5 Things to Do During Winter in Jackson, WY
Jackson, Wyoming is an amazing place to visit during the summer, but visiting during winter is truly something special! There is no shortage of activities or places to explore right within the town. 3 recommendations I have for traveling to Jackson are to rent a car, embrace western fashion, and be prepared for COLD temperatures.
There truly is something for every type of person to do during winter! Here are my favorite things we did while there in February!
Take a Sleigh Ride through the Elk Refuge
The elk refuge in Jackson is home to the largest migrating elk heard in North America. This is a spectacular thing to do during the wintertime in Jackson. Each sleigh can seat around 16 people and beautiful draft horses pull them. The sleigh will take you up close to all the elk living at the refuge and you will get gorgeous views of the Tetons. The drivers are incredibly knowledgeable about the elk and the Jackson/Teton area. We were surprised by how much we learned during this 1 hr trip. The refuge is home to more than elk and you have the chance to see bald eagles, bison, bighorn sheep, and if you get fortunate…wolves! It’s $35 for Adults and $20 for children. Tickets are purchased in the parking lot of the National Elk Refuge & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. They no longer provide blankets, so bring your own as it will be chilly!
Dance the night away at Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is one of Jackson’s most famous places to go! It is located right in the town square and has an iconic revolving sign on top that is perfect for photo ops! The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar has live music and dancing almost every night. The drink prices are surprisingly low and you can belly up to the bar on one of the saddle bar stools. This place gets very busy Thursday-Saturday, so if you want a table to listen to the music go at least 45 minutes before the music starts. The full calendar of music and events can be found on their website.
Go Snowmobiling to Granite Hot Spring
Snowmobiling is an absolute must-do while in Jackson. We used Teton Tour Company and went on the Granite Hot Springs tour. It was about a 4-hour tour through the Bridger-Teton National Forest. We went on trails through the forest and then spent 45 minutes in the hot spring. I thought I would be freezing after getting wet, changing back into snow clothes, and then snowmobiling the 10 miles back to the van, but the hot water warms your internal body up so much that it was actually warmer on the way back! We did the 7 am tour and I highly recommend going early as we had the trails and hot springs to ourselves plus morning has the highest chance of seeing wildlife. Teton Tour Company has many different tours to choose from. There are also other full-day snowmobiling tours that go into Yellowstone National Park.
Ski Jackson Hole - Play at Teton Village
Jackson Hole is one of the most difficult ski mountains in North America. The runs are very steep and the weather can be unpredictable. They get tons of powder and the mountain remains uncrowded (in comparison to Colorado resorts) most days. Additionally, the food served at the chalets is some of the most delicious ski resort food I have ever had! After a day of shredding (or if you are not a skier but ready for a good time) head to the Mangy Moose in Teton Village. They have great après ski deals and live music every day from 3 pm-6 pm.
Snowshoe in Grand Teton National Park
A trip to Jackson isn’t complete without stepping foot in the National Park. A beautiful and minimally strenuous snowshoe hike is Cottonwood Creek. This is a fairly popular trail that has many turnoffs if you want to extend (or shorten) your hike. We brought our own gear, but there are many places within the town to rent snowshoes or cross-country skis.
Food/Drink Recommendations in Jackson:
Bin22- Tasty tapas and wine. A small no-reservation restaurant located in the back of a liquor store.
Jackson Hole Winery (Tasting Room) - The actual winery closes in the winter but they have a small tasting room in the town square. The wine is great and the staff is so friendly and welcoming.
Cafe Genevieve- Best breakfast in Jackson!!!!
Teton Tiger - Funky Thai restaurant with specialty cocktails. Make sure to make a reservation on Resy as they get very busy!
Silver Dollar Saloon - A classic historic stop in Jackson! One bar has 1,392 uncirculated Morgan Silver Dollars built into it. They have a full menu and live music several nights a week. Read the full history of the bar on their website.
