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Cross-Country Skiing and
Snowshoeing at Jackson Hole
Nordic Center in Wyoming - PO Box 290,
Teton Village WY 83025
Jackson
Hole has some of the most beautiful natural surroundings in the United
States with the Grand Tetons mountains and a storied western cowboy
town. The
Jackson Hole Nordic Center (307-739-2629 or 800-443-6139, www.jacksonhole.com/info/ski.nordic.asp)
serves as the hub of the Nordic
systems in Teton Village at the Saddlehorn Activity Center with 17 km
of groomed tracks and skating lanes that have great views of the mountain
backdrop. Because it is next to the Alpine ski area, it also offers
telemark lessons as an option. The center trail fee is $13. You can
exchange your Alpine lift ticket for a Nordic trail pass on the same
day of purchase at no additional charge, so you can Alpine ski in the
morning and cross-country or snowshoe in the afternoon. XC ski equipment
rentals are $28, skate equipment is $32, telemark equipment is $50 and
snowshoes are $20.
The majority of trails are on the North Meadow, mostly flat with hills on the outer edge. The resort's bucking bronco logo is carved into the meadow, and forms part of the trail system. The South Meadow has 7 km of trails where dogs are permitted. Dog sled tours are available at the center with Washakie Outfitting for introductory tours or half/full day options through the expanse of Wyoming backcountry. For dog sledding info on the Web see www.dogsledwashakie.com or call 307-733-3602.
A
package that includes the trail pass, rental and a beginner group lesson
is $80. One-hour lesson is $80, 2 hour is $120 and 3 hour is $160. Skate
lessons are $75 and introduction to telemark is $75, which includes
the lift pass. Ski Fitness Sessions are available with a personal ski
trainer in a variety of levels and they include stretching, warming
up and interval work outs. Private instruction is available for $80
per hour, $130 for 2 hour and $175 for 3 hour.
Guided
excursions into the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park and trips
to the out of bounds yurt (photo on the right) are available at $560
(1-3 people) plus $125 for additional skier. Half day trips are $460
in the morning at 8:30 AM and $85 for additional skiers. In the afternoon
at 1:00 PM the tour is $340 with each add'l skier $85.
Nature tours to Jenny Lake include transportation, xc instruction and natural history interpretation. Full day group tour is $225 and $45 per add'l person. Half day nature tours for a group are $120 with $30 per add'l person and they go at 9:30 AM or 1 PM.Snowshoe tours with a Forest Service naturalist are free on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM and a private snowshoe tour from the Jackson Hole Nordic Center is $80 for one hour or $130 for two hours, and $175 for 3 hours. Dogsledding trips also are based here.
Nordic skiers can strike out for marked trails in Grand Teton (www.nps.gov/grte) or Yellowstone National Parks, (www.nps.gov/yell). The town of Jackson grooms about 30 km each week in Game Creek Canyon, Cache Creek Canyon and the Snake River Dike. Call 307-739-6789 for the current grooming conditions. Also, Grand Teton National Park grooms a 32 km trail between the Bradley-Taggart Lakes parking area and the Signal Mountain parking area.
Jackson is about 12 miles from Teton Village and just outside of town is the largest national elk refuge in North America with more than 9,000 elk. The Bridger-Teton National Forest is 1.68 million acres of public land where Jackson is located. It is one of the largest public forests in the US. The town of Jackson has a dedicated xc ski shop called Skinny Skis close to Town Square where you can pick up a copy of the "Trailhead" guide of local trails. Also don't miss the Mangy Moose Saloon in the Teton Village in the vicinity of the Alpine ski area!