of restaurants on mountain for those seeking to take a break and eat a good meal on the mountain. If you just want a quick snack, swing by the Brighton Store before getting on the mountain. For coffee, breakfast, or just a hot drink mid-day check out the Blind Miner in the Brighton Center.

Also in the Brighton Center will be a Brown Bag section for those who pack their own lunch (Name another ski resort that has that!??) along with a main cafeteria style dining area called Alpine Rose. If you’re into a sit down restaurant, that has more of a fine dining menu, check out the Milly Chalet at the base of the Milly Lift. On the side of this restaurant will also be Doyles Dawgs with beers, chips, brats, and hot dogs.

Last, is my favorite place to grab a quick meal and that is Sidewinder located in the Snake Creek Lodge. It’s got an awesome seating area with large windows that lookout to the resort and mountains. The food is pretty much Burgers and tater tots, but it’s honestly pretty good and not overly priced in my opinion.

Tree Riding

There’s going to be a lot of good tree riding off of Crest, Snake River, and the Western Express. I honestly like riding through a lot of the trees on the Green runs and also the aspen trees off of Great Western.

Are lessons available

Yep, Brighton offers Private and Group lessons along with night lessons. Night lessons will be more affordable! They also offer an intro package which includes equipment for ski’s or snowboards as well as a two hour lesson.

There will be a beginner chair, Explorer, along with magic carpets (not a chairlift) to get you up the hill so you can ride down and learn the fundamentals on easy runs. The instructor will help you with things such as stopping, linking turns, getting off and on the lift, and how to use your equipment.

Does the canyon road ever close

It can if there needs to be avalanche mitigation done, but this only happens if there is a lot of snow. Typically Littlewood Cotton is the canyon that closes after a snow storm, which is the road up to Snowbird.

Is there Night Riding

One of the best parts is night riding Monday-Saturday from 4-9 pm. There’s going to be a number of runs open off the Crest and Snake Creek lifts at night. And if you’re wondering if there is any beginner terrain for night riding, there is, off of the Snake Creek lift. There’s even a terrain park that’s open for night riding! It started dumping the second night of my stay in Utah, and riding powder at night is pretty incredible experience. You may even see people with headlamps riding through the trees.

That’s it for a trip to Brighton! If you have any questions or comments, drop them down below. I plan on covering more Utah ski resorts in the future so stay tuned.

Looking for another place to take a ski or snowboard trip to? Check out Steamboat in Colorado, it’s one of coolest places you can ski or snowboard at in Colorado, definitely worth checking out.