Jackson
Around Jackson
Photo: G. Lamar · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Wyoming · 36k people
Jackson
Locals say Jackson Hole · “The Hole”, “JH”
Where the Tetons touch the sky
Sunset over the TetonsPine forest greenEarth brown
Welcome to Jackson Hole, where the Tetons rise right out of the valley and the Snake River runs clear. Whether you're here for the powder, the wildlife, or just the vibe, you'll find a community that loves the outdoors as much as you do. Pull up a saddle stool and make yourself at home.
Clubs for Jackson
No clubs for Jackson yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Jackson. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Jackson. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Grand Teton National Park Iconic peaks and pristine lakes
- Yellowstone National Park Geothermal wonders and wildlife
- Jackson Town Square Famous elk antler arches and western vibe
- National Museum of Wildlife Art Wildlife art with views of the National Elk Refuge
- Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum Local history exhibits
- Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center Gateway to Grand Teton with interactive exhibits
- Outdoors Hike in Grand Teton National Park
- Outdoors Ski at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
- With kids Visit the Jackson Hole Children's Museum
- With kids Ride the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram
- Evenings Live music at the Mangy Moose
- Evenings Honky-tonk at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
- Locals love Ski resorts
- Locals love Dude ranches
Through the year
- Jackson Hole Rodeo June through August Summer rodeo with bull riding and barrel racing
- Grand Teton Music Festival July and August Classical music performances in a stunning mountain setting
- Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival September Gallery walks, art auctions, and artist demonstrations
- Teton County Fair July and August County fair with livestock, carnival rides, and local food
- Jackson Hole Winter Fest January Snow sculpture contests, dog sledding, and winter games
Jackson Hole has a high-desert mountain climate with long, snowy winters and short, pleasant summers. The best time to be out is from June to September, when trails are clear and wildlife is active. Best: Summer and early fall are ideal with warm days and cool nights. Winters are snowy and cold, perfect for skiing.
Talk like a local
- “The Village”
- Teton Village
- “The Park”
- Grand Teton National Park
- “The Pass”
- Teton Pass
- “The Hole”
- Jackson Hole itself
Getaways
- Rexburg, ID Visit the Idaho Potato Museum and BYU-Idaho
- Idaho Falls, ID Walk the river walk and see the falls
- Blackfoot, ID Home of the Idaho Potato Expo
- Pocatello, ID Explore the Museum of Clean and Portneuf River
Local flavour
Teams
- Jackson Hole Moose NA3HL
Also rooting for Denver Broncos (NFL), Utah Jazz (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rockies (MLB)
Eat and drink
- Huckleberry pie Wild huckleberries are a local treasure
- Elk chili Game meat is common in the region
- Bison burger Bison ranching and cuisine are part of the Western identity
- Grilled trout Snake River trout is a local specialty
- Cowboy coffee Strong, campfire-style coffee
Where people go
- Ski resorts Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Grand Targhee are world-class
- National parks Grand Teton and Yellowstone are right at the doorstep
- Dude ranches Historic guest ranches offer Western experiences
- Western saloons Iconic bars like the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
- Fly fishing rivers The Snake River and its tributaries are legendary
Heritage and traditions
Jackson Hole is proud of its wild western heritage and stunning mountain scenery, where cowboy culture meets world-class skiing and a deep respect for the natural world.
This time of year in Jackson
- Elk rutting Autumn Watching and hearing elk bugling in Grand Teton and the refuge.
Say it like a local: “The elk are in” — The elk herd has moved onto the National Elk Refuge for winter.
Festivals
- Old West Days May Celebrates the town's frontier history with parades, gunfight reenactments, and cowboy poetry.
- Jackson Hole Rendezvous July Recreates the 1830s fur trade era with encampments, black powder shoots, and storytelling.
- Jackson Hole Brewfest August Showcases local and regional craft beers with live music.
Landmarks with a story
- Chapel of the Transfiguration A log chapel in Grand Teton National Park with a window framing the Tetons.
- Mormon Row Historic District Remnants of early Mormon homesteads with iconic barns and cabins.
- Menor's Ferry A restored 1890s ferry that crossed the Snake River, now a museum.
- Cunningham Cabin One of the oldest homestead cabins in the valley, dating to the 1880s.
Food traditions
- Dutch oven cooking A staple of cowboy and mountain man camps, often used for stews and cobblers.
- Sourdough bread Mountain men and early settlers relied on sourdough starters, a tradition still alive in local bakeries.
- Chuckwagon breakfasts Served at rodeos and dude ranches, featuring eggs, beans, and cowboy coffee.
Music and arts
- Wildlife art A local genre celebrated at the National Museum of Wildlife Art.
- Cowboy poetry Performed at local gatherings and the Old West Days.
- Western music Country and folk music with a frontier flavor at local venues.
- Theater The Jackson Hole Playhouse offers melodramas and musicals.
A little history
- Mountain men and fur traders, including Jim Bridger, explore the Jackson Hole valley. 1820s-1840s
- National Elk Refuge established to protect wintering elk herds. 1912
- Grand Teton National Park created; expanded in 1950 with Rockefeller's land donation. 1929
- Snow King Ski Area opens, one of the first ski resorts in Wyoming. 1939
- Jackson Hole Mountain Resort develops at Teton Village, bringing world-class skiing. 1960s
- Game day Powder 8 skiing competitions
- Game day Teton Pass mountain biking
- Outdoors Snowshoeing in Grand Teton
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing at the golf course
- With kids The town square shootout
- With kids The elk antler arches
People speak with a Western American accent, often using outdoor and ranch vocabulary. Locals refer to the valley as 'Jackson Hole' and the town as 'Jackson'.
Only here
- The elk antler arches in Jackson Town Square, made from shed antlers.
- Jackson Hole Airport is the only commercial airport located inside a national park (Grand Teton).
- The Jackson Hole Rodeo is one of the oldest continuous rodeos in the country.
- The valley is known as 'Jackson Hole' while the town is simply 'Jackson'.
New here? A few tips
- Acclimate to the altitude (6,200 feet) before strenuous activities.
- Dress in layers; weather changes quickly in the mountains.
- Parking in Jackson can be tight; use the free shuttle or walk.
- Don't feed or approach wildlife; keep a safe distance.
- Learn to say 'Jackson Hole' for the valley and 'Jackson' for the town.
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Nearby
Every areaRexburgIdahoWhere the Tetons meet the potato fieldsPinedaleWyomingWhere the Wind Rivers touch the sky.Idaho FallsIdahoWhere the Snake River winds through the high desertMontpelier–Soda SpringsIdahoWhere the water fizzes and the berries are sweet.BlackfootIdahoThe heart of Idaho's potato country.PocatelloIdahoA friendly gateway to Idaho's outdoors.CodyWyomingCowboy country at Yellowstone's doorRivertonWyomingBig skies, warm hearts.
Jackson, WY-ID. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.