5 Epic Ways to Adventure in Jackson Hole This Summer

Jackson, Wyoming is a crown jewel of the Lower 48 known worldwide for its natural beauty, wild, wide open spaces, and iconic cowboy culture that gives visitors a taste of all that makes the Mountain West so special. Surrounded by mountain ranges—most famously the Teton Range, a dramatically jagged section of the Rockies—the eponymous valley is the ideal gateway to Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the renowned Snake River, and the legendary Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Here you’ll find a Mecca for outdoor recreation, with world-class snow sports in the winter and fly fishing, biking, hiking, and climbing in the summer.

Even though winter’s powder-filled ski season might steal the spotlight, the summer season, June through August, is truly one of the best times to visit Jackson Hole. Under the big, bright Wyoming sky there’s seemingly endless opportunities to satisfy your appetite for adventure, regardless of experience level, with no shortage of high alpine vistas.

With so much to see and experience in Jackson, it’s tough to pick where to start. So we connected with the locals, tapped our own past experiences, and dug deep into the laundry list of offers on tap at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to cue up the following guide to the best summer activities to enjoy in Jackson. So pack up the car and take a roadtrip with the whole family, or give your adventure-curious pals the chance to build their confidence and get hooked on the outdoors. Below is plenty of inspiration for both, and more.

5 Adventurous Things to Do in Jackson This Summer

Ride the Aerial Tram to the Summit

Contrary to what you might think, the lifts don’t all stop spinning after ski season’s closing day, because there are still sweeping views and wide-open summits to explore even without snow-covered trails to slide down. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort keeps its iconic Aerial Tram running well through the summer to make sure visitors can continue to have access to the mountaintop. One ticket to the tram sends you up 4,139 vertical feet in 12 minutes flat for a scenic ride that’s tough to top. From the Tram you’ll gain a unique vantage point of the valley floor and surrounding mountain ranges when they are covered in a lush layer of green, rather than white. Once there, spend some time taking in the scenery via the Grand Teton Skywalk, a new viewing platform with heroic vistas, or use it as a launching point for nearby hiking trails.

Get Vertical on the Via Ferrata

If you’re keen to give rock climbing a try, but not totally ready for the full challenge of scaling a cliff face—or just looking to get vertical with more than just your belay buddy—the Via Ferrata at Jackson Hole delivers all the heart-pumping adventure you’d want with a low risk, high reward approach. Italian for “iron path”, via ferratas are a network of steel cables and rungs that allow climbers of varying abilities to climb and traverse the rock face while remaining safely attached with a harness and carabiners with the help of a guide. The Jackson Hole’s via ferrata system has a little bit of everything, from beginner-friendly routes perfectly suited to your less adventurous travel companions, and expert climbing routes with big exposures and challenging terrain.

Mountain Bike at the Bike Park

Yes, summer downhill laps are just as much fun as the winter ones when you can ride trails as scenic as these. Here you’ll find miles of trails catering to a variety of riders, so even if you’re with a group of mixed-level bikers, everyone will get the chance to experience the thrill of riding in the Tetons. From beginner-friendly options with winding bridges and mellow berms to technical trails packed with single track, features, and steep pitches, and flowy trails with views on views, there’s a little something for everyone. If not traveling with a bike, hire one for the day from the resort’s impressive fleet of rental bikes (adaptive bikes are also available.)

Hike to the Deck

Looking for dinner with a view? Or a reward. A scenic five mile hike up the Wildflower Trail will lead you to The Deck, a mountaintop outdoor restaurant and bar with an impressive alpine vista. Hikers can take the Bridger gondola down for free—a round trip ticket costs $15 and will get you there and back without the need to break a sweat.

Explore the Valley By Bike

With 56 miles of smooth, paved bike paths, cycling through the valley is a truly peaceful way to explore Jackson Hole from a new vantage. Trails begin at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and meander through Grand Teton National Park, loop down into the valley and into the town of Jackson and back up. To cover more ground, we recommend renting an e-bike and doing the whole route before lunch. And if single track is more your speed, rent a mountain bike and head out onto the 115 miles of mountain biking trails in and around the valley. Whatever your flavor, there’s nothing like exploring an area like Jackson on two wheels.

LEARN MORE