50 Things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming & Grand Teton National Park

This post was originally published 5/1/2014; updated 5/30/25.

There is something to be said for the delicious stride of habit’s familiarity.  Some can’t fathom traveling to the same place twice; there is indeed a great deal to see in the world. But even among those with the most severe case of wanderlust, many have a favorite destination – a place whose familiar embrace is longed for. Jackson Hole, Wyoming is that place for me.  The wonder and enchantment of the mountains and the valley is constant. It’s the intrigue generated by the continual motion of rotating sensory stimulus that causes me to travel there again and again — it’s never the same twice.

Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole overlap (one of only two airports in the United States in a National Park – JAC). I’ve broken down the list by what’s technically in Grand Teton National Park and what isn’t (the Jackson Hole list). With a map and this list, you’ll see some of the best the area has to offer. NOTE: the items in the numbered list below are in no particular order. So do some planning before leaving home to make your comings and goings somewhat efficient.

Jackson Hole Area

1. Hotels: There are many.  My favorite is The Wort. It’s historic, it’s downtown Jackson, and their hospitality is fantastic.

2. Try Pica’s Mexican Taqueria restaurant across the street from Albertsons in downtown Jackson. There’s a few other shops next to them. They have great Mexican food, terrific margaritas. Mmmmm..the baha fish tacos are my fav.

3. Breakfast at Bubba’s – biscuits and gravy, pancakes – best I’ve ever had. Great omelets.

4. Breakfast, lunch, or snack at The Bunnery (downtown Jackson)

5. The Blue Lion Restaurant. Have the stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer and the lamb shank for an entree (downtown Jackson).

6. Take in one of the many festivals. The Fall Arts Festival is in September. Film Festival in September/October. Music Festival in July and August. 

7. Persephone Bakery.   Love the smoked salmon and cucumber toast. 

8. Shop at Skinny Skis and Teton Mountaineering in downtown Jackson – my two favorite shopping excursions in the world – not an exaggeration.

9. Walk inside Atelier Ortega’s chocolate shop, then try to walk out empty-handed. Or the dessert boutique, CocoLove.  Chef Oscar Ortega is a Master Chocolatier. 

10. For fun, unique, home interior shopping, Elevated Living aka Stockton & Shirk.

11. Chicken pizza and any micro brewed beer at the Snake River Brewery

12. Try on and or have made an authentic, beaver fur, cowboy hat at Sing Hat Company.  Christy Sing crafts works of art for the head. 

13. Get pictures at the top of Teton Pass (8,341 feet) in front of the famous Teton Pass sign with the cowboy pointing towards Jackson Hole (especially fun during the winter when the snow covers most of the sign). Approximately 11 miles west of Jackson on Highway 22 and just up the mountain from Wilson.

14. Speaking of Wilson: grab a cappuccino and bagel at Pearl Street Bagels. My fav is the everything bagel with sundried tomato, olive oil cream cheese + an oatmeal craisin cookie on the side! Eat them on the picnic tables out back where you can watch Fish Creek flow past your feet. Then, walk across the road and take a look in the General Store. PS There’s a Pearl Street Bagels in the town of Jackson but it lacks something (even though the food is just as good).  

15. See the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Just north of Jackson on 89/191.

16. Drive to the Curtis Canyon Overlook. In Jackson behind the hospital, take the Elk Refuge Road. It’s a dirt road that makes a forced turn to the north – after that change of direction, take the first road east. Wind your way into the backcountry until you see the sign and the overlook. Great place. I once photographed an eclipse from there. And big horn sheep.

17. If you know how to flyfish, then wet a line here (get a license first). If not, take a lesson or a guided trip. Check out Jack Dennis (now Grand Teton Flyfishing) or several other flyshops for their offerings.

18. Take a drive on the Moose-Wilson road. Make sure you have binoculars for the wildlife. North of the airport on 89/191, take the Moose Junction exit. Before you get to the Grand Teton National Park gate, you’ll see a sign for the road on your left.

19. Wine tasting at Dornan’s; pizza at Dornan’s; cookies at Dornan’s (inside the grocery shop). North of airport on 89/191, take the Moose Junction exit. Dornan’s has a sign just past the turnoff.

20. Raft down the Snake River (through the Canyon). Several outfitters to choose from. 

21. Take a sleigh ride in the winter on the Elk Refuge.

22. Order an Arnold Palmer wherever you eat (it’s a tea/lemonade mix and very Jackson).

23. Tram ride to the top of the Teton Village mountain (Rendezvous Mountain) and hike down, or NOT. Have a waffle at 10,450 feet with peanut butter and bacon, or any number of toppings at Corbett’s Cabin.

24. Enjoy lunch or simply a walk through at Teton Village’s Mangy Moose Restaurant. The Idaho trout fish and chips are memorable as is the full sized stuffed moose hitched to a sleigh hanging from the ceiling.

25. Chuckwagon dinner with the Bar-T-5.

26. Hike to the top of Snow King (ski mountain in downtown Jackson) and if you can’t do that, take the ski lift – GREAT aerial view of Jackson.

27. Hike up High School Butte and watch the handgliders take off.

28. Find the Sleeping Indian (hint: Sheep Mountain). You can also spot it as you exit the airport.

29. Find the town square’s live webcam and wave to friends at home (stand on the corner near the stagecoach office and wave to the cam on top of Jackson Trading Company); sit in the town square, admire the elk horn arches (all naturally shed), and people watch.

30. Attend the Shootout every summer evening at 6:00 p.m. (downtown Jackson) and ride in a stagecoach. 

 31. Find an art gallery brochure and take a self-guided tour around the galleries located on the Jackson town square.

32. Attend a rodeo.

33. In the winter, attend the World Championship Hill Climb (snow mobile races and stunts — great fun).

Grand Teton National Park

34. Walk through Jackson Lake Lodge. The wall of windows at the back facing the Teton Mountain Range frame a spectacular view. The wildlife watching at dusk from the outdoor patio at the back is fantastic. Highway 89/191 just north of Jackson Lake Dam.

35. Enjoy a meal on the patio at Signal Mountain Lodge – the mountain of memorable nachos and the tequila lime chicken quesadilla are a must. Add insult to injury and get the chocolate pecan bourbon pie to go and one of their palm-sized homemade cookies at the checkout counter.

36. And since you’re already there, drive to the top of Signal Mountain. Teton Park Road south end of Jackson Lake. And yes, you CAN drive to the top.

37. Take the boat across Jenny Lake and walk up to Inspiration Point/Hidden Falls. Teton Park Road.

38. Take a hike. There are many from which to choose and for all fitness levels. From the Taggart Lake hike of 4 miles to the all day not-for-the-faint-of-heart Amphitheatre Hike (rated very strenuous), there’s something for everyone. Taggart Trailhead – Teton Park Road just north of the Moose Entrance gate; Amphitheatre Trailhead – Teton Park Road, Lupine Meadows, north of Taggart trailhead and south of Jenny Lake.

39. Drive to Antelope Flats for wildlife viewing. Road turns East off of Highway 89/191 just north of Moose Junction. Watch for a sign.

40. See the barns on Mormon Row for a classic view of the Tetons. 13 miles north of Jackson on 89/191, go east at the Gros Ventre Road turnoff, then head north on the first road that junctions. Mormon Row is in the southern area of Antelope Flats.

41. Find Cunningham Cabin. Built in 1885 by J Pierce Cunningham on his homestead, a New Yorker who helped settle Jackson Hole and encouraged its preservation for future generations. It’s an eastern style dog-trot cabin whose location and setting will have your imagination whirring.

42. For scenery and wildlife viewing, find Schwabacher’s Landing. It’s a photographer’s dream. Highway 89/191 north of Moose Junction.

43. The same goes for Oxbow Bend. Highway 89/191 north of Moran Entrance Station and south of Jackson Lake Junction.

44. Find the spot where the 1953 Western film, Shane, was filmed (near Kelly).

45. See the Gros Ventre (Grow Vaunt) Slide Geological Area. On June 23, 1925, 50 million cubic yards slid off the side of Sheep Mountain damming the Gros Ventre River and creating Lower Slide Lake. Highway 89/191 just north of Jackson and south of the airport, turn East onto the Gros Ventre Road. Follow the paved road past Kelly.

46. Stand in awe at the Snake River overlook made famous by Ansel Adams. Highway 89/191 north of Schwabacher’s Landing, south of Triangle X Ranch (all marked).

47. Locate the Old Patriarch Tree (about a 15 minute walk off the road). 89/191 north of Moose Junction. If you want the GPS coordinates, leave me a comment and ask me for those!  I’ve got better coordinates with the May 2025 trip!

48. Stay at a dude ranch. Any dude ranch.

49. Take a horseback ride. Anywhere.

• Climb Grand Teton.  

#33

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