Our Ideal Activities for the Adventure Lover Visiting Jackson Hole
Get your outdoors on in Jackson Hole. There are so many fun activities on the water, in the mountains and in the air that Jackson is a true outdoor lover’s playground. Below are some options for those of you who crave adventure, adrenaline and just plain awesomeness. It might be hard to fit in everything, but this will give you a great idea of what things you can do during summer & fall in Jackson Hole. In fact, we live here, and we’re still discovering new activities to do. So if you have a taste for adventure or like to call yourself an adrenaline junkie, the following adventurous activities in Jackson Hole are right up your alley.
8 Ways To Get Your Adrenaline Pumping in Jackson Hole
Go Paragliding
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (located in Teton Village) as well as Snow King Resort (located in Jackson) offer tandem paragliding rides from the summit of their mountains. These scenic flights can be tailored to your thirst for adrenaline, so if you want to do flips and sharp turns or just want a mellow scenic flight they are more than happy to provide that for you. Contact Jackson Hole Paragliding for more information.
Take a Whitewater Rafting trip
There are plenty of great local rafting companies that can take you down the Snake River. They all run the same stretch of river for their Whitewater and Scenic trips, so they’re pretty comparable. If you stay with us we can provide you with a discount on your whitewater rafting trip with Dave Hansen Whitewater. You may choose between a scenic trip, whitewater or combination of the two, plus you may also choose to be in an 8 man raft as opposed to the larger 16 person rafts. The 8 man rafts are more exciting due to their smaller size. All of the raft companies provide life jackets, paddles and helmets. Wetsuits and booties are available at an additional cost.
Kayak the Snake in Duckies
The Snake River meanders through Grand Teton National Park south through Hoback Canyon. The portion before the canyon is mellow, but once the Snake hits the canyon it turns into class 3 whitewater (with one class 4 section). If the 8 man whitewater rafts don’t provide enough excitement for you, going down the canyon in a Ducky is your best bet for an adrenaline rush. Duckies are inflatable kayaks that come in singles or doubles. A double is a little more stable, not to mention you have a partner in crime to scream at as you get doused by the rapids.
You can rent duckies at Rendezvous River Sports or Leisure Sports. You’ll need two cars so that you can spot one car at the take-out point. One option is to put in at the Astoria boat drop, just south of Hoback Junction (giving you a longer float with a few miles of flat, relaxing water, before the rapids) and take out at Sheep Gulch. The typical put in for just the 8 mile whitewater section is at West Table. Beware that the river does have some nasty rapids, so make sure that you are confident in reading the water and have good paddle skills. Rafting and whitewater kayaking are dangerous sports, so make sure that you are completely confident in your abilities before taking Duckies down the Snake River.
Rent Stand Up Paddleboards or Canoes
Depending on how adventurous you are, there are some great lakes to paddleboard on or canoe. Check out our posts on Stand Up Paddleboarding in Jackson Hole and Canoeing on Leigh Lake. Both provide nice options for a leisurely outing on the water.
Take a Hike
There are a few great day hikes that we recommend in Grand Teton National Park. You can find these listed in our previous post 3 Great Day Hikes in Grand Teton National Park. If you need to summit something, Jackson Peak and Sleeping Indian are good options in the Gros Ventres Range. These peaks are located across the valley from Grand Teton National Park and provide gorgeous views of the Teton Range.
Mountain Bike
There is plenty of smooth single track around Jackson. For a nice long loop try Cache to Game Creek. Shadow Mountain is also a fun bike ride. You bike a dirt road up to the top and then take a fun single track trail down through the woods back to your car. For a shorter afternoon ride Putt Putt is a fun trail. Most of the trails in the valley are cross country mountain bike rides. If you are looking to ride some good downhill trails try the bike park at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort or head up to Teton Pass. Friends of Pathways have maps of the trails area.
Ride a Horse
I mean, you’re in the Wild West, right? One of the best ways to take in the scenery is high atop the back of a horse. There are a variety of companies that offer different sorts of rides. For a short easy ride, check out Spring Creek Ranch. For a longer, more adventurous ride look no further than Mill Iron Ranch. Cowboy up and jump into the saddle for an unforgettable adventure.
Eat Waffles at Corbet’s Cabin
Ok so this one isn’t exactly an adrenaline-pumper, but we had to include it. To get there, catch the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort tram to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain. The ride offers killer views, and if you get lucky you may catch a glimpse of some wildlife too (read: moose/fox/bear).
The waffles at Corbet’s Cabin atop Rendezvous Mountain are pretty much a must do/bucket list thing. If you like it simple, get “The Trad” – homemade waffles with brown sugar butter (insane), and if you like it a little indulgent, try “The Gateway” – featuring creamy peanut butter and smoked bacon (are you drooling yet?).
Up top, there are lots of options for a short hike & photo-worthy vistas around Rendezvous Mountain (if you want to burn off those delicious waffles). For the more adventurous, take the 13 mile hike roundtrip hike to Marion Lake, located in Grand Teton National Park behind Rendezvous Mountain.
So there you have it – a few ideas for your next trip. We could keep going, but these should get you started. Hopefully you’ll be able to pencil in at least one of these activities during your stay in Jackson Hole!