July 2025

We spent eight action packed days in the Jackson Hole, WY area in late June early July. While we had a specific major activity planned (a wilderness horse pack trip) we let ourselves be surprised by what else there was to discover near Jackson.

The Idea:

For as long as I’ve know it’s a thing, I’ve dreamed of heading into the wilderness on horseback. Nothing but sky, land, mountains, horses and some special people. However, this is a relatively unusual and expensive thing to do.

The Strategy:

We started on Google looking for horse pack trip opportunities. Our availability was limited so some trips just weren’t an option and I also was determined to focus our trip on the Grand Tetons/Bridger Teton National Forest and save Yellowstone for another time. After we laid in the horse pack trip against our available dates, we started talking about how many other days we might like to spend in the area and what we could budget in terms of time and money.

We then booked flights and hotels for the non-pack trip nights and packed our suitcases. A day or so before we left, I did some other research and found the whitewater rafting trip we ended up taking. The rest we left up to chance.

Planning Tips:

I picked up a few tips to help you plan your own Jackson Hole/pack trip vacation. Learn from my experience!

1. Start early. This is an expensive area with limited capacity for lodging and activities and the weather is can be unpredictable – the start of the spring/summer season can vary widely depending on the winter snow pack and conditions. Most the pack trips we were interested in were well booked in the February/March timeframe when we started looking.
2. Budget carefully. Jackson Hole is the playground of the uber rich (the joke among locals is that the millionaires have been pushed out by the billionaires). Hotels are quite expensive, although meals were reasonable. Due to the size of the airport, flights can be expensive, so track carefully before purchasing to get the best rate.
3. Dress for the weather. Meaning, dress for all temperatures! During our trip in late June, the overnight lows were in the 40’s but the daytime highs up in the 80’s. The elevation and low humidity meant the air temperature was very sensitive to the sun. Don’t forget your sunscreen – you will fry yourself just walking around town if you don’t!

Reviews:

We had some wonderful experiences in Jackson Hole. Here I share a bit about the places we visited and our thoughts on the choices we made. Obviously you can read reviews in many places as you plan your vacation – these are just my two cents.

Activities

Triangle X Ranch

The keystone of our trip was a four day wilderness horse pack trip. We had an idea what we were getting in to but mostly were just going for it. About 30 minutes after a pickup at the Jackson Hole airport, we were firmly planted in an authentic, realistic dude ranch sitting just across the flat from the royally impressive Grand Tetons. There’s a clear reason the ranch has been used as the backdrop for an impressive slate of westerns.

Overall, the accommodations were rustic (we stayed in the main lodge), the food was simple, but the people made Triangle X shine. Families have been coming here annually for decades – to let their children frolic in the vastness of Wyoming without the distraction of screens, thanks to the thoughtful leadership of patriarchs Harold and now Robert Turner. If you’re looking to connect with Wyoming as was done centuries ago, Triangle X will not disappoint.

Dave Hansen Whitewater Trip

An impromptu addition to our trip, we had a marvelous time rafting the Snake River. We’re experienced whitewater rafters, but this trip was definitely a fantastic introduction to whitewater rafting and was safe for all ages. The staff were professional and friendly and the guides did a great job teaching us about the river and the landscape, and helping all guests have a great experience.

This is about a half day activity, morning temps are chilly, so I recommend getting a wetsuit. Afternoon trips are busier so plan accordingly. I sincerely hope you get the opportunity to have Dorothy as your bus driver. I learned an incredible amount about the area, the landscape, and more!

Snow King Observatory & Planetarium

Perched above the Snow King mountain resort, is the new Snow King Observatory & Planetarium. We visited for an evening event that included the peaceful gondola ride to the summit, a planetarium show, and viewing through the center’s large and not-so-large space telescopes.

Our host for the evening shared significant details, not only about the space phenomena we were able to see, but about the telescope itself. A highlight of the night was learning about how the scientists control the telescope, analyze images, and share incredible images of space. Despite a lovely time, there were a lot of people in our group and it was hard to get a chance to use all of the telescopes and the event (about and hour and a half) felt rushed, as another late night viewing group was scheduled right after ours.

Lodging

Inn on the Creek

This charming bed and breakfast is an unexpected gem. Looking at the photos online, I thought it was going to be “fine”. Clean, comfortable, and somewhat cozy. However, the lovely charm of the inn and it’s grounds were lost to me online. The lobby and breakfast area are furnished in warm yet practical style, with an envious rock/tile entryway. Walking around the back of the building you find a strip of thick grass cut with a flagstone pathway alongside a burbling creek.

Our room was on the second floor, up stairs, so be sure to ask for ground for accomodations if that’s more your style. Our room featured a massive bed flush with pillows and a neat and tidy bath. The people made Inn on the Creek an extra memorable place to spend the night – cheerful and welcoming, the host was happy to share a homebaked cookie, dinner recommendations, and even offered to help lug the bags upstairs. Highly recommend!

White Buffalo Club

We stayed one night at the White Buffalo Club, which was modern with a moody lobby and entrance. The real plus of this hotel was the basement gym and fitness center. Even if you don’t spend the night here, if you’re looking for a chance to keep your fitness schedule on track, I highly recommend coming here with a guest pass.

The gym featured individual shower/restrooms and cool temps to make working out easy. I loved it down there.

Our room was a suite – complete with kitchen and living/dining area connected to a bedroom/bathroom with huge bed and expansive counter. The disappointing part about this stay was the tremendous noise from above. Every movement of people upstairs was as though they were in our room. And someone started vacuuming the room above around 8:30am. Won’t stay here again.

Food & Drink

Roosevelt’s

After perusing the food options and deciding on our taste for lunch, we decided on Roosevelt’s. Themed around Teddy Roosevelt and his work exploring (and somewhat exploiting) America’s West, Roosevelt’s offers upscale food options wrapped in a cozy yet relaxed vibe. I’m a sucker for a restaurant with a bottle of water on the table I can serve myself.

I strongly recommend the salads – layered with texture, flavor and color, I felt refreshed and ready for more exploring after a solid time here. Opt for the balcony in great weather or simply enjoy the expansive open seating downstairs for a warm glow.

Silver Dollar Bar

Recommended to us by the innkeeper at Inn on the Creek, our first night in Jackson we ate at the Silver Dollar Bar, and experience that did not disappoint. A traditional and historical feature of the city, we enjoyed modern and tasty dishes with high-end cocktails that didn’t break the bank.

Tucked into the historic Wort Hotel, the Silver Dollar Bar featured live music and a full dance floor. The place was buzzing with activity and was a fantastic start to our vacation. Check it out!

Million Dollar Cowboy Bar

The big tourist thing to do in Jackson is to visit the infamous Million Dollar Cowboy bar. While we were obviously the oldest people in the entire place, it was an experience worth the stop. We sided up to the bar, slid into our Western saddles and soak in the history, the youth, and drinks made in record time. We danced, we laughed, we left before the crowds.