Winter

The answer depends on what type of skiing suits you, though anytime between December and March guarantees a good time on the slopes. December is often very quiet leading up to the holidays, and early snowfall may dictate what lifts are open. January is often when each resort is fully open with ample snow coverage , but it’s also the coldest month on average. Historically February is the snowiest month, which tends to draw more skiers in their hunt for powder days. March is a great month because the sun gets stronger, leading to hints of spring skiing and lunch on the mid-mountain deck. April means few crowds and, in most years, skiing on “corn” snow. Beloved by locals as powder, corn gets its name from the fact that the shape of the flakes of snow look like kernels of corn. Snow turns into corn when it’s exposed to multiple warm, sunny days followed by cold, clear nights.

Downhill Skiing

The coldest-ever recorded temperature in Jackson Hole was -62 F on December 20, 1924. While such low temperatures do happen, they’re rare. Jackson Hole’s average high temperature between November and March is around 22 F. Annually, Jackson Hole has about 50 days and nights during which the temperature dips below 0 F.

Because of the geography of the valley, on cold days we often get a temperature inversion; this means that temperatures rise as you gain elevation. It might be 2 F at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort but 25 F at the 10,450-foot top of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort tram.

When talking about snow in Jackson Hole, it’s important to differentiate between the valley floor (which includes all the towns in the valley) and the mountains that ring the valley. Annually, downtown Jackson gets an average of about 105 inches of snow. Between 8,000 and 10,450 feet up at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, though, the average annual snowfall is almost 460 inches, about 38 feet.

Ski season dates at the three resorts in and around Jackson Hole are set by the USDA Forest Service (because the resorts are on forest service land). Jackson Hole and Snow King Mountain Resorts, which are both in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, open around Thanksgiving conditions permitting. Grand Targhee Resort, in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, usually opens the week before Thanksgiving. For backcountry skiers, skiing may start a bit earlier conditions pending.

Yes! While most winter visitors come here to downhill ski, our snow is just as good for nordic skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and snowmobiling. Winter is also a great time for wildlife watching since it’s the only time you can take a sleigh ride into a herd of elk in the National Elk Refuge, and wildlife can be easier to spot because animals’ thick, dark winter coats contrast with the bright, white snow.

Our winter is cold enough for outdoor ice skating rinks, and ski lifts aren’t just for skiers. The views from the top of the tram, Bridger gondola at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort or Snow King’s gondola are the same whether you’re attached to skis, a snowboard, or neither. Visit jhnordic.org for the latest information about winter recreation including grooming schedules, GPS maps, rental information, and trail reports.

Learn More

The answer depends on the type of vacation you’ve got planned. If you’ll be skiing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort every day, Teton Village at the base of the resort will be the most convenient. From here, you won’t have to drive to the slopes, or at all. If you want to check out downtown Jackson, you can take a START Bus the 12 miles from Teton Village to Jackson.

If you plan to ski for several days and do other activities like snowmobiling to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, hot springing, fat biking, or sleigh riding in the National Elk Refuge, both downtown Jackson and Teton Village are convenient home bases. If you want maximal amenities — shopping, restaurants, bars, art galleries — or plan to do your skiing at Snow King Mountain Resort, stay in downtown Jackson. Downtown to Teton Village is about a 30-minute drive or START Bus ride, while everything else is usually a short walk. (Snow King is only five blocks from the Town Square.) There’s no lodging or camping open in Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park in the winter.

Places to Stay