Jackson Hole has long captivated visitors and earned its reputation as one of North America's premier year-round destinations. In the summer, millions of visitors race to experience the natural beauty of Grand Teton National Park and venture farther north to witness the geysers of Yellowstone. Visitors trek hundreds of miles of hiking trails, watch diverse wildlife from grizzly bears to elk, and soak in views of the Teton Range from every angle. As temperatures drop and winter blankets the Tetons in snow, Jackson transforms into a legendary skiing destination attracting people from around the globe. The region's legendary powder and challenging terrain draws everyone from Olympic athletes to families looking for new activities to explore. Jackson’s dual identity—split between summer afternoons in the national parks and winters snow covered days on the slopes—has earned its place as one of the most beloved mountain destinations.
The Jackson Hole region is home to three distinctive ski resorts all with their own personality and charm: the world-famous Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the historic Snow King Resort, and the powder paradise of Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, Wyoming. While Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has legendary runs like Corbet’s Couloir and heart-pumping 4,139 vertical feet of thrilling terrain, its neighboring resorts offer equally compelling, though different, experiences. Snow King Resort, also known as the Town Hill, is a locals’ sanctuary, offering a popular route for daily exercise and uphill travel, the thrill of night skiing under the stars and close by “lunch laps”, all on some of the steepest slopes in North America. Just over Teton Pass, Grand Targhee collects some of the deepest and most consistent powder in the continent, averaging over 500 inches of annual snowfall across its slopes. Whether you are clicking into skis for the first time or searching for untouched powder stashes, these three resorts combine to create North America’s most complete skiing experience, accommodating every ski level from beginner to confident expert. This guide breaks down the unique characteristics of each mountain, helping you navigate the incredible diversity of terrain, atmosphere, and experience that makes the Tetons a true skier’s paradise.
Jacksonhole.com, www.jacksonhole.com/. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
For first-time skiers, sometimes choosing the right resort can make a difference between falling in love with skiing or deciding it's a one and done trip. Each resort offers a unique experience for first timers and provides specific areas to help everyone succeed. While Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s terrain is only 10% beginner level, they offer specific beginner areas, like the Eagles Rest learning area, where gentle slopes and a magic carpet help create a controlled environment and protect you from busier skier traffic. Though it is the priciest option, their world-class instructors and ski school programs make it worth the price tag. Snow King offers the most affordable entry point on lift tickets, and the unique opportunity to ski under lights if the daytime hours of operation just aren’t enough. Although you should be prepared for steeper terrain that would challenge most beginners! For example, the “easiest” run on Snow King is considered to be ranked intermediate at most resorts. Although it does have a beginner zone at the summit, this mountain isn’t as beginner friendly as others. Grand Targhee has soft snow, making falls more forgiving, uncrowded slopes and a laid-back atmosphere. Their Shoshone lift area offers perfectly groomed terrain for mastering those first turns and consistently good snow conditions. Regardless of which resort you choose, finding an area with groomed terrain, good visibility and space to learn those crucial first skills will help you start your ski journey.
Jacksonhole.com, www.jacksonhole.com/. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024. Alyssa. “Skiing Grand Targhee Resort [Family Guide].” The Kid Project, 23 Feb. 2018, kidproject.org/2018/02/22/skiing-grand-targhee-resort-family-guide/.
As a beginner, once you've mastered the basics, each resort has distinct green-run terrain that cater to those trying to build confidence and skill. At JHMR, beginners can take the Teewinot lift to the Werner run which provides a constant gentle slope, perfect for practicing. You can also take the Sweetwater Gondola and go down Pooh Bear and Eagle’s Nest, both offering wide groomed trails and smaller animal trails on the side, perfect for kids wanting to try a higher difficulty and zoom through the trees. At Snow King, runs like the Flying Squirrel and Lower Elk are slightly more challenging and steep then other beginner runs at neighboring mountains. This resort is known for being challenging but creates strong technical skiers because of that. Skiing in the evenings allows a more peaceful environment for the beginners and a way to practice without the daytime crowds. Grand Targhee stands out for beginners because of its Shoshone and Papoose areas that have space and low-angle terrain that is constantly getting resupplied with fresh snow. This resort offers a unique experience for beginners to ski on fresh powder without getting overwhelmed. Some beginners will skip too quickly to more challenging runs, but try to take time to master the basics on the green.
Intermediate skiers will find dramatically different but equally rewarding experiences across these resorts. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s Casper lift and Bridger Gondola serve as a great playground for intermediate skiers. Runs like Sundance and Amphitheater are wide open, ideal for working on your technique. The south-facing parts of these runs have excellent visibility and softer snow conditions but you might want to get there early for untouched snow. At Snow King, intermediate runs get even more challenging and can be referred to as “spicy blues” because they’re more demanding and less forgiving. Trails like Elk and Summit still require sharp edge control, providing great training if you are trying to advance into more challenging terrain. Grand Targhee offers runs like Dreamcatcher and Blackfoot that lets you ski groomed trails with accessible tree runs. Their less crowded slopes mean intermediates are more likely to find untouched snow even into the afternoon. The Sacajawea lift takes you up to more blue runs with groomed terrain and bowls that are more challenging. If you are looking to progress your abilities, start off your day at the bottom of the mountain and gradually work your way up as confidence builds.
Https://www.Washingtonpost.com/Travel/Tips/Ski-like-a-Local/. “Grand Targhee.” PowderHounds, www.powderhounds.com/USA/Wyoming/GrandTarghee.aspx. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Advanced skiers will find thrilling terrain across all three resorts, though each mountain has its own challenges. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s Thunder and Sublette lift areas cater to advanced riders and take you to steep runs that demand precise technique and control. The Thunder lift is best in the morning with groomed trails perfect for high-speed carving while the Sublette area’s terrain can be more challenging and weather conditions should be considered! Since JMHR’s terrain is 50% advanced runs, there is plenty of challenging terrain in-bounds to choose from. For expert skiers, heading out of bounds and into the side country offers an even wider variety of terrain, but should not be considered without proper planning, knowledge, equipment, and reliable partners. At Snow King, advanced skiers face some of the steepest terrain on the Exhibition run, where conditions are challenging during the daytime, and even more so during night skiing. Although this advanced terrain is shorter than the other mountains, its constantly steep runs have earned it a reputation for producing great skiers who have grown up training here. Grand Targhee’s black diamonds offer a different experience due to their challenging terrain along with the deep powder conditions. The Chief Joseph Bowl and Wild Card combine both of these to make the perfect playground for advanced skiers.
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The ski resorts located in the Teton region—Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King, and Grand Targhee—offer an unparalleled combination of terrain, unique challenges and mountain culture that caters to every type of skier. While JHMR may capture global attention because of its legendary chutes and powder bowls, ask any local and they’ll tell you the real magic lies in how these tree resorts complement each other. Snow King offers accessible slopes and night skiing sessions, while Grand Targhee’s consistent powder conditions and laid-back atmosphere provide the perfect counterbalance to JHMR’s intensity. The natural progression between these mountains is remarkable: today you might be mastering your first turns on Targhee's welcoming Shoshone slopes, next month linking turns down Snow King's surprisingly spicy blues under starlit skies, and farther down your ski career, perhaps you'll find yourself peering over the edge of Corbet's Couloir, JHMR's infamous rite of passage. Each resort has claimed its own unique chapter in Teton skiing history, contributing to a legacy that has produced some of the world's most accomplished skiers and continues to draw people in from every corner of the globe. To truly understand skiing in the Tetons, you should experience all three mountains: let Targhee teach you the art of powder skiing, Snow King sharpen your technical skills, and JHMR show you what big mountain skiing is all about.
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