22 Epic Things to Do In Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Looking for adventure, thrills, and unparalleled natural beauty? Look no further than Jackson Hole, Wyoming! The 42 mile valley sits between the Teton Mountains and the Gros Ventre mountains. With towering mountain views, thrilling outdoor activities, access to both exciting and relaxing water activities, and lots of dining and shopping options, there are so many things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for families.

The Jackson Hole valley includes the town of Jackson, Grand Teton National Park, Teton Village, and the towns of Kelly, Wilson, Moran, Moose, and Hoback Junction. Spend the day hiking and exploring or strolling a western themed downtown area, or a combination of both! The choice is up to you. We have compiled a list of some of our favorite things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to help you plan your next getaway!

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22 Of The Best Things To Do In Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Ride the Aerial Tram

The Jackson Hole Aerial Tram is one of the best things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for families. When you purchase a ride on the Aerial Tram, you also get a trip up the Bridger and Sweetwater Gondolas, and an evening gondola trip with access to The Deck & Piste Mountain Bistro.

The aerial tram takes you over 4,000 feet in 12 minutes to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain. From the top you will be able to enjoy 360 degree views of the Tetons and Jackson Hole Valley, access to hiking trails, and the chance to try a gourmet waffle from Corbet’s Cabin.

Once you reach the top, you will have access to great hiking trails, including the Rock Springs Loop, Corbet’s Trail, Cody Bowl, and the Happy Hour Hike. The new Grand Teton Skywalk is not to be missed at the summit. The Skywalk gives you a different perspective and views of the surrounding Teton mountains.

The tram is open from mid May to early October. Access to the tram is at Teton Village. Make sure you are prepared for temperature changes at the summit, it is often much colder than it is at the base of the mountain.

Explore Grand Teton National Park

Jackson Hole is the gateway to Grand Teton National Park, so chances are it is already on your itinerary, but we wanted to mention it so you don’t miss it! The Moose Entrance to the park is only about a 10 minute drive from Jackson Hole,

Grand Teton National Park has a little something for everyone. Explore the history of the park on Mormon Row, explore the park’s many hiking trails, go for a scenic river float or adventurous white water rafting trip, spot local wildlife, go for a scenic drive, or get out on the water with swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, or canoeing.

Take a Day Trip to Yellowstone National Park

While it is a bit further of a drive than Grand Teton, Yellowstone National Park is another excellent day trip option from Jackson Hole. Yellowstone National Park is one of the most unique parks in the country, being a hot spot for geothermal activity.

A trip to the park gives you the chance to explore the park’s unique geothermal features, geysers, and hot springs, explore a variety of family friendly hiking trails, spot the park’s local wildlife, and visit the Mammoth Hot Springs.

Yellowstone is not to be missed, but if you are planning a multi-day trip to Yellowstone, Jackson Hole may not be the best option for a home base because of the drive. Staying closer to Yellowstone would be the ideal choice.

Things to Do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Go Paragliding

Paragliding is a unique and thrilling experience in Jackson Hole, offered at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. From the summit of Rendezvous Mountain, the paragliding experience will take you over the Teton Mountains, Jackson Hole, and the Snake River. Running is required for take off. Flights usually last about 10 minutes.

Paragliding is offered from mid May to early October. Experiences are offered at 7:45am, 9am, and 10am daily. Children must be at least 8 years old to participate and weigh at least 55 pounds (maximum weight 220 pounds).

Visit Astoria Hot Springs

Astoria Hot Springs is a series of man-made pools filled with natural hot spring water. There are 6 pools, including a children’s pool, making this one of the best things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for families. The pools are situated with a background of mountain views and the Snake River.

The Leisure Pool is one of the coolest pools, making it a great option for families with younger children (100° – 102° F). The Children’s Pool is another great option, and is maintained at 80° – 90° F. There is also a cold plunge, which is said to help relieve muscle pain, joint pain, and inflammation.

Astoria Hot Springs is located about 16 miles South of Jackson (about a 20 minute drive). The springs are open year-round in 2 hour intervals. Walk-ins are welcome if there is space, but reservations are highly recommended. The pools are open daily, except Wednesday when they are closed for maintenance.

Granite Hot Springs

Granite Hot Springs is another great choice for those looking to relax or rejuvenate in mineral water. Granite Hot Springs features a concrete pool in the Bridger-Teton National Forest next to the Granite Creek.

The water temperature at Granite Hot Springs ranges from 93 F in the summer to 112 F in the winter. Aside from the soaking pool, the area also offers access to hiking trails in the summer and snowshoeing trails in the winter.

The springs are about a 35 minute drive from Jackson off of Highway 189. The last 10 miles are along a dirt road. You can also choose camping at the Granite Creek Campground, which will give you easy access to the springs. In the winter, the dirt road is not plowed and the springs are accessed only via snowmobile, skiing, or fat biking.

Via Ferrata

Via Ferrata is another thrilling experience at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Via Ferrata is an expert led, guided climbing experience in the Teton Mountains above Casper Bowl or in Corbet’s Couloir. The climbing experience includes a series of metal rungs, ladders, and hanging bridges.

The climbing experience includes a guide, secured cables, safety harness, lanyards, carbineers, and helmets. This is an experience for families with older children, with the minimum age being 12 years old (and weighing at least 88 pounds).

Jackson Hole Bike Park

Mountain biking at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a great option for families, with trails ranging from beginner to advanced. Riders can take the Teewinot Chairlift or Sweetwater Gondola up the mountain before cruising down scenic trails.

Lessons and camps are available for all ages and skill levels, including options designed to help kids build confidence before hitting the trails. The JH Sports Bike Camp is a great option for families with beginner bikers. Bike rentals are offered on-site, along with helmets and protective gear, and you can even have bikes delivered directly to your lodging for added convenience.

Things to Do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Ride the Bridger Gondola

The Bridger Gondola is one of the three available at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The ride to the top in a private gondola is 12 minutes long with an elevation gain of 2,700 feet. At the top, you will have access to the Deck (great views and dining), Piste Mountain Bistro, Via Ferrata, and hiking trails.

Go For a Hike

Hiking is one of the best things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with great options both inside Grand Teton National Park and outside. Hiking will take you into the area’s wilderness, allow you the chance to spot some of the park’s unique wildlife (always be sure to follow park guidelines for wildlife viewing), and bring you to jaw dropping scenic views.

Inside the park, you’ll find easy hikes like those around Jenny Lake and String Lake offering relatively flat terrain, beautiful water views, and plenty of opportunities for kids to explore along the way. For families with older children or more hiking experience, trails like Hidden Falls or Inspiration Point add a bit more challenge while still being manageable and incredibly rewarding.

Outside the park, hiking options continue in places like the Cache Creek Trail System and Bridger-Teton National Forest, where you’ll find quieter trails, fewer crowds, and a wide range of difficulty levels. Some easy trails near the town of Jackson include the Sidewalk Trail, the Nelson Knoll Trail, and the Sink or Swim Trail.

Snow King Mountain

Snow King Mountain Resort offers activities for kids and adults alike all year round, from snowboarding and skiing for winter lovers, and zip lining and adventure courses for those preferring the warmer weather.

The gondola ride takes you to the summit of Snow King Mountain with views overlooking the town of Jackson, the Teton Mountain range, and the National Elk Refuge. The gondola is open during both summer and winter.

The Cowboy Coaster is another thrilling activity, open in both summer and winter. The coaster takes you along a mile long path past either snow covered mountains in the winter or wildflower meadows in the summer.

In the summer months, you can enjoy concerts, zip lining, a treetop adventure course, mini golf, guided hikes, an alpine slide, mountain biking, and the summit observatory and planetarium. In the winter, you can enjoy snow tubing, skiing, and snowboarding.

Stroll Through Town Square

Town Square is the cute, Western themed downtown area in Jackson Hole that will transport you back to the Wild West. The square is well known for its four elk antler arches. The antlers come from the National Elk Refuge, which are collected by boy scouts after the antlers are naturally shed during the winter months.

Surrounding the main green space in the square are a variety of local shops and dining options. You can find local boutique shops, art galleries, ice cream shops, clothing stores, jewelry shops, gift shops, and outdoor gear shops.

During the summer months, there is an almost nightly shootout (except for Sunday nights). The shootout lasts about 20 minutes, but is full of gun fights, laughter, and singing, and dancing.

Go White Water Rafting

The opportunities for white water rafting in Jackson Hole are seemingly endless! The Snake River that runs through Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park has class II and III rapids, making for a thrilling adventure! The best part? The tours are guided and safety is always a priority, so you can just worry about having a good time!

There are also calm areas along the Snake River, making scenic floats a good alternative option for families that may not be up for white water rafting.

Companies offering white water rafting trips in Jackson Hole include:

• Dave Hansen Whitewater and Scenic River Trips: Offers white water rafting trips and scenic river floats for children as young as 6.
• Mad River Boat Trips: Offers white water rafting and scenic river floats on the Snake River, for children as young as 6.
• Jackson Hole Whitewater: Offers white water rafting trips for ages 6+, scenic floats for ages 4+, and private tours.
• Teton Whitewater: Offers white water rafting trips for ages 6+ and scenic floats for ages 4+.

Things to Do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Watch the Jackson Hole Shootout

The Jackson Hole Shootout was something we caught by chance, but are glad that we did! The Jackson Hole Shootout is a short but exciting re-creation of wild west Justice. The show takes place on the Northeast corner of the town square, near the famous antler ear arch.

The shootout includes gun fighting, singing, dancing and laughter. After the show, kids can pose and take photos with the actors. The show involves real guns and smoke, but they are shooting blanks.

The shootout takes place at 6pm Monday nights through Saturday nights in the summer months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You will want to plan on arriving by 5:30pm to get a good viewing spot, it does tend to get very crowded. The actors that perform in the show also perform at the Jackson Hole Playhouse.

Take a Scenic River Float

A scenic river float is a great alternative to white water rafting for families with younger children or those just looking for a relaxing getaway. Instead of the fast paced journey on a white water rafting trip, the scenic float is slow and relaxing, allowing you to soak in the views of the Teton Mountains and any wildlife that happens to be grazing on the riverbanks.

Companies offering scenic river floats on the Snake River for ages as young as 4 include:

• Dave Hansen Whitewater and Scenic River Trips: Offers white water rafting trips and scenic river floats for children as young as 6.
• Mad River Boat Trips: Offers white water rafting and scenic river floats on the Snake River, for children as young as 6.
• Jackson Hole Whitewater: Offers white water rafting trips for ages 6+, scenic floats for ages 4+, and private tours.
• Teton Whitewater: Offers white water rafting trips for ages 6+ and scenic floats for ages 4+.

Ropes Adventure Course

A ropes adventure course is a fun and thrilling activity for families visiting Jackson Hole. With courses of varying difficulties, there are options for beginners and younger children, and more challenging courses for older children/adults.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort offers a Grand Adventure Park with a ropes course suspended 25 feet above the ground. Children ages 5 and up are able to participate, making it one of the best things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for families. The course has a variety of challenges, good for different ages groups, so experience is not needed. You have one hour to complete the ropes course.

The Snow King Mountain Resort also offers a rope adventure course, this one for children ages 7 and up. The adventure courses involve a combination of wood poles and platforms spanning between trees. There are 7 different courses, marked by their difficulty level so you can choose the best one for your experience level.

Go Camping

Camping is one of the best things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with kids. Most families visiting the area are looking to get out and enjoy the outdoors, making camping the perfect way to spend a week in the area. You can spend your days exploring the park, and your nights sitting around a campfire, making s’mores and priceless family memories.

Inside Grand Teton National Park you will find multiple options for camping, including:

• Gros Ventre Campground: 279 sites
• Jenny Lake Campground: 61 Sites
• Signal Mountain Campground: 82 Sites
• Colter Bay Campground: 324 Sites
• Colter Bay Tent Village: 66 Tent Cabins
• Lizard Creek Campground: 60 Sites
• Headwaters Campground & RV Park: 34 tent sites, 40 camper cabins, and 97 RV sites

Backcountry camping is also permitted in Grand Teton National Park, but a proper permit is required.

Alternatively, you can find campgrounds in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. There is a combination of dispersed camping sites and campgrounds to choose from. Dispersed camping is camping outside of designated and marked sites. There is generally no water access or restroom access, but it is more secluded and gets you closer to nature.

Menor’s Ferry Historic District

If you are interested in the history of the area, Menor’s Ferry Historic District is a must do for your itinerary. The Menor’s Ferry Trail is very short and easily done for all ages, making it a great option for those with younger children. Along the trail you can visit Bill Menor’s cabin, country store, the Chapel of the Transfiguration, and replica of the ferry that once crossed the Snake River.

Because of the harsher conditions on the west side of the Snake River, Menor was alone on this side of the river. The ferry was built by Menor and served as a way for early settlers to cross the Snake River for hunting, gathering berries and mushrooms, and collecting wood. To reach the historic district, turn off of Teton Park Road about a half mile North of Moose.

Visit the Snow King Observatory and Planetarium

For anyone interested in star gazing, astronomy, or those just looking for a great family experience, the Snow King Observatory and Planetarium is a great option. The trip starts with a gondola ride up Snow King Mountain. With both day time and nighttime hours, there are options for everyone looking to learn about space.

During the day, there are rotating planetarium shows, a classroom theater, and the Science on the Sphere exhibit. You can also use the onsite telescope to view the sun and its sunspots.

At night, you can join a night tour and show experience, where you will enjoy a 90 minute tour of the Science on the Sphere Exhibit, a planetarium show, and outdoor observation of the night sky using smaller telescopes and the state of the art 1 meter telescope.

Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris

Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris offers full day group safari tours through Grand Teton National Park. The tour takes you through different parts of the park where wildlife such as beers, moose, deer, elk, pronghorn, and bison can be found. The tour includes a light breakfast, gourmet lunch, assorted snack basket, and hot and cold beverages.

Binoculars are also provided during the tour to help you better spot wildlife. The tour is good for kids as young as 8, but it is an 8 hour tour, so I would recommend making sure they will be able to tolerate a tour of that length.

It is important to remember that wildlife can be unpredictable and spotting them is never guaranteed, even on a tour. Public group tours with a max of 8 people are offered, as well as private safari tours just for your group, with a max of 11 guests.

Catch a Dinner Show at the Playhouse

Catching a show at the Playhouse is a great way to end a day of exploring the Tetons or getting out on the water. Housed in one of the oldest buildings town, this charming dinner theater brings the spirit of the Old West to life with lively, family-friendly musical productions.

The playhouse has a long history in Jackson Hole, first being built as a livery stable in 1915. It would later serve as a post office, Ford dealership, and bowling alley before being converted into a theater in 1948. The playhouse continues to operate today with shows Monday through Saturday most of the year.

A night at the playhouse begins with cocktail hour, followed by dinner, and the show starting after that. The wait staff for the meal will be singing classic country/wild west music while you dine, and the wait staff will later be stars in the show, giving you a very unique experience. If you already have dinner plans, you can get tickets for just the show.

Things to Do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Go Kayaking, Canoeing, or Paddle Boarding

Spending time on the water is one of the most peaceful (and fun!) ways to experience Jackson Hole, and families will find plenty of opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding throughout the area.

Inside Grand Teton National Park, spots like String Lake and Jenny Lake are perfect for beginners and younger kids, thanks to their clear, relatively gentle waters and stunning mountain backdrops. These lakes offer easy access, shallow areas for wading, and plenty of space to explore at your own pace, making them ideal for a relaxed family outing.

For families looking for a bit more adventure, Jackson Lake provides a larger, more expansive setting, while calmer sections of the Snake River offer a chance to paddle alongside incredible wildlife and scenery. Rentals and guided trips are available throughout Jackson Hole, making it easy to try something new even if you didn’t bring your own gear.

Frequently Asked Questions

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