Wyoming Ski Resort Reviews
Steep Terrain. Light Powder. Fewer Crowds.
Expert Terrain 
Tree Skiing 
Huge TerrainTable of Contents
Why Ski in Wyoming
Wyoming doesn’t get talked about as much as Colorado or Utah, and honestly, that’s part of what makes it good. The terrain here skews steeper and more serious on average, the snow stays light and dry thanks to the elevation and continental climate, and you’re not fighting the lift lines and parking lot chaos that come with the bigger-name states. The state’s case rests on two resorts in particular, and they make it for very different reasons. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is the headliner — over 4,000 feet of continuous vertical, legitimately steep pitches, and terrain like Corbet’s Couloir that’s become a benchmark for extreme skiing nationwide. Grand Targhee, just over the pass on the western, snowier side of the Tetons, is the quieter story: it averages more than 500 inches of snow a year, a number that puts it in the same conversation as Alta and Snowbird for total snowfall and snow quality, and it does it with a fraction of the crowds either of those Utah resorts sees.
That’s really the headline for the whole state: Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee are both legitimate deep-snow resorts, not just steep-and-scenic ones. Jackson Hole averages around 459 inches a season, and Grand Targhee averages over 500 — numbers that sit right alongside the top of the Wasatch, not behind it. What stands out most after skiing here is how much terrain per skier you actually get with that much snow falling. On a mid-week powder day at a lot of Colorado or Utah resorts, tracks are gone by 10am. In Wyoming, you can find fresh lines well into the afternoon at both mountains. That’s not because the skiing is easier to find — the terrain at both resorts is genuinely demanding, which skews the crowd toward stronger skiers — but it does mean the place feels less like a tourist attraction and more like a real ski destination. If you’re an intermediate-to-expert skier who wants deep, high-quality snow without the crowds that come with it in Utah, Wyoming is worth the extra effort to get to.
- Two standout ski resorts
- Serious, challenging terrain
- Deep, dry snow
- Far fewer crowds
- Best for stronger skiers
- Authentic Western ski towns
Best Ski Resorts in Wyoming
Wyoming has some of the best ski resorts in the West, and the best mountain really depends on whether you prioritize steep terrain, deep powder, or fewer crowds.
Wyoming Ski Resort Reviews
- Jackson Hole→ Read Review →
- Grand Targhee→ Read Review →
Snow & Weather
It’s worth being specific about the snowfall numbers, because they’re a real part of the case for skiing this state. Jackson Hole averages about 459 inches a year, and had a record-breaking 595-inch season in 2022-23. Grand Targhee averages more than 500 inches annually, sits in the top five snowiest resorts in the country, and its snow reliability is regularly compared directly to Alta and Snowbird — the two resorts most people point to as the gold standard for Utah powder. The two Wyoming mountains sit on opposite sides of the same range, which is part of why they both do so well: Targhee catches the storms first on the western, windward slope, while Jackson Hole picks up its own share on the eastern side along with the cold, dry air that keeps the snow light.
Terrain & Skiing Experience
Jackson Hole’s terrain is the reason serious skiers put this state on the list. Corbet’s Couloir is the famous entry point — a cliff-band chute that requires an actual leap to ski into — but the mountain has enormous amounts of steep, technical terrain beyond that single run: Rendezvous Bowl, the Hobacks, and the tree skiing off Casper Bowl all hold up run after run, and all of it gets refreshed by that 459-inch average.
Grand Targhee skis differently, and it deserves just as much attention. It’s less about cliff bands and more about deep, consistent tree skiing and wide-open bowls on the front side, with steeper chutes and glades in the Peaked Mountain backside terrain for stronger skiers. With snowfall regularly topping 500 inches and some of the most consistent month-to-month totals of any resort in the Rockies, Targhee’s snow quality is frequently ranked alongside Alta and Snowbird — the fact that it does this while staying largely undiscovered outside of serious powder circles is exactly why it belongs next to Jackson Hole in any honest conversation about this state, not underneath it. Snow King, sitting right above the town of Jackson, is small but genuinely steep for its size, and it’s a good option for an afternoon lap or a lower-commitment powder morning before the road up to Teton Village or over to Targhee gets busy.
What ties it together is that almost none of Wyoming’s terrain feels padded out for volume the way some larger resorts do. There isn’t a lot of filler cruiser terrain connecting the good stuff, and with two resorts both regularly topping 450+ inches a season, the snow is there to make the most of it. That’s great if you’re an intermediate-to-expert skier looking for deep, high-quality powder without the elbow-to-elbow scramble you’d get for the same storm cycle in the Wasatch, and it’s worth knowing in advance if you’re bringing true beginners, since the easy terrain at Jackson Hole in particular is more limited than at a resort like Deer Valley or Park City.
Getting Around
Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is the most convenient way in — it’s the only commercial airport located inside a national park in the country, and it puts you about a 30-40 minute drive from Teton Village. Flights are less frequent and generally pricier than flying into Salt Lake City or Denver, so a lot of skiers instead fly into Salt Lake City and make the roughly 4.5 to 5 hour drive north, or fly into Idaho Falls, which is closer at around 2 hours and gives you a direct shot to Grand Targhee over Teton Pass. Worth noting: Teton Pass closes periodically in bad weather, so if you’re staying on the Wyoming side and planning to ski Targhee, check conditions before you commit to the drive.
Where to Stay
This is where Wyoming has a real advantage over a lot of ski states, and it comes down to one word: Jackson. Teton Village sits right at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and gives you true ski-in/ski-out convenience, but it’s expensive, and honestly a little sterile — it’s built around the resort, not around being a town. Jackson itself is a completely different experience. It’s a real western town with a historic town square, elk antler arches, genuinely good restaurants and a lot more personality than most ski-resort base villages. It’s about a 12-mile drive to Teton Village, but the free START bus runs between the two regularly, and lodging in Jackson is noticeably cheaper than staying slopeside.
Our take: stay in Jackson. You’ll save real money on lodging, get a better food and bar scene, and still be a short bus or car ride from the lifts. Save Teton Village for mornings when you want to be first on the tram, or if convenience matters more to your group than budget. For Grand Targhee, lodging is limited right at the resort, and a lot of skiers instead stay in Driggs, Idaho, about 12 miles away, which is cheaper and has more options.
Apres-Ski & Things to Do
Jackson punches well above its weight here. The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar on the town square is the obvious stop, but the town has a genuinely good restaurant scene for its size, along with breweries, coffee shops, and enough going on that a non-ski day doesn’t feel wasted. Teton Village has a handful of solid bars and restaurants right at the base, but the scene is smaller and quieter than what you’ll find in town.
For non-ski days, the National Elk Refuge just outside town runs sleigh rides through the winter elk herd, and Grand Teton National Park is right there for anyone who wants to see some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the country. Snowmobiling and dog sledding are both easy to book locally. It’s not a big, packed après scene like you’d find in Park City, but it’s a legitimately good town to spend a few hours in when you’re not skiing.
Best Time to Visit
January through late March is the reliable window for Wyoming, and it’s when both resorts’ snowfall numbers really show up. Grand Targhee’s storm cycles are notably consistent through this stretch — historical records show it’s never averaged less than about 58 inches in January or 41 inches in February — so the odds of hitting a genuine powder week are high no matter when you book inside that window. Jackson Hole ski well through the same period, with the terrain holding snow even between storms. Presidents’ Week is the busiest stretch of the season and the one time Jackson Hole in particular starts to feel genuinely crowded; Targhee stays noticeably quieter even then. Early season can be inconsistent — a lot of Jackson Hole’s best terrain doesn’t open until there’s enough base — so if you’re booking before mid-December, temper your expectations on terrain access at either mountain.
Trip Planning Tips
- Fly into Jackson Hole Airport if the price works. It’s by far the easiest option for Jackson Hole, but flights can be expensive during peak ski weeks.
- If not using a season pass buy Jackson Hole lift tickets early. Window rates can be expensive, and popular dates can sell out.
Plan Grand Targhee as a full-day trip. From Jackson, it’s not a quick side trip once winter driving and Teton Pass are factored in.
Consider staying in Driggs for Grand Targhee. It’s cheaper than staying slopeside and makes sense if you plan to ski Targhee for multiple days.
Give yourself an extra powder day. Both mountains get enough snow that leaving some flexibility in your schedule can pay off.
Be ready for serious terrain at Jackson Hole. Strong intermediates should pay attention to trail ratings—Jackson skis noticeably harder than many major Western resorts.
Pack for changing mountain weather. Conditions can vary significantly between Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee despite how close they look on a map.
Don’t try to pack in too many resorts. Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee are enough for a week-long trip, especially if you want time to explore each mountain properly.
Final Verdict
Wyoming isn’t trying to be Colorado or Utah, and that’s exactly its appeal. The terrain is steeper and more demanding on average, the powder stays lighter longer because of the climate, and the crowds are noticeably thinner than what you’ll deal with at almost any comparable Colorado or Utah resort. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort alone justifies the trip for any intermediate-to-expert skier who wants to be genuinely challenged, and Grand Targhee gives you a quieter, powder-focused alternative just over the pass.
The town of Jackson is the piece that pulls the whole trip together. It’s a real, walkable town with actual character, it’s noticeably cheaper than staying in Teton Village, and it’s close enough that the tradeoff barely costs you any ski time. Wyoming asks a little more of you than Utah or Colorado does — the flights are less convenient, the terrain is less forgiving, and there’s less to fall back on if the group includes true beginners — but for skiers willing to work for it, it delivers some of the best, least-crowded skiing in the Rockies.