10 Things to Do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Originally published on 03/10/2018

All images included within this post come from the Jackson Hole Traveler. See their website for more information on what to do while you are in Jackson Hole, WY.

Have you ever been to Jackson Hole, Wyoming? I have not yet been, but Larry, my husband, has been there multiple times. I did some research because Larry and I are headed to Jackson Hole at the end of this month during spring break, and I thought I'd tease you a little in anticipation with a list of ten things to do there. Enjoy!

1. There are so many things to do in Jackson Hole! This sign is the first thing on my list I want to see (I know, it's just a sign...) but it reminds me of the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign, you just have to see it! :) Notice the higher elevation. You will need to be careful if you come from low elevations as this can cause headaches, nausea, and more serious problems. Drink plenty of water to combat those issues.

2. The Aerial Tram, nicknamed "Big Red", will take you to the summit of Snow King. This Mountain Resort provides a year-round experience for travelers of all ages. In the winter you can ski or snowboard, while summertime activities include mini golf (a favorite of mine!) and hiking. There is much, much more to do, so I hope we have time to get up there to see the sights!

3. A tour of Grand Teton National Park will afford you some amazing views! Majestic mountains, wildlife encounters, beautiful lakes and rivers. It is on our list of things to do this summer, since the roads into the Park don't open until May 1st. I love being in the mountains. There is such a quiet serenity there and a closeness to a higher power that I don't feel anywhere but inside an LDS Temple. Through Grand Teton National Park, you can take a self-guided tour, small group wildlife safaris, sunrise tours, and more.

4. The National Elk Refuge is home to the Jackson Elk Herd, as well as many birds, fish, endangered species, and big game animals. They provide horse-drawn sleigh rides in the winter for a unique experience, and in the summer you can tour the Miller House and watch the wildlife from there. Definitely sounds like a fun Bucket List item to me!

5. You have to see the Elk Arches in the Town Square and take a picture (selfie time!!)! This is definitely something I have to do! The arches (there are four of them) are each made from 2,000 elk antlers! So unique! In the background, you can see the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and wooden boardwalks. This town really is "The Last of the Old West!"

6. You will see more wildlife than you can ever imagine! I have heard that moose will sometimes roam the streets of Jackson Hole. Our 13-year-old dog, Puddles, is a toy chihuahua, weighing in at about 4 pounds dripping wet. Larry tells me that before we got together, Puddles tried chasing a moose down the street of their town here in Idaho! Crazy dog! I've seen one moose in my life, well I guess it was three, a mom and her twins. I would love to see a bull moose some day, just to say I have seen him, and hopefully take a picture. I do love taking pictures.

7. During the summer months, every Wednesday and Saturday evenings the Jackson Hole Rodeo comes around. I love watching rodeos, especially when the Native American Dancers perform! Dancing horses, bull rides, barrel races, you name it, it's exciting! True western culture spirit goes into every single rodeo I've attended, and I am willing to bet that the Jackson Hole Rodeo is no different!

8. Also in the summertime, from May through September, you can take a float trip through ten miles of the Grand Teton National Park on the Snake River. I am a preschool teacher and one of my aides actually helps Barker-Ewing sell these float trips! Larry and I are going to take a ride this year, and I'm going to get my aide to come with us (she's never been!). You can also do a white water rafting trip through a separate company, which also sounds like fun. The beautiful views available on the float trip, as well as the wildlife, make for a truly spectacular ride.

9. Yellowstone National Park is also very close to Jackson Hole, and is a beautiful trip by itself! See my post about a trip Larry and I made last year by clicking the link. The amazing geysers, the wildlife, and the many different places to walk around and see the beauty make for a great trip. Definitely worth a view if you have the extra time. I still want to go back and do the larger loop, since we only did the small one.

10. Scenic views can be had just about anywhere you go in Jackson Hole. I love flowers, so this is for the simple joys of natural beauty. I can pretty much guarantee that our upcoming trip will be too short for me to do everything I want to, but that just means that we have to go back again. I think that the only way to get to know a place is to either live there and explore, or keep going back again and again to see new things.

BONUS!! Every Friday night from October through April, a free public event for stargazing occurs! From 7:30pm until 9:30pm, on clear Friday nights above zero degrees Fahrenheit, you can go to the Center for the Arts for free stargazing in their telescopes and talk with the astronomers about what you see. Definitely going to check this out!!

I hope you enjoyed learning about some of the fun things available to see and do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I know I am looking forward to the trip at the end of this month. So, when do you want to make plans to go? What would you see and do while you're there? Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to like, share, and subscribe! See you next time!