For the enviable combination of great skiing and genuine down-home country amenities, pack your bags and head to western Wyoming. The ski resorts near Jackson, WY offer a mix of diversions for skiers of all ages and skill levels.
Whether you want the convenience of “walking distance” skiing, some of the most challenging slopes in America, or a no-frills, laid-back atmosphere, you can find it there. Wyoming has hot springs too, including several hot springs near Jackson Hole. Granite Hot Springs is located an hour from Jackson and is well worth the trip.
Most people know the area as Jackson Hole, a name that harkens back to the pioneer days. Back then, trappers used the valley as a winter home to get away from the inhospitable peaks of the Grand Tetons. Today, those same peaks are sought out as recreational destinations.
Here are the nearest ski resorts to Jackson, Wyoming in order of proximity:
Snow King Mt. – Jackson, WY: ~1 mile | 15-minute walk
The golden rule of real estate is location, location, location, and the Snow King Mountain Resort has that in spades!
Just a few blocks from Town Square, you can probably walk to the resort if you’re staying in town. The great thing about it is that you aren’t giving up anything to get that convenience. Snow King has all the whistles and bells you could want from a ski resort and then some.
From the base elevation of 6,237 feet, the 3 lifts give you access to the 32 runs and two terrain parks spread out over 400 skiable acres. The summit has an elevation of 7,808 feet giving you 1,571 vertical feet of powdery goodness on the way down.
With 15 expert and 13 intermediate trails, the mountain is somewhat predisposed to better skiers, but beginners have 6 trails of their own that are thoughtfully separated from the others. Monday through Saturday they have night skiing until 6:30 pm.
If you’re looking for more things to do than just skiing and snowboarding, they also offer tubing and a roller coaster. The Winter Cowboy Coaster has almost 1 mile of twists and turns. It will take you right past skiers and snowboarders as you descend the equivalent of a 45-story building.
For dining, you can get something quick at the King’s Grill or King’s Café, but you also have access to all the restaurants in Jackson just a few minutes away. If you never made it out of town on your first trip to the area, nobody would blame you.
402 E. Snow King Ave, Jackson, WY (Map) | (307) 201-5464 | snowkingmountain.com
Jackson Hole – Teton Village, WY: 12 miles | 20 minutes
The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a paradise for skiers, especially those at the upper end of the skill spectrum.
The summit is a daunting 10,450 feet, accessible by quad chair or tram. That leaves you 4,139 vertical feet from the base elevation of 6,311 feet. In between those two points is some of the finest skiing in North America, however, it’s not for the faint of heart.
Ninety percent of the 133 runs at Jackson Hole are intermediate or expert. But don’t be afraid to bring friends or family even if they aren’t quite at that level. They’ll have plenty of fun on the easier trails. Solitude Station sits at the mid-station point of the Sweetwater Gondola. Budding skiers can get lessons, rent skis, and grab a bite to eat.
Most visitors will want to relax at The Teton Village, or just “the Village” to locals, which sites at the base of the resort. Over the years it has grown into a wide array of shops, restaurants, and lodging choices. Despite the numerous commercial outlets, it hasn’t lost its distinct pioneer feel, which is no small trick in this age of commercialism.
3395 Cody Ln, Teton Village, WY 83025 (Map)| (307) 733-2292 | jacksonhole.com
Grand Targhee Resort – Alta, WY: 50 miles | 1 hour
The Grand Targhee Resort is located on the western slope of the Tetons in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest near Alta, Wyoming, accessible from the Idaho side. A bus service connects it with the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and vacationers often make a trek from one to the other for a change of scenery.
“The Ghee” has plenty of light powder conditions and you’ll rarely have to worry about lift lines. The resort is so confident in the experience that they’ll let you exchange your lift ticket for another day if you are unhappy with the conditions.
From the base elevation of 7,851 feet, there are three peaks to explore. With a summit elevation of 9,862 feet, Fred’s Mountain has a vertical drop of 2,176 feet and a variety of runs from beginner to advanced. 70% of them are in the middle range, so there is plenty to do for intermediate skiers.
At Peaked Mountain, one high-speed quad chair takes you to a summit elevation of 9,830 feet. All the runs here are intermediate or better so bring you’re A-game. While Mary’s Nipple has a peak elevation of 9,920 feet, it is hiking only.
One of the things that makes Grand Targhee stand out is its Cat skiing. On Peaked Mountain they have over 600 acres set aside for it. Each of the two snowcats has room for 10 passengers. You can grab an individual seat, or you and nine friends can book a Cat to yourselves and enjoy the open bowls and steep tree pitches to your heart’s content.
Gan grab a quick bite from the general store, enjoy cafeteria-style dining at Wild Bill’s, or have a more relaxed, sit-down meal at the Branding Iron or Trap Bar & Grill. If you’re staying at the resort, they have tons of amenities from the pool and hot tub to board games you can check out from the front desk. They even have dog-friendly rooms.
3300 Ski Hill Rd, Alta, WY 83414 (Map) | (307) 353-2300 | grandtarghee.com
Kelly Canyon Ski Resort – Ririe, ID: 77 miles | 1.5 hours
From Jackson, head west into Idaho for family-friendly skiing and a great place to learn the ropes. Kelly Canyon Ski Resort sits at a base elevation of 5,600 feet. They have 688 skiable acres, 51 runs, 4 terrain parks, and 5 lifts.
Two-thirds of their runs are lit for night skiing which goes until 9:30 PM. The highest lift takes you to 6,600 feet for 1,000 feet of a vertical drop of trails that are mostly beginner and intermediate. There is still a good selection of advanced runs though so even if you have a mixed bag of skill levels in your group, there is something for everyone.
Uphill from the 6,600-foot mark is another 200 vertical feet to the summit. In that area, the resort has its Shred Trails for snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, and fat biking. Kelly Canyon offers 12 miles of groomed terrain that roams uphill, down through trees, and open areas with beautiful views.
If fat biking is something you want to try but don’t have the equipment, you can rent one from them. Be advised, that it takes a couple of weeks after the opening of the season before the trails are firm enough for bikes.
5488 E Kelly Canyon Rd, Ririe, ID 83443 (Map) | (208) 538-6251 | skikelly.com
White Pine Ski – Pinedale, WY: 88 miles | 1.75 hours
Southeast of Jackson is Pinedale, Wyoming, and the White Pine Ski Resort. While this ski area is a little off the beaten path, it offers 350 skiable acres. 2 lifts service 27 trails which are pretty evenly mixed between beginner, intermediate, and advanced runs.
The base elevation is 8,400 feet. Their short lift takes you up to the top of the beginner area while the main lift takes you to the peak at 9,500 feet. From there, you have 1,100 vertical feet of fun.
From the summit, you’ll also have spectacular views of the surrounding countryside including the Bridger Teton National Forest to the North and Freemont Lake to the East.
You can also rent a cabin that is within walking distance of the lifts. Each cabin has two bedrooms and a loft, a well-equipped kitchen, a washer/dryer, a fireplace, and a large wrap-around deck.
74 White Pine Rd, Pinedale, WY 82941 (Map) | (307) 367-6606 | whitepineski.com
Pine Creek Ski – Cokeville, WY:129 miles | 2.5 hours
The Pine Creek Ski Resort near Cokeville, Wyoming is a quaint destination steeped in history. The ski patrol shack at the base of the resort used to be Cokeville’s hydroelectric plant and part of the lodge comes from the old train depot, donated to the resort by Union Pacific.
Over time the skiable acreage grew and in the 70s, a used single-chair lift was added. In 2002, that lift was replaced by a quad lift which now services the 640 acres and 32 runs.
From a base elevation of 6,800 feet, the lift rises to the summit at 8,225 feet for 1,425 vertical feet of skiing. The runs at Pine Creek Ski Resort offer a variety of options for beginner to advanced skiers.
Because of its seclusion, you’ll probably never have to worry about waiting in line but if you like your privacy, they offer the opportunity to rent the entire mountain for the day. Up to 50 people can have exclusive access to the lodge, lift, and mountain. What’s not to love?
4061 Co Rd 204, Cokeville, WY 83114 (Map) | (307) 279-3201 | pinecreekskiresort.com
Whether you want to shred some of the most challenging slopes in North America or just have a fun weekend away with plenty of comforts, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Jackson. Combine downhill skiing during the day with evening shopping and dining without ever leaving town. Or drive a short way for the privacy and laid-back experience of one of the smaller ski resorts.
If visiting Wyoming’s capital city, consider these ski resorts closer to Cheyenne, though most of them lie in Colorado.
8 Closest Ski Resorts by Boise, Idaho