Sometimes confused with Jackson Hole, the town of Jackson Wyoming is a mecca for outdoor lovers. Jackson Hole is actually the name of the valley that stretches north from the town past the majestic Grand Tetons and toward Yellowstone National Park.
Inspite of its valley location, this town of about 10000 residents is situated at an elevation of over 6000 feet ASL. This, combined with its inland location, means plenty of snow during winter – perfect for winter sports. Snow King Mountain, a popular, budget friendly ski area, sweeps right down to the base of the town. Twelve mile north you’ll find Jackson Hole Mountain Resort which boasts one of the highest vertical drops in North America.
Summer activities are abundant too. There’s rafting trips, hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, off-roading, fishing, wildlife viewing, golfing – you can pretty much name it and it’s there.
Just going for a drive anywhere through this scenic area is always a pleasure.
Don’t miss exploring the area around the Town Square where some original buildings dating back to the 1800s are still in use. This older part of the town has a real old-west frontier atmosphere.
You’ll find unique shops, art galleries, a museum, taverns, restaurants, and coffee shops in this area.
Jackson Town Square is known for the iconic arches made from 1000’s of shed elk antlers guarding each corner of the small park. The square is particularly beautiful during winter when 1000s of Christmas lights light up the trees and the arches. A small outdoor ice rink provides the opportunity to enjoy some free ice skating in the brisk winter air.
Another must see in the area is the National Museum of Wildlife Art which overlooks the National Elk Refuge.
Every summer Jackson Hole hosts the annual Grand Teton Music Festival. This 7 week festival of classical music runs through July and most of August. Concerts and events are held in the Walk Hall in Teton Village at the base of Jackson Hole Ski Resort (This is north of town, not right in Jackson).
When visiting Jackson it is good to know that the weather can change quickly at the high elevation. While daytime highs in the summer months often flirt with the 80 degree mark, nighttime lows often drop to near freezing. Winter temperatures remain well below freezing most days, and extreme cold conditions can occur, but they are not the norm.
An International airport is located in the valley about 9 miles north of the town.
Too see some neat realtime video streams of Jackson and the surrounding area check out See JH.
