Outrageous Things To Do in Jackson Hole
We want to let you in on some secrets about what makes Jackson Hole, Jackson Hole. There’s a special ethos around here that sets us apart: It’s a combination of Western grit and letting loose in our natural rugged playground.
Our ways can be off-beat and some of these things only 2% of the population will ever try, which is why we like to think of them as “be-wild-ering.”
Actions speak louder than words so to let our walking do the talking, read on for a taste of what makes our corner of the West so gripping and unique. These outrageous events and things to do truly say more about the dynamic nature of Jackson Hole than a brochure ever could.
1. Shoot-Out on Town Square
Let’s start with a bang. Every night (except Sunday), a 65-year Wild West tradition lives on with the Town Square Shootout throughout the summer season.
Gather in front of the elk antler arches Memorial Day through Labor Day to see the Cache Creek Posse stand up to Clover the Killer, a hardened outlaw and no-good, hoss-thief. Sure, a museum exhibit could cover it, but we like to rope visitors right into the action with the live reenactment.
Traveler Tip: Level up and try your hand with cowboy action revolvers, historical battle rifles and modern sporting firearms with Jackson Hole Shooting Experience, probably your only chance to handle these Wild West weapons that most will never touch.
You can also throw a hatchet, axe or tomahawk at the Mountain Man Toy Shop, inspired by the rich outdoor heritage and lifestyle of Jackson Hole.
2. Jackson Hole Pack Trips
If you’re ready to dive in and experience a true taste of the Old West, Jackson Hole Pack Trips will be the Lewis to your Clark, winding you through Wyoming’s vast wilderness on horseback.
We include this in our outrageous round-up because simply put: These trips are not for everybody. The terrain is remote, removed from amenities and requires the fortitude that riding horses over mountains day in and day out may truly test. But if you’ve got the desire to get out of the box, then a multi-day guided trip camping, fishing and hiking in our rugged playground will forever endear you to our neck of the woods.
3. Snow King Zip Line
Sure, other ski resorts have zip lines, but it wouldn’t be Jackson Hole if we weren’t home to the steepest zip line in North America (pictured at the top). The brave of heart can harness their courage by flying down the face of Snow King Mountain with views of Jackson Hole and the Tetons. Start at the top with the beginner section to test your confidence. Then, take the plunge into the steepest span. Finally, at a 31% grade, ride down the final span over to the base of the mountain!
4. Figure 8’s Competition
Window-less cars with custom paint jobs battle it out in what feels like real-life bumper cars every summer at the Figure 8 races at the Teton County Fair. This always rowdy event closes out the summer in typical Jackson fashion, as high-speed racers rush to complete the most figure 8s each heat. Tickets for this rough-and-tumble event sell out almost as soon as they go on sale, July 1.
Traveler Tip: The Teton County Fair is a beloved local tradition as is a visit to the Jackson Hole Rodeo where heart-racing events like bareback riding, bull riding, barrel racing, and team roping are alive and well. We suggest buying your tickets in advance as tickets do sell out in the summer.
5. Surf or Plunge
Did you know that you can surf in Jackson Hole? At one iconic wave (i.e. rapids) on the Snake River, known as Lunch Counter, brave souls suit up and surf the Snake daily. It’s pretty outrageous for most people, but you can always pack a lunch to watch the courageous souls or get your blood pumping with your own adventure whitewater rafting down the river. Pictured above is Jack Jenkins, the son of Jackson Hole Traveler’s publisher, Latham Jenkins, who snapped the photo.
Another favorite way to dive in is from the “Jumping Rock” at Phelps Lake — a granite rock outcropping with a 20-foot drop into the water. This one is a local secret that’s all but gotten out.
As part of the Laurance Rockefeller Preserve’s 8-mile trail system, you can break out along the Phelps Lake Trail which leads you to the “Jumping Rock” on the northeastern shore of the lake. On your easy hike to the rock, you can hear the squeals of adrenaline and surprise as brave souls leap into the frigid glacial lake. Take the plunge!
Traveler Tip: We also like to recharge in style. One of our favorite ways is with Hygge Hut, a mobile sauna rental that lets you sweat it all out while taking in breathtaking views, whether you cozy up riverside post-Snake River plunge or relax as the sunset drops behind the Tetons, it’s guaranteed to elevate your next stay.
6. Paraglide Through the Skies
A highlight of any vacation to Jackson Hole is taking to the skies in a tandem paragliding adventure, soaring amidst the Tetons. A few running steps and you are airborne, seated in a comfortable chair harness, free to enjoy the awesome scenery and refreshing mountain air. Gulp!
7. Quick Draw at the Fall Arts Festival
As summer fades away and fall settles into the valley, the community comes out in droves for the annual Fall Arts Festival, a weeklong celebration of art, culture, and community.
Enter the QuickDraw: one of the most anticipated events in the festival, where artists race against the clock to create original works of art. Using various mediums such as paint, pastels, charcoal, and sculpture, these artists work quickly and skillfully to capture the essence of the surrounding landscape, wildlife, and Western heritage.
Around here, one artist actually paints with gunpowder and lights it on fire in front of the QuickDraw crowd. Local artist Danny Shervin meticulously assembles ammunition on wood before lighting the whole thing on fire. Once the gunpowder erupts, the image is burned onto the surface.
8. Kings & Queens of Corbet’s
Descending one of our world-renowned peaks is not the same as conquering them. So around here, we gather for a competition every winter to watch the best skiers and snowboarders huck themselves off into a snow-encased chasm at the summit of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort‘s Rendezvous Mountain known as Corbet’s Couloir, each battling to claim the title of King or Queen of Corbet’s.
Diving into the steep gorge to claim the title means not only sticking the knee-buckling landing but showcasing a unique carving style in the hopes of cementing one’s greatness.
The 2024-2025 winter season marked the competition’s sixth year and is amassing quite the reputation, drawing Olympians, X Games winners and Freeride World Tour champions. At the end of the day, it’s about proving yourself fearless enough to conquer this rugged landscape and of course, walking a little taller with bragging rights all year long.
Traveler Tip: Watch the competition on TV at the Mangy Moose in Teton Village, one of our favorite après spots, which hosts a rowdy viewing party.
9. A Very Jackson Visit From Santa
Speaking of winter at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Santa Claus debuts in premier Jackson Hole fashion. That means ditching the old sled for a pair of ski goggles and riding our version of a red sleigh: the Aerial Tram. Every Christmas Eve, Santa Claus rappels from the tram, igniting the holiday stoke in the best way we know how. Even icons need to adapt in Jackson Hole.
10. Skijoring
If you’re starting to pick up on a theme, it’s that our love for winter is front and center. But winter isn’t always a solo pastime. Rodeo may be Wyoming’s official sport, but skijoring is the state’s unofficial winter sport.
The at-times high-flying art of skijoring honors the Western traditions of horses and winter racing by pairing a horseback rider with some interesting baggage: someone on skis being towed over various obstacles. Some have dubbed this “cowboy skiing.”
As early as 1930, mountain towns like ours embraced skijoring — a sport originally called “ski driving” in Norway and other parts of Scandinavia. Every winter in neighboring Teton Valley, Idaho, about an hour away from Jackson, a skijoring competition amasses quite the crowd. Skijoring competitions also are hosted around Wyoming, in places like Sheridan, Pinedale and Bondurant. The Coney Classic Skijor in Alpine — just 45 minutes from Jackson — has “gone to the dogs.” Its spirit is more playful than competitive: dogs can pull their skiers or run alongside them.
11. Driggs Snowscapes
Anyone can pack a snowball, but we like to take the art of shaping snow quite a few steps further, with the annual Driggs Snowscapes competition. The weeklong event features the region’s best snow carvers who go head-to-head to create larger-than-life snow sculptures every January for the last 13 years.
12. World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb
The Hill Climb — held annually at Snow King Mountain at the end of March — is the high-octane event of the Jackson Hole winter season. Be prepared for the sound of braap-braap echoing from as far away as downtown Jackson.
Watch as world-class riders race their snowmobiles to the top of one of North America’s steepest ski slopes. Riders don’t always reach the top, so expect to watch some tumbles and falls along the way! The World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb is put on annually by the Jackson Hole Snow Devils — a local non-profit dedicated to being an educational platform for winter sports and recreation.
The Last Word: You might have guessed that in Jackson Hole, we think fun just isn’t that much fun unless you’re pushing your limits. Our ethos is that a life lived on the edge is a life well lived. So get wild with us — We guarantee that no matter the time of year you’re here, you’ll leave with some stories to tell and a yeehaw ready to yell.
