Discover big mountains with your little legends at Jackson Hole

A destination with cowboys, wildlife and an incredible kids’ ski school, Jackson Hole ticks all the boxes for families, discovers Lisa Wagstaff. 

As Jackson Hole, Wyoming’s legendary red aerial tram nears the 3185m peak of Rendezvous Mountain, I am awed at the sheer rock face to my right. Somewhere below me is Corbet’s Couloir, an expert-testing chute that hosts the kings and queens of Corbet’s annual event. Unlike the expert queens backflipping into the gully, I opt for an equally famous sugary waffle at Corbet’s Cabin. The terrain from the tram is expert only, with the Rendezvous Bowl leading to my favourite glades, but anyone can ride the tram up to feast on waffles and the view before riding it back down. That’s the beauty of Jackson Hole… there is something for everyone.

Little legs, big achievements

The 1012ha resort is a playground for skiers and snowboarders. While Rendezvous is where you’ll find a buffet of black runs, there are intermediate runs too. Après Vous Mountain has a slew of blue runs for intermediates, and there are gentle green runs around the Eagle’s Rest chair, Teewinot Chair and the mid-station of the Sweetwater Gondola to give kids confidence. Jackson Hole’s kids’ ski school, Kids Ranch, accelerates young skiers’ progression through world-class instruction, adventure passports and sticker booklets. Kids are awarded stickers for skiing different parts of the mountain, with trail names like Magical Princess and Kangaroo Bumps adding to the fun. While many resorts require children to be six before they can snowboard, Jackson Hole will get them strapped in and started from three. Ski and snowboard lessons for tiny tots involve learning turns in the dedicated Fort Wyoming themed playground and indoor activities including balance drills to build ski and board skills.

Wild Wyoming

While Teton Village is the dining and accommodation hub at the base of the resort, the town of Jackson is 20 minutes away. It is luxe cowboy country with boardwalk-style footpaths, art galleries, western stores and real estate agencies advertising ranches costing upward of $25 million. There are plenty of fun places for kids to enjoy when they’re not skiing or snowboarding, including an outdoor coaster and tubing at Snow King Mountain right behind the town.

The Greater Yellowstone area, which includes Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park, has the largest population of grizzly bears outside Alaska. But with Yogi currently in hibernation, Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris offers the next best thing – a chance to spot the rest of Wyoming’s wildlife out strutting their winter stuff on a half-day tour through Grand Teton National Park.

We’re picked up early by wildlife photographer and guide, Greg Harlow. He’s been spending time in the park since he was a child and has an incredible eye for spotting the elk, moose, bison, coyotes and wolves that roam these parts in winter. Greg is an expert at entertaining kids with his endless list of animal facts and tales of bear encounters during summer. Watching Wyoming’s wildlife roaming freely across the snow-blanketed landscape makes for a moving morning.

Jackson Hole Report Card

Info: jacksonhole.com

Stay: In Teton Village, ski-in, ski-out Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole is the closest you can stay to the slopes. There’s a heated swimming pool and outdoor hot tubs, and kids will love the complimentary s’mores and steaming hot chocolates.

Do: jacksonholewildlifesafaris.com

Pass: The full Ikon Pass includes seven days at Jackson Hole.

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This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. Subscribe to the latest issue here.

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