The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Jackson Hole's summit reaches 10,450 feet, dropping 4,140 vertical feet to a base at 6,310 feet across 133 runs spread over 2,500 acres in the Teton Range. Terrain splits 42 per cent advanced, 38 per cent intermediate, 16 per cent expert and just 4 per cent beginner, the steepest terrain mix of any major Wyoming resort. Average annual snowfall reaches 458 inches. The resort operates on the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective, giving members access alongside dozens of partner resorts worldwide.
The 4,140-foot vertical drop ranks among the largest in North America, accessed via the Bridger Gondola and the original aerial tram, rebuilt since its 1966 debut. Corbet's Couloir, one of American skiing's best-known expert lines, drops off the summit ridge into Rendezvous Bowl. With only 4 per cent of terrain rated beginner, the mountain is built around advanced and expert skiing rather than progression terrain. Cody Bowl and the Hobacks add further steep, ungroomed terrain accessed from the tram summit.
The base area sits in Teton Village, a purpose-built village at the mountain's base rather than an existing town, with lodging, dining and shops clustered around the tram and gondola bases. Jackson itself lies 12 miles away, connected by a regular shuttle and Highway 22. The resort's reputation for difficulty and deep snow draws a mix of destination visitors and serious skiers rather than a beginner-focused crowd. Grand Teton National Park sits immediately north of the resort boundary.
Ikon Pass holders get a set number of days at Jackson Hole depending on pass tier, while Mountain Collective members receive two days regardless of tier. Adult day tickets range from 175 to 225 US dollars depending on date, with a five-day flex pass at 799 dollars. The resort suits experienced and advanced skiers seeking steep terrain and deep snow over a beginner-friendly progression mountain. Its position at the base of the Tetons, immediately south of Grand Teton National Park, gives it a mountain-town rather than purpose-resort feel despite the built Teton Village base.
4,140ft
Vertical
133
Runs
2,500 acres
Skiable
38ft
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
133 runs across 2,500 acres skiable
Jackson Hole spreads 133 runs across 2,500 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 42%, with 5 beginner runs to find your feet and 77 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
133
runs
133 runs across 4 grades
Beginner5 runs · 4%
Intermediate51 runs · 38%
Advanced56 runs · 42%
Expert21 runs · 16%
Time it right
When to visit Jackson Hole
The 2025-26 season at Jackson Hole ran from 28 November 2025 to 12 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season typical for the resort's high elevation. The mountain's summit at 10,450 feet supports a long operating window relative to lower Wyoming ski areas. Early and late-season dates can shift based on snowpack, though Jackson Hole's high base snowfall makes early opening more reliable than at lower-elevation resorts. The season length places it among the longer in the region.
Average annual snowfall of 458 inches makes Jackson Hole one of the snowiest major resorts in the Rockies, a result of its position catching Pacific storms crossing the Snake River Plain before reaching the Teton Range. The mountain's steep, advanced-leaning terrain holds natural snow well given limited grooming on off-piste sectors like Cody Bowl. Base depth builds through midwinter, supporting the terrain that remains ungroomed through the season. Snowmaking plays a secondary role given the resort's naturally high snowfall totals.
January and February typically bring the deepest natural snowpack and the most reliable powder conditions in bowls like Cody and the Hobacks. Holiday periods from Christmas through New Year bring the heaviest crowds and longest tram queues of the season. March offers a balance of strong snow totals and improving weather, extending into the 12 April 2026 close. Early and late-season visits carry more variable conditions given the terrain's advanced-leaning, less-groomed character.
Jackson Hole does not run night skiing on its main mountain, unlike the town's smaller Snow King Mountain nearby. The resort's event calendar includes competitions tied to its expert terrain reputation, though specific festival programming varies by year. Grand Teton National Park's proximity adds wildlife-watching and other winter activities beyond the ski area boundary. The resort's identity centres on steep, deep-snow skiing rather than the groomed-cruiser or festival-driven programming found at some competitors.
Season 2025 - 2026
28 Nov 2025
Opens
12 Apr 2026
Closes
135
Days open
38 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Jackson Hole, and where to stay
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort sits in Teton Village, Wyoming, in the Teton Range of the Rocky Mountains, immediately south of Grand Teton National Park. Base elevation is 6,310 feet, with the summit reaching 10,450 feet across a 4,140-foot vertical drop. The resort occupies the western edge of the Jackson Hole valley, with the Snake River running through the valley floor below. Teton Village itself was purpose-built around the resort base rather than growing from an existing settlement.
Jackson, Wyoming, lies 12 miles southeast of the resort, the valley's main town with the bulk of area lodging, dining and services beyond Teton Village itself. The town retains a Western character alongside its ski-tourism economy, with a historic town square and elk antler arches as local landmarks. Grand Teton National Park's southern boundary sits just north of the resort, giving the area frequent wildlife including elk, moose and bison. The broader Jackson Hole valley sits at high elevation itself, at roughly 6,200 feet even before reaching the mountains.
Highway 22 and Highway 390 connect Jackson to Teton Village, a straightforward 20-minute drive absent heavy snow or traffic. A regular START bus shuttle runs between Jackson and Teton Village throughout the ski season, reducing the need to drive daily. Winter driving conditions on the valley roads are generally well-maintained given the volume of ski traffic, though mountain passes further from the valley can close in storms. No direct highway crosses the Tetons themselves; Teton Pass to the south links Jackson to Idaho's Teton Valley.
Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) sits 11 miles northeast of Teton Village, inside Grand Teton National Park, the only commercial airport located within a US national park. The airport offers seasonal service to roughly 20 cities during ski season, more than most comparable Wyoming resorts. Idaho Falls Regional Airport offers an alternative roughly two hours away by road, sometimes with lower fares. No rail service reaches Jackson Hole, and the START bus shuttle only covers local valley routes rather than longer regional transfers.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Jackson Hole, powered by Stay22.
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Jackson Hole Lift System
Jackson Hole runs 14 lifts: one aerial tram, two gondolas, nine quad chairs, one double chair and one surface lift, serving 133 runs across 2,500 acres. The aerial tram remains the resort's signature installation, rebuilt since the original 1966 version that carried 62 passengers and a conductor. The Bridger Gondola provides a second route from Teton Village to the mid-mountain area. This is among the largest lift networks of any Wyoming resort by lift count.
The aerial tram accesses the 10,450-foot summit directly from the Teton Village base, the resort's primary vertical connector. The Bridger Gondola serves as an alternative, lower-capacity route to a similar upper-mountain area, useful when tram queues build on powder days. Nine quad chairs distribute skiers across the mountain's advanced-leaning terrain, with the sole double chair serving older, lower-traffic terrain. The surface lift covers the limited beginner zone, reflecting the mountain's 4 per cent beginner terrain share.
Skiers base out of Teton Village and ride either the tram or the gondola to reach the upper mountain, where the lift network fans out across Rendezvous and Apres Vous peaks. The two peaks are connected by traverses and lower-mountain lifts rather than a single continuous run. Cody Bowl and the Hobacks, accessed from the tram summit, sit outside the groomed lift-served network in parts, requiring hiking for the furthest terrain. The layout rewards skiers willing to traverse and hike for Jackson Hole's most difficult terrain.
The current aerial tram replaced the original 1966 installation, upgrading capacity and reliability while preserving the same summit-to-base line. Quad chairs have progressively replaced older, lower-capacity lifts across the mountain since the resort's mid-1960s opening. Investment has focused on maintaining high-capacity access to steep upper-mountain terrain rather than expanding beginner infrastructure. Queue times on the tram remain a known bottleneck on powder mornings, given its role as the primary access point to the summit.
14lifts across 5 types
1
Aerial Tram
2
Gondolas
9
Quad Chairs
1
Double Chair
1
Surface Lift
Jackson Hole lift system
Jackson Hole is served by 14 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Jackson Hole intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.