Jackson Hole: Ski Resort Guide

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Guide

Vertical drop: 4,139 feet (1,261 m) — the greatest continuous vertical drop of any US ski resort Skiable terrain: 2,500 acres Trails: 131 named trails — 10% beginner, 40% intermediate, 50% expert Lifts: 13 lifts including a signature 100-person aerial tram (the “Big Red Tram”) and 7 high-speed quads Peak elevation: 10,450 feet (3,185 m) — Rendezvous Mountain summit Season: typically late November through early April

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort sits at the base of Rendezvous and Après Vous Mountains in Teton Village, 12 miles from the town of Jackson, Wyoming, and adjacent to Grand Teton National Park. It is consistently rated the top expert ski resort in North America, though the intermediate and beginner terrain is more limited than at resorts like Vail or Park City. The resort is owned by Ikon Pass partner Alterra Mountain Company.

Lift Ticket Prices

As of the 2025–26 season:

Walk-up day ticket: approximately $225–$285/day depending on date (as of 2026)
Advance purchase (7+ days): approximately $150–$200/day (as of 2026)
Ikon Pass (full season): approximately $1,049 (as of 2026); 7 unrestricted days at JHMR plus unlimited Ikon resorts
Ikon Base Pass: approximately $749 (as of 2026); 5 days at JHMR with holiday blackouts
Multi-day advance ticket (5 days): approximately $700–$850 depending on dates (as of 2026)

The aerial tram (the Big Red Tram to Rendezvous Mountain) is included in the standard lift ticket — no additional fee.

Best Season

December through February has the best powder conditions. The Tetons receive significant snowfall from Pacific moisture and Wyoming’s continental cold preserves dry powder conditions. March and April have long days with excellent skiing on a deep base. Early season (November–December) can be thin; the resort typically opens with limited terrain.

Jackson Hole does not participate in the Epic Pass system — guests at Vail Resorts properties nearby cannot use their Epic Pass here.

Getting There

Nearest airport: Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) — 9 miles from Teton Village and the resort. Direct seasonal flights from many major US hubs (Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, New York). JAC sits inside Grand Teton National Park — the only commercial airport inside a US national park — and its runway length limits the size of aircraft; park entry fees apply ($35/vehicle as of 2026) if entering the park from the airport.

From Salt Lake City: approximately 5–5.5 hours via I-15 north and US-89 north through Logan and Bear Lake.

Shuttle: Start Bus runs between the town of Jackson and Teton Village approximately every 30 minutes; free to ride. Salt Lake Shuttle runs from SLC Airport to Jackson approximately twice daily for approximately $95/adult one way (as of 2026).

Parking: Free parking at Teton Village. The village is compact enough to walk between hotels, restaurants, and the tram base without a car.

On-Mountain Lodging

Teton Village is the base village — a purpose-built resort village directly at the ski mountain.

Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole: ski-in/ski-out; from approximately $900/night peak season (as of 2026)
Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa: ski-in/ski-out; from approximately $450/night peak season (as of 2026)
Hotel Terra Jackson Hole: adjacent to the aerial tram; from approximately $500/night peak season (as of 2026)
Alpenhof Lodge: a smaller European-style property; from approximately $350/night peak season (as of 2026)
Hostel at Teton Village: the most affordable option in the village; dorm beds from approximately $85/night; private rooms from approximately $180/night (as of 2026)

Jackson town (12 miles, free shuttle):

Chain motels from approximately $150/night in peak season (as of 2026)
The Wort Hotel on the Town Square from approximately $280/night (as of 2026)
Airbnb options throughout Jackson from approximately $180/night (as of 2026)

Beginner Suitability

Jackson Hole’s beginner offering is limited. The Après Vous beginner area has gentle terrain accessible from the Aerial Tram base, and the Children’s Learning Center is well-staffed. The ski school’s Learn to Ski package runs approximately $175/adult (as of 2026). However, the mountain’s overall character — steep, with significant expert-only zones and significant vertical — means beginners who ski off the designated beginner area can quickly find themselves in difficult terrain. We recommend beginners with zero to two days’ experience choose a more beginner-friendly resort first.

True beginners who enrol in full ski school programmes and stay on groomed beginner terrain will have a good experience, but should be aware that the mountain does not “pull punches” the way Keystone or Ski Santa Fe might.

Expert Suitability

Jackson Hole is the premier expert mountain in North America. Key expert features:

Corbet’s Couloir: one of the most famous expert ski runs in the world — a narrow couloir requiring a 10–20 foot air entry to access; visible from the tram
Rendezvous Bowl: 700 acres of open expert bowl accessible from the summit tram
Cirque and Hobacks: vast expert terrain on the back face with multiple steep chutes
Alta, Casper, and Sublette bowls: sustained steep pitch with powder pockets days after a storm
Jackson Hole Air and Style: annual big air event in late February with top-level freeski athletes

Off-Mountain Town

The town of Jackson has one of the most photogenic central squares in the West — elk antler arches at each corner of the town square are made from shed antlers collected in the National Elk Refuge. The National Museum of Wildlife Art (5 miles north on US-26/89) charges approximately $15/adult (as of 2026). The National Elk Refuge offers sleigh rides through the elk herd in winter for approximately $35/adult (as of 2026).

Key dining in Jackson:

The Blue Lion: fine dining Wyoming; dinner from approximately $65/person (as of 2026)
Persephone Bakery: best breakfast in town; full breakfast approximately $12–$16 (as of 2026)
Merry Piglets: Tex-Mex; dinner from approximately $20/person (as of 2026)
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar: historic saloon on the town square with live country music most evenings; cover approximately $5–$10 (as of 2026)

Practical Notes

Jackson Hole has a strict avalanche patrol and regularly closes terrain after major snowfall for control work. Morning openings of expert terrain can be delayed 1–2 hours after big storms — check with ski patrol before heading to the tram early on powder days.
Grand Teton National Park surrounds the resort — snowshoe tours from Teton Village into the park run approximately $50/person (as of 2026). Wildlife (moose, bison, wolves) is frequently visible along the road between Jackson and the resort.
The elk population in the National Elk Refuge peaks at approximately 7,000 animals in winter — easily visible from the north end of Jackson town.
Ski and boot rentals in Teton Village run approximately $65–$80/day for standard gear (as of 2026); demo performance skis approximately $85–$100/day.