A Jackson Hole family ski trip can be the stuff of magical memories for parents and kids — and we encourage you to take weeklong trips out here each winter with your children for years to come. We’ve broken down the costs of lift tickets, rentals and ski/snowboard lessons at each of the area’s three ski resorts (Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain and Grand Targhee) and also offer up a few suggestions for family-friendly mountain eats and off-the-slopes activities.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
“That Jackson (Hole Mountain Resort) is strictly the province of experts, huckers and powder fiends is a myth whose day is fading, but still perseveres in some corners. The bottom of the mountain is mild and inviting for beginners… and there is expanded intermediate terrain, giving skiers a bastion of blue runs higher up on the mountain.” - Forbes Magazine
With terrain ranging from magic carpets to increased blues and greens from top to bottom, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has something for everyone. The quad Teewinot chairlift offers access to easier slopes as does the Sweetwater Gondola.
The resort provides (upon request) a double-sided Kids Adventure Guide to see the exclusive maps that showcase the children’s names for the entire mountain. Have you never heard of Princess Woods, Mr Toad’s Wild Ride, or the Daily Drop? That’s because you are over 18! Transformer Bumps, Stokeville and the Stash Parks are also hidden playgrounds. Check out the map here
Lift tickets:
• Free for ages 4 and under
• Ages 5 to 12: between $122 and $153 depending upon week/month. Up to 10% off when purchased online 14+ days in advance
Ski/snowboard rentals:
$45 for Juniors age 12 and under; 15% discount when purchased online
Ski school/lessons:
Located at the Sweetwater Gondola mid-station, just a short two-minute ride from the base, Solitude Station is the home of the Mountain Sports School. Lessons have limited inventory and require reservations. Please reserve online or by calling (855) 264-8707.
Lessons start at $350: Pioneer* (ages 3 to 4) Rough Rider (5-7) Explorer (8-14)
*Pioneer lessons are held at the Kids Ranch in the Cody House at the base of the mountain.
Where to eat:
On mountain(s) family-friendly dining can be had at Corbets’ Cabin at the top of the Aerial Tram. The Cabin is famous for its waffles. Please note that the runs to the bottom are mostly for more advanced skiers and include blue, red, and black trails and bowls. Casper Restaurant is a great dining option for the whole family, thanks to its make-your-own burger bar and generously filled burritos. Headwall Pizza and Hot Dog, located at the top of the Bridger Gondola, ranks high with kids, but fresh ingredients, such as Kobe beef hot dogs, make it a parent-pleaser, too. RPK3 is a slope-side spot under the Aerial Tram which makes it a convenient and easy-to-find pit stop to fuel your adventures.
RELATED STORY: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Winter
Snow King Mountain
Wyoming’s— and Jackson Hole’s — first ski resort is family-friendly skiing personified. The “Town Hill" as we locals affectionately call it, offers six super beginner trails plus 13 intermediate ski and snowboarding runs which are distinctly separate from the expert trails. Snow King is conveniently located in “downtown” Jackson Hole — it looms over the town from every angle! — and boasts fewer crowds which equals much more time skiing/snowboarding for everyone. Plus, the parking is free, as opposed to the pricier lots in Teton Village.
Snow King was recently named one of the best "Family Ski Resorts for All Ages," by Trips For All Ages.
The ski resort has three Magic Carpets in various areas to assist skiers and snowboarders with climbing the mountain. Two new Magic Carpets are located at the top of the mountain so visitors can practice on one beginner and one advanced with unsurpassed views while they learn to ski or snowboard. Rafferty is the most beginner chair lift located on the eastern side of the mountain adjacent to the Rafferty Center. This quad lift has a mid-station upload to access the lower portion of the mountain or get off at the top for access to more terrain. The new Sunnyside chairlift ascends 580 verticle feet on the south side of Snow King Mountain and provides access to intermediate ski terrain.
• Ages 5 and under ski free
• Junior tickets for ages 6 to 15 start at $50
• Magic Carpet Day ticket (all ages) $25
Ski/snowboard rentals:
Junior Ski and Snowboard rental packages start at $31 (online price; $39 if purchased in person)
Ski/snowboard lessons:
“Ski and Play” for kids 4 and 5 years old is $200 for two hours of private instruction; lift ticket included. Junior (ages 6 and up) ski lessons cost $350 which includes 2-½ hours of private instruction and a discounted lift ticket. Junior snowboarding lessons (also 2-½ hours and a discounted lift ticket) are $330.
Where to eat:
The King’s Grill is located in the Rafferty Center at the base, steps away from the Cowboy Coaster. It's an all-American restaurant that boasts a special kids menu. Another option for family lunch and snacks is the Panorama House at the summit.
RELATED STORY: Snow King Mountain in Winter
Grand Targhee
Grand Targhee Resort is tucked away on the western slope of the Tetons above Driggs, Idaho, but actually resides in the very last edge of Wyoming. It doesn't get as much fanfare as Jackson Hole Mountain Resort but has long been one of the West's best-kept skiing and snowboarding secrets. With boatloads of snow and a nice, laid-back vibe, one gets the feeling Targhee prefers it this way. The resort is a one-hour drive over Teton Pass/Hwy 22 from Jackson's downtown.
“Grand Targhee Resort is perfect for skiing families. It’s one big small ski resort — big skiing with 2,602 acres of super scenic terrain and over 500-inches of snow annually, with a small base village — nothing fancy but everything you need for a family ski vacation …” - familyskitrips.com
Grand Targhee has a great beginner area that is helpfully set off to the side from most of the main thoroughfares. The Shoshone lift has its own zone of fun green runs to learn on without anybody buzzing by you.
Lift tickets:
• Junior tickets for kids ages 6 to 12 cost between $58 to $83 depending upon the day, week, or month
• Shoshone lift tickets for beginners range from $50 to $59
Ski/snowboard rentals:
Full-day/child package (age 12 and under) $35; half-day package costs $26
Start Me Up Package (full-day; lunch included) is perfect and affordable; ($225) $200 half day) Professional instructors, a dedicated learning area and beginner-specific equipment will grow confidence and skills.
"Powder Scouts" lessons are for those ages 6 to 14. The package includes a Lesson, full-day rental equipment and a full-day Shoshone-only lift ticket.
Child Care:
Grand Targhee has a licensed child care center and it is the perfect place for your child to have fun and play. The program is available to children ages six months to 5 years of age. Qualified care providers will keep your children entertained while you hit the slopes. A private Mini-Moose lesson can help children transition into ski or snowboard lessons if they are ready. Mini-moose lessons and child Care are booked separately. Visit the Child Private Lesson page for details.
Where to eat:
The Slopeside Taco Trailer is a big hit with everyone. Powder Cache Bar & Grill is upscale, yet family-friendly, serving scratch-made food. Wild Bill's Grill inside Rendezvous Lodge is a full-service cafeteria serving lunch and snack options. The grill features authentic handmade Mexican fare, hand-tossed fresh pizza, burgers and fries.
RELATED STORY: Grand Targhee in Winter
Off-the-Slopes Adventures
Riding the Cowboy Coaster and snow tubing at Snow King are truly must-do's whether you are spending a day on the slopes or not.
The tubing area is 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) is $30; $10 for an additional hour.
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. The cost is $30 driver and $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.
Ice skating is another fun and relatively inexpensive activity for the family and Jackson Hole offers not one but two rinks for your skating pleasure. If you have your own skates, you can glide across the ice under the twinkling lights of Town Square and the elk antler arches at any time day or night for almost free ($5). If you don't have skates, the rink is manned from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and noon to 9 p.m. on weekends. During these times, skate rentals ($18) are available in the Stage Stop building. Hot chocolate is free at the Stage Stop, too!
Teton Village's skating rink in the Village Commons at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is open daily from 3 to 9 p.m. Only a $5 fee to skate with your own skates and skate rentals ($18) are available in the warming hut next to the rink.
A one-hour National Elk Refuge sleigh ride is perhaps the most unique and special experience you can have in Jackson Hole (aside from eye-balling the magnificent Teton Range, of course!). Nowhere else in the world but here can you get up close and personal with the thousands of elk who every winter call the National Elk Refuge home.
Horse-drawn sleighs—driven by the cowboys from Bar-T-Five—depart from the National Elk Refuge and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center at 532 North Cache St. between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily from December 16th to April 6th (weather permitting). The cost is $38 for adults and $23 for ages 5-12. Kids 4 and under ride for free.
Let your kids get their cowboy on in and around Town Square where cowboy hats, boots and other Western attire can be found. The whole family can get its sweet tooth satisfied at the old-fashioned Yippy-I-O Candy emporium which carries more than 1,000 types of candy, including mom and dad’s “old time” favorites from their childhood.
RELATED STORIES: Day Off the Slopes? 7 Super Things To Do in Jackson Hole With the Kids, 5 Free Things To Do in Jackson Hole, Finding Family-Friendly Restaurants in Jackson Hole
The Last Word
Skiing with the kids in Jackson Hole is tons of fun, no matter which ski area you choose — or you can ski/snowboard for a day at each! Get ready for precious family time in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.