Summer Adventures in Jackson Hole

As a snowboarder, skier, and general winter sports enthusiast, I’ve always associated Jackson Hole as a winter destination. However, according to the local Chamber of Commerce, it’s actually busier and more crowded in the summer, with tens of thousands of more visitors each month, stopping in for an extended stay while road tripping across Wyoming to explore America’s showcase national parks of Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

The town of Jackson—not to be confused with “Jackson Hole,” which refers to the broader geological valley region at the base of the Tetons—is the perfect hub for summer adventures, with so many options to experience nature in and around said “hole.” With my snowboard in storage, I became one of the millions of summer visitors, basing myself at the newly reconstructed Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa in downtown Jackson, a beloved, local lodging institution for decades—until it unfortunately burned down in 2019. Now back on its feet after a major overhaul from the ground up, it served as my oasis and basecamp whenever I wasn’t out being active with some of the outdoor excursions that they arranged at the front desk.

Ridin’ the Bull, on the Snake

The Snake River may flow through three states before connecting with the mighty Columbia and continuing onto the Pacific—and it’s at its origins in the state of Wyoming that set the stage for some great whitewater rafting. There are several commercial river runners based in Jackson, and the Rusty Parrot had set me and my group with Jackson Hole Whitewater , a veteran rafting company that has been running the river for over 60 years.

The water levels of the Snake vary depending on snowmelt, weather, and dam release times. With our mid-July timing, we rafted the Snake River Canyon section with relatively low flow, but it was still an exciting ride, paddling and navigating the Class III rapids, with waves occasionally crashing into my face. To liven things up a tad more, our guide Sam taught us his stunt of “riding the bull”—that is, riding off the edge of the tip of the raft without a paddle while holding on for dear life as you maneuver the bumpy ride of the rapids. Some remained upright while others really got knocked off—just like bull riding, from my observations—except falling off the edge of a raft ends with a rush of cold water, which is actually a relief from a really hot summer day.

Take A Hike

With Grand Teton National Park just a 10-minute drive up the road from Jackson, there’s a whole network of trails of varying difficulties and lengths to hike. Popular hikes include easy-to-moderate ones in and around Taggart Lake , the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve , and the postcard-standard Jenny Lake —my favorite loop for a scenic stroll. There are also great hiking trails in the national park’s Granite Canyon , which can also be accessed from the Aerial Tram at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort .

For those familiar with the snowy terrain of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in the winter, you’ll see that many of the bowls for shredding on a powder day transform into beautiful green hiking areas, like Casper Ridge, Holey Moley, and, where I’d gone backcountry snowboarding in the winter , Rock Springs. However, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort isn’t the only local ski area in Jackson Hole; Jacksonians know to go to their local mountain resort, Snow King Mountain on the edge of town—and within the Bridger-Teton National Forest—which also has hiking trails up its slopes. I’d hiked the summit trail to its top, which is also a popular route for trail runners and mountain bikers.

The Cache Creek Trail is another popular trail from town, but wherever you end up, you can be assured that there will be more than enough scenic vistas of wildflowers, alpine meadows, valley views, and/or majestic mountain peaks to satisfy any nature enthusiast—just remember to be “bear aware.”

Two Wheelin’

Unlike hiking, there’s not much MTB action in Grand Teton National Park—although road cycling is permitted and encouraged by the NPS . For mountain biking, the park service actually recommends heading just outside the park boundaries to the surrounding Bridger-Teton National Forest, where you’ll find the moderately difficult Hagen’s Trail on the outskirts of Jackson, and the challenging singletrack Munger Mountain Loop , whose trailhead is about a half hour drive south.

If you’re a downhill type of rider, you might get your fix on Snow King Mountain’s trails—provided you earn your descent by pedaling uphill first. But for those with a true need for speed, i.e., high-speed bicycle lift access, head to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort where they have a sweet bike park accessible by their Sweetwater Gondola . There’s an MTB trail network for all skill levels, from beginners to those who want to catch some air on a gnarly jump track.

Riding the Cowboy Way

Upon arriving in Jackson Hole, it’s immediately evident you’ve landed in Cowboy Country as soon as you see the region’s iconic logo of a cowboy riding a bucking bronco. Much of Jackson’s town center still resembles the Old West, and even the town’s iconic watering hole, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar , has saddles on the barstools. Cowboy culture endures in and around town each summer, from the Jackson Hole Town Square Shootout —a family-friendly, public performance of sheriffs and outlaws, put on by the Jackson Hole Playhouse six nights a week—to the Jackson Hole Rodeo , where cowboys ride horses and the occasional bull three nights a week, in competition.

While the average visitor might not be ready to ride a bucking bronco, you can still get on the back of a much gentler horse for a ride around the countryside. Not surprisingly, a horseback riding tour is a big summer to-do in Jackson Hole, and like whitewater rafting, there are several companies that offer them. The Rusty Parrot organized my horseback riding excursion with the folks at Turpin Meadow Ranch , where my fellow City Slickers and I rode around the greater Teton Wilderness area, following the lead of our cowgirl guide, Masie. On the backs of well-behaved horses—mine was named “Lorato,” short for “Lord Potato”—we admired the Indian paintbrushes (Wyoming’s state flower), the aspen groves, big green meadows, and tall cottonwood trees, all surrounded by views of the Tetons.

Stargazing

After all the cowboys ride off into the sunset, night falls upon Jackson Hole, and on a cloudless, new moon night, the cosmos reveals itself. With its high base elevation, low humidity, and minimal light pollution, Jackson Hole is one of the best places for stargazing with a telescope—or even with the naked eye. However, for a truly “out of this world” experience, ride the gondola up to the summit of Snow King Mountain and head to the newly-opened Snow King Observatory and Planetarium . There, you can nerd out with resident astronomer Joe Zator as he shows you the interactive exhibition hall and the planetarium for projection shows about constellations. However, the “star” of the observatory is its giant, state-of-the-art telescope—the second largest in the state—with the capability to see distant planets and the Orion Nebula closer than you might ever have seen before.

Related: Park City Is a Summertime Playground