Meet Snow King Mountain, the "Town Hill" and — at a spry 85 — the oldest ski area in Wyoming. In winter, Snow King Mountain Resort is the place for uncrowded skiing, snow tubing and ski instruction right in the town of Jackson. You can even take a roller coaster ride up and down the snow-covered mountain. And, most excitingly, Snow King's new 8-person gondola debuted during the 2021-22 season! In addition, a new "Sunny Side" of the mountain area also opened up in 2022, complete with its own lift. Snow King was also recently named one of the best "Family Ski Resorts for All Ages," by Trips For All Ages.
Fun Fact: In the summer of this year a new, state-of-the-art Snow King Observatory will open at the summit with a Plane Wave telescope that will be available for public observation via on-site staff. The 4,400-square-foot observatory will feature a 35-seat planetarium space theater and a 65-seat auditorium for group presentations and learning opportunities. Adjacent to the 24-foot dome is a rooftop observation deck where portable telescopes can be set up for additional viewing during astronomical events. It will be open for the 2024-25 ski season with fun programming and events.
Quick Facts
- Where? The intersection of Snow King Avenue and Cache Street. A few blocks south on Cache from the Town Square. Can't miss it.
- When? From December 8, 2023, through March 24, 2024, the mountain is open for skiing from 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; night skiing is available from 4-9 p.m. on Fridays December 22nd, January 19th, February 9th and March 1st; tickets are just $10 to ski "under the stars." The Sunnyside Lift closes daily at 3 p.m.
- Ages: Anyone who can ski or snowboard or wants to learn
- Cost: At $85 for a full day, lift tickets are more than $100 less than the price of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Kids ages 5 and under ski free.
- Activity packages include a $140 Winter Big King Pass ($125 for juniors age 15 and under) with unlimited rides on all open winter activities plus the Cowboy Coaster, King Tubes and skiing or snowboarding.
- Rentals: Ski packages (skis, boots, poles) start at $35 for kids and $48 for adults
- Intensity: Snow King has the steepest ski racing course in the lower 48 states, which draws U.S. Ski Team members to train. On the other hand, there's a whole separate side of the mountain with blues and greens for beginners.
- Highlights: The parking for the resort is free! Also, on New Year's Eve, there is a torchlight parade from the top of the mountain (the country's longest-running citizen torchlight parade), followed by fireworks; a magnificent and memorable sight to behold.
- Phone: 307-201-KING (5464)
- Website: snowkingmountain.com
Skiing
Snow King first established Jackson’s reputation as a ski town in the 1930s and holds the crown as Wyoming’s first ski area. With 500 skiable acres, a terrain park, three lifts, a brand-new gondola and 41 named runs, plus three Magic Carpets, Snow King is a world-class ski resort right in the heart of Jackson. Open seven days a week, daily from 9 a.m., and the “King” also offers night skiing under the lights once a month from 4 to 9 p.m. on Fridays December 22nd, January 19th, February 9th and March 1st.
Skiing-wise, Snow King is much smaller than its big brother Jackson Hole Mountain Resort down the road in Teton Village, but that doesn't mean it's any less steep or fun. We love Snow King for the easy access, no lift lines, family-friendly atmosphere and ability to ski at night.
Best of all, Snow King is just blocks from Jackson's Town Square and literally looms over Jackson for a classic Western ski town experience. It's a great place to ski if you are staying in town and want to walk (or join the locals on the START Bus) for a more casual day or just a few runs. It also offers the only night skiing in Jackson Hole, perfect for if you spent the day doing something else but need to get those turns in!
Get lift ticket prices, hours and other details on the Snow King Mountain website.
Winter Play
Acting as the winter sports hub right in the town of Jackson, Snow King is also home to activities like snow tubing, mountain roller coaster riding and the Jackson Hole Moose Hockey team. Come enjoy a day off from the bigger slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, or an evening of post-skiing activities.
Scenic Gondola Ride
Not a skier or snowboarder? Do you simply want to take a ride on the gondi to the summit of Snow King and marvel at the unprecedented, 360-degree views of Jackson Hole and the Teton Range — and on a clear day you can even see all the way to Yellowstone National Park? You can do just that. Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., scenic gondola rides for all ages cost $30.
Snow Tubing
King Tubes is a guaranteed hit for the whole family and real excitement under the lights until 7 p.m. There are three smooth, groomed lanes; a Magic Carpet takes you up the hill. You'll find the long chutes and giant backstop of the tubing area right at the base of Snow King. Kids must be at least 42″ tall to ride and there’s only one person per tube allowed.
Hours: Monday to Friday from 2 to 8 p.m.; Saturdays 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost for one hour of tubing (all ages): $30; $10 for an additional hour.
Locals Tip: One of the tubing lanes is usually slicker than the other, so take a few test runs before those high-stakes inter-family races begin!
Cowboy Coaster
Jackson Hole's most exciting attraction, the Cowboy Coaster, zips, twists and turns through nearly a mile of loops, curves and drops—some as high as four stories tall. Open year-round, wind screens are installed on every cart in winter for added protection against the typical seasonal elements. Cost: $30 driver, $20 passenger. This is a thrill not to be missed! Hours: 2 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Locals tip: If you are a brave passenger, keep your hands up in the air going down and around the curves and hills, regular roller coaster-style. And after your ride, don't forget to check out the photo that is taken of you on the last turn; priceless!
Terrain Parks
Snow King has enhanced its terrain parks.
- Old Man’s Flats Park: This slope-style park has intermediate and advanced features including ramps and jumps. It is located on the Old Man’s Flats trail off of the Cougar lift.
- Base Area Rail Park: The base area rail park has a variety of rails, jumps and slides to test your skills.
- Terrain Park access is included with a lift ticket.
Jackson Hole Moose Hockey
Jackson Hole Moose Hockey, brings hard-hitting, full-check hockey to the Snow King Sports and Events Center on many Friday and Saturday nights throughout the winter season. With a hefty home schedule, Moose Hockey is a great way to get out on the town with the whole family for a night of fun! Go Moose!
Mountain Eats
Snow King is host to two eateries located right at the base of the mountain. The King's Grill is a family-friendly, All-American restaurant in the Rafferty Center, steps away from the Cowboy Coaster. It is open daily for lunch or dinner, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and frequently has specials on food and/or adult beverages. At the summit, the Panorama House serves food and beverages from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hayden’s Post, located within Snow King Resort Hotel, features authentic Western cuisine and has an expansive deck with heat lamps—perfect for watching your fellow skiers and 'boarders on the slopes. It's a favorite après spot as well with discounts on drinks and food.
Make sure not to stay out too late if there's snow falling. Someone's going to be up early for those first tracks—it should probably be you!
The Last Word
Come ski at new-and-improved "King" in the winter and you'll marvel at the laid back environment. After-school local race programs seem to take over the lower front-side racing area, which can make for pretty fun spectating. Our favorite time to go to Snow King is after taking the morning off or showing up for the unique experience of skiing under the lights once a month. An hour of pell-mell family tubing before dinner is also a great way to blow off steam.
And have we mentioned the lack of crowds as opposed to the other ski area in Jackson? That's worth the price of admission — which is also $100+ less!
Locals tip: Snow King hosts a spectacular New Year's Eve celebration with a torchlight parade down from the summit, followed by fireworks. It's one of the longest-running citizen torchlight parades in the country! Don't miss it if you are here for the holiday season.
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