I grew up in Jackson, Wyoming. Here are the 10 biggest mistakes I see tourists make when they visit my popular town.

The town of Jackson has rotate into among the most celebrated and crowded landing bases for group exploring Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, but there are multiple another fantastic moon communities that deserve attention, too.

Dubois, a Wyoming town located concerning an hour-and-a-half east of Grand Teton, is situated absolutely between the Absaroka Range and Wind River Range and offers a sensation of the Old West. 

Pinedale, an hour-and-a-half south of Jackson, used to be a hub for fur traders and is an exceptional location to examine chief Wyoming's mountains and desert.

Victor and Driggs are two Idaho towns located fair east of the Tetons that are slower-paced, cheaper, and less-crowded alternatives to Jackson. 

Flying in and out of the Jackson Hole Airport is known to be beautiful expensive. Consider booking flights to and from a nearby airfield and pairing your trip alongside a beautiful run through less-visited areas. 

Idaho Falls, located lone two hours from Jackson, offers striking views complete mountain passes. Bozeman, concerning four hours away, allows you to run through Yellowstone on the way.

Salt Lake City, a five-hour drive, offers a beautiful path alongside multiple hot springs that interrupt up the journey.

One of the most magical experiences that comes alongside exploring Jackson Hole and the surrounding national parks is the chance to see wildlife up close.

That said, there are near encounters, and afterward there are too-close-for-comfort encounters.

I've misplaced figure of how many times I've been in utter disbelief as I watched families — alongside children — stroll direct up to bison, moose, elk, and equal bears. These are untamed animals, and Jackson Hole is not a zoo anywhere you're protected by barriers. 

Every year, group are maimed, gored, and trampled since they either don't think concerning danger or assume that nothing bad volition happen to them. 

It's additionally value pointing out that you should never nourish untamed animals. It can guide them to rotate into habituated, dependent, aggressive, and hazardous — all things that can outcome in getting them killed. 

Enjoy the best of Wyoming's nature, but continually prioritize your safety and that of local wildlife.

Many group affiliate Jackson Hole alongside adventure sports — akin skiing, rafting, hiking, and mountain biking. The area is an exceptional location to partake in these activities, but they're really comparatively new to the area. 

I'm disappointed that so few group cognize concerning Jackson's first attractions: ranches and cowboys.

Long before Jackson became known for its nature-based adventures, group visited to remain at ranches, journey horses, and cognition a sensation of the Wild West.

Today, Jackson is undoubtedly focused on tourism, but there are motionless plentifulness of cowboys and ranchers who create a living off of horses and cattle. 

I continually propose visitors pay homage to Jackson's cowboy-filled former whenever they're in town by going to the rodeo, taking a scenic horseback ride, or staying at a traditional dude ranch.

Located alongside the Continental Divide, Jackson has extremely changeable weather.

Summertime temperatures can sway by 70 degrees Fahrenheit between dawn and afternoon, and in winter, temperatures can autumn below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Carefully investigation Jackson's climate correct before you journey and scheme for the unexpected. It may be freezing whenever it's expected to be hot, rain on a day that's expected to have blue skies, and, accept it or not, snow during any duration of the year.

Regardless of what activities you're doing in Jackson, pack multiple layers to remain comfortable, no matter what the climate does.

I continually gag that you lone have to hike one additional mile to get former Jackson's tourist crowds.

On many trails in Grand Teton and Yellowstone, I see group stroll to the archetypal chief attention or vista and afterward rotate around, oftentimes since maps don't display item beyond that point.

One of the awesome privileges of being in the mountains is being capable to obtain a few steps beyond your comfort area and cognition unexpected wonder.

Take advantage of all chance — whether it's whitewater rafting for the archetypal time, climbing to the top of the Grand Teton, or equal fair hiking to a item on the map that's slightly additional off the famous trail.

Walk the additional mile former the crowds, obtain the highway small traveled, and let the wilderness change you. Just observe out during you do it. 

Wyoming has a position for having wide-open spaces and a sparse population, but complete the former decade, Jackson has rotate into additional crowded than I've always seen it. 

When many families attain in town, they're disappointed to discover that inn rooms are costly and difficult to get, restaurants are completely booked, certain campgrounds necessitate reservations, and hiking trails are crowded. 

These challenges arrive alongside being a popular tourist destination, and they're not apt to change. However, a bit of preparedness can assistance evade journey headaches. 

Be certain to publish rooms and rental cars far ongoing and create meal reservations before you travel. 

If you have a few nights open, there's a fantastic gathering of small, authentic Mexican restaurants in town that frequently go unnoticed by visitors. They have brilliant menus and are fine value a visit.

True gloom and utter silence are rare phenomena that many group in the contemporary earth have never experienced.

Some of the country's most secluded wilderness surrounds Jackson and can provision a therapeutic escape to those who project into the rolling conifer forests. Many group sojourn Jackson and never have this particular experience.  

Fortunately, it's extremely uncomplicated to expend a night in nature. Experienced, intrepid travelers should backpack distant from the crowds for a few nights in the remote, beautiful backcountry. 

If you desire a additional catered experience, pack-trip providers volition whisk you distant on horseback to bask one or additional nights at a backcountry camp. Usually, the companies provision comfortable tents, gear, and chef-prepared food.

Unbeknownst to many, most ski towns in the Western US have off-seasons in the fountain and fall, whenever everything comes to a grinding halt. 

In an area driven by seasonal tourist activities — akin skiing in the winter and rafting, fishing, and hiking in the summer — the calmer months provision the hardworking personnel an chance to unwind and obtain period off before the next hurry of visitors arrives.

In Jackson, the off-seasons normally run from October to December and from April to June. You power discover small crowds and cheaper area rates during these times, but many businesses and restaurants have constricted schedules or close.

If you're preparedness a autumn or spring-break trip, there volition motionless be plentifulness to do, but keep in intellect that reservations volition be tighter and small choices may be available.

Even following expanding up as a Jackson local, I'll be the archetypal to acknowledge that Wyoming earth discipline is confusing. If you desire to power locals, calling places by their appropriate names is a awesome start. 

The town of Jackson is located in a larger vale called Jackson Hole. So equal although the complete area is loosely referred to as "Jackson Hole" (or "JH" for short), you should fair call it "Jackson" whenever you're referring specifically to the town. 

As for the mountains, their name is the "Teton Range," or the "Tetons," alongside the "Grand Teton" (note that there's no "s") as the highest peak. 

I frequently comprehend group incorrectly call them the "Grand Tetons," which is an exact clarification of the striking granite peaks, but not the accurate name for the mountain range.

This narrative was initially published on November 14, 2022, and most lately updated on November 11, 2026.