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Grand Targhee's summit reaches 9,918 feet, dropping 2,067 vertical feet to a base at 7,851 feet across 97 runs spread over 2,602 acres in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Terrain splits 33 per cent beginner, 37 per cent intermediate, 25 per cent advanced and 5 per cent expert. Average annual snowfall reaches 464 inches, among the highest totals of any resort on the Wyoming-Idaho border. The resort operates on the Mountain Collective pass, giving members two days of access alongside more than 20 other partner resorts.
The mountain sits on the western, leeward side of the Teton Range, catching storms that Jackson Hole's eastern slopes miss, which explains its outsized snowfall relative to its modest 2,067-foot vertical drop. Intermediate terrain dominates at 37 per cent, spread across groomed runs on the mountain's two main peaks. Advanced skiers get access to glade skiing and steeper pitches, while the five per cent expert terrain sits near the summit. The 97-run count is spread wide rather than steep, favouring cruising over technical descents.
Grand Targhee opened on 26 December 1969 as a joint venture of east Idaho investors trading under Grand Targhee, Inc., formed in 1966. The resort takes its name from Chief Targhee, a 19th-century leader of the Bannock people. Idaho Governor Don Samuelson formally dedicated the resort on 2 February 1970, six weeks after its opening lifts began running. The base village remains small and low-key compared with Jackson Hole, an hour and a half away by road.
Mountain Collective pass holders receive two days at Grand Targhee as part of a network spanning more than 20 resorts worldwide. Full-day adult tickets range from 103 to 110 US dollars depending on date, with a season pass priced at 849 dollars. The resort suits skiers prioritising snow quantity and a quieter base area over Jackson Hole's steeper terrain and larger crowds. Its position on the far side of the Tetons from Jackson keeps visitor numbers lower despite the exceptional snowfall.
Total Runs
97
Total Area
2602 ac
1053.0 ha
Grand Targhee runs six lifts: four quad chairs, one six-passenger chair and one surface lift, serving 97 runs across 2,602 acres. There is no gondola or tram, unlike neighbouring Jackson Hole. The six-pack is the newest and highest-capacity installation, while the four quads distribute traffic across the mountain's beginner and intermediate zones. This lift count is modest relative to the resort's acreage, reflecting lower visitor volumes than larger Teton-area resorts.
The six-passenger chair provides the fastest uphill capacity on the mountain, a relatively recent addition compared with the original 1969 Bannock and Shoshone lifts. Quad chairs handle the bulk of intermediate and advanced terrain access, spread across the mountain's two main peaks. The surface lift serves the beginner learning zone near the base area. Fixed-grip and detachable technology are both present across the network, unlike the fully detachable systems at some larger competitors.
Skiers base out of the Targhee Lodge area and ride quad chairs to reach the bulk of the mountain's 2,602 acres. There is no mid-mountain lodge separating major sectors; lifts return to the same base village. Advanced and expert terrain, concentrated on the five per cent of runs rated expert, sits accessible from the same lift network as beginner terrain. The layout keeps the mountain simple to navigate despite its size.
Grand Targhee's lift network has grown from the original two lifts installed for the 1969 opening to six today, added incrementally over more than five decades. The six-passenger chair represents the most significant capacity upgrade in the resort's recent history. Snowmaking and grooming investment has been a lower priority than at drier resorts, given the mountain's naturally high snowfall. The base area retains its smaller-scale character relative to lift investment made at larger Teton-area competitors.
Total Lifts
6
Lift Types
3
The 2025-26 season at Grand Targhee ran from 22 November 2025 to 12 April 2026, a roughly twenty-week window that ranks among the longer seasons in Wyoming. The resort's high base elevation of 7,851 feet supports an extended operating window compared with lower Wyoming ski areas. Opening and closing dates shift slightly year to year based on early and late-season snowpack. The nearly five-month season reflects the mountain's position as one of the higher-elevation resorts in the region.
Average annual snowfall of 464 inches ranks Grand Targhee among the snowiest resorts in the Rocky Mountain region, a product of its exposure to Pacific storm systems crossing the Snake River Plain before hitting the Tetons' western slopes. This orographic position gives Targhee notably more snow than Jackson Hole, roughly 40 miles away on the range's drier eastern side. Base depths build steadily through midwinter given the volume of natural snowfall. Snowmaking plays a secondary role compared with resorts reliant on machine-made cover.
January and February typically deliver the deepest natural snowpack, consistent with the broader Rocky Mountain storm pattern. March and early April often extend the season with spring storms layered on a deep base, a pattern the 12 April 2026 close date reflects. Early season conditions in late November can be thinner before the snowpack builds. Midweek visits generally carry lighter crowds than weekends, given the resort's reliance on destination rather than day-trip visitors from Jackson.
Grand Targhee does not compete on event programming to the extent some larger resorts do, with its calendar centred on reliable powder skiing rather than festivals. The resort's position 42 miles from Jackson by road, but accessible only via Driggs, Idaho, limits casual day-trip crowds relative to Jackson Hole. Mountain Collective pass holders add to visitor numbers during their two allotted days per season. The base area's smaller scale, relative to Jackson Hole's Teton Village, keeps the atmosphere quieter despite the resort's snowfall reputation drawing visitors from further afield.
Current Season
2025 - 2026
Opening Day
11/22/2025
Closing Day
4/12/2026
Days Open
142
Grand Targhee sits in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest on the western slope of the Teton Range, in Alta, Wyoming, though the resort is reachable only from the Idaho side of the mountains. Base elevation is 7,851 feet, with the summit reaching 9,918 feet. The resort lies 42 miles northwest of Jackson as measured directly, but no through road crosses the mountains in winter, making the practical route far longer. Its position on the leeward side of the Tetons defines both its access and its snowfall.
Driggs, Idaho, sits just 12 miles from the resort and serves as the nearest town of any size, with Idaho Falls a further hour's drive beyond that. Jackson, Wyoming, lies on the opposite side of the range and is reached via a roughly 90-minute drive around the mountains rather than the shorter direct distance. The Teton Valley on the Idaho side has a quieter, more agricultural character than the tourist-driven town of Jackson. Both valleys share the Teton Range as a backdrop but differ substantially in development and visitor infrastructure.
Idaho State Highway 33 and local roads provide the main access route from Driggs, climbing into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest to reach the resort. Reaching Grand Targhee from Jackson typically means driving via Teton Pass to Victor and Driggs on the Idaho side, rather than a direct route across the range. The drive from Jackson takes roughly 90 minutes under normal winter conditions. Winter driving on the approach roads can include snowpack and icy sections, standard for a high-elevation forest route in the Tetons.
Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), inside Grand Teton National Park, is the nearest airport with scheduled commercial service, roughly 90 minutes from the resort by road. Idaho Falls Regional Airport offers an alternative roughly 83 miles away, often with more affordable fares than Jackson's seasonal-driven pricing. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana sits within four hours' drive for visitors combining multiple destinations. No rail or scheduled bus service reaches Alta, Wyoming, or Driggs, Idaho, making a rental car the standard way to arrive.
