Jackson, WY Summary

photo by gusto

Approximately 60 miles south of Yellowstone is the town of Jackson. With a population of about 4,700, Jackson has evolved into the consummate ski resort and its economy is solely dependent on tourism.

The rustic town has retained its rugged appeal, notwithstanding the million-dollar homes, since the homesteaders first settled the region in 1884. Its town square is a ribbon of wooden boardwalks, flanked by designer outlets and expensive art galleries. Crowning the square’s corners are the Elk Antler Arches, built from naturally shed antlers from the nearby Elk Refuge.

At an elevation of 6,234 feet and cradled in three directions by the Gros Ventre Range, East Gros Ventre Butte, and Snow King Mountain, the resort offers premier powder snow and the longest continuous vertical ski run in the United States. The Jackson Hole Ski Area at Teton Village has an aerial tram that glides skiers to Rendezvous Mountain in 12 minutes. Snow King is Wyoming’s oldest run and has a vertical drop of 1,571 feet. The Grand Targhee resort boasts the best powder with a base elevation of 8,000 feet and a vertical rise of 2,200 feet, complete with a backdrop of Mt Moran.

The Elk Refuge off Hwy 191 offers sleigh rides from the National Museum of Wildlife Art. A stunningly designed sandstone building, the museum blends into the hills overlooking herds of migrating elk.

The museum also displays a collection of Western wildlife on canvas by the American masters, Frederic Remington, Charlie Russell, and Carl Ringus. The Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum on Mercill Avenue houses a collection depicting early Jackson town history. On weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day the town of Jackson stages a reenactment of a dastardly shootout in the square, along with the Jackson Hole Rodeo at the fairground.

Restaurants in town are excellent and most are centered near, or on, the town square. The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar on North Cache is the place to take a shot of whiskey on stools made of saddles. The bar displays a modest collection of Western paraphernalia including spurs, chaps, and a token bear behind a glass case. Around the corner at the Wort Hotel is the Silver Dollar Bar, where Jackson’s real-life cowboys drink beer at a bar embedded with silver dollars.

Jackson has many outfitters who largely provide hiking and horseback guides in the Tetons. There are also whitewater trips along the Snake River through Barker Ewing Whitewater River Trips. Jackson features the gamut of lodgings from budget motels downtown to the ritzy resorts in Teton Village. There are also several B&Bs within two blocks of the town square.

Jackson Airport is 7 miles north of town along US-191 in the Grand Teton National Park. Shuttles are also available from Salt Lake City to Jackson.