Where To Ski and What To Do at Grand Targhee
Wyoming's Teton Range gets a lot of hype, and rightfully so. As one of the cradles of North American alpine climbing, ski mountaineering and, more recently, mountain running, these jagged peaks hold significance in many a mountain traveler's heart. Most skiers think of Jackson Hole as the place to go skiing here, but ask any local where they've had the deepest days of their life, and they'll likely tell you it was at Grand Targhee.This sleepy mid-size resort, located on the west side of the Tetons, stands in stark contrast to the luxury vibe at Jackson Hole. Instead, it's still about the skiing here, with over 500 inches of annual snowfall, massive acreage and a huge variety of terrain and long, fall-line runs that somehow just don't get tracked out. The local vibe remains warm and welcoming, focusing on a no-frills approach to having a good time powder skiing. Perhaps the best part? The views. From the viewing deck on the summit of the Dreamcatcher lift, the high peaks of Grand Teton National Park feel like a stone's throw away.
Location: Alta, Wyoming
Acreage: 2602 skiable acres
Vertical Drop: 2270 feet
Number of Lifts: 6
Terrain Breakdown: 10% beginner, 45% intermediate, 30% advanced, 15% expert
Most Difficult Terrain: Bobcat
Average Annual Snowfall: 500+'
To put it simply, Grand Targhee is one of the best places to go for skiing deep inbounds powder. Thanks to a favorable location on the snowy side of the range, the resort frequently receives huge amounts of snowfall. Like double-digit huge, many times a year. Time your trip with a storm like this, and you're in for some of the deepest turns of your life. Targhee's huge variety of terrain also plays nicely with deep snow. Sure, there are plenty of steeps, but most of the mountain offers wide-open lower-angle slopes, perfect for surfing through the deep stuff. Some favorite intermediate runs include dropping off the summit into Wild Willie and Crazy Horse, soaking in the views of the Tetons on Rolling Thunder, or carving down any of the groomers below the Blackfoot lift. If you're looking for more of a challenge, test your big-mountain skills on the North Face of Peaked Mountain. Drop into Bobcat (used annually as a freeride comp venue) and navigate mandatory airs, huge exposure and some seriously steep skiing, or go for a short hike up to Mary's Nipple and slash turns through the steep trees. If it hasn't snowed in a few days (a rare occurrence here) and the sun's out, Targhee is an excellent place to cruise down some perfectly manicured groomers. Thanks to the predominantly west-facing aspect, the groomers tend to get softer and better as the day progresses, meaning there's no need to get up early to chase corduroy.As a year-round destination, there are multiple lifetimes of things to do in the area. Surrounded by not one, but two national parks, plus a wilderness area and a national forest, the main attraction here is the mountains. Outside of the resort skiing in the winter, rent a fat bike or Nordic skis and cruise up Teton Canyon to soak in the views of the Tetons high above. The backcountry skiing in the area also happens to be world class, with easy access from Teton Canyon and Teton Pass. Both Driggs and Jackson offer numerous options for backcountry skiing guide services and gear rental. Finally, it might tickle your fancy to drive an hour north to West Yellowstone, rent snowmobiles and motor into Yellowstone National Park to view geysers and winter wildlife and take in the beauty of America's oldest National Park.In the summer, those same areas come alive with mountain bikers, hikers and flyfishing enthusiasts. Teton Valley is home to hundreds of miles of singletrack for all ability levels. The calm waters of the Teton River are a great place for a mellow float on a paddleboard, raft, or tube, or link up with a local flyfishing guide and see if the trout are biting.While being a world-class ski area should be worthy of enough praise on its own, Targhee really comes alive in the summer. Featuring one of the largest downhill mountain bike parks in the Mountain West, plus almost 50 miles of manicured XC trails, Targhee is a haven for mountain bikers, hosting races and bike festivals throughout the summer. If you're not a two-wheeled enthusiast, Targhee still has you covered with 8+ miles of hiking trails, plus plenty of events all summer long, including a Cirque Series running race and the world-famous Targhee Bluegrass festival.Thanks to its high elevation and massive amounts of snowfall, Targhee's season starts earlier and ends later than most. If you're looking for a classic powder skiing experience, you'll most likely find that during the seemingly endless storm cycles that tend to bury the range in mid-February and early March. The 'Ghee is also a primo place for slushy spring skiing, so don't hesitate to come back again in April to score some late-season corn turns.
Tucked away high on the western slope of the Teton Range on the Wyoming border, Grand Targhee is only accessible by driving through Idaho. If you're looking to stay as close as possible to the powder, the resort offers on-mountain lodging with some basic amenities like a spa, pool and hot tub. Though a bit dated, the base area lodging is in the process of a multi-year upgrade. Alternatively, there are a few small hotels and bed and breakfasts (plus plenty of vacation rental homes and AirBnBs) in Teton Valley. If you're looking for more options, the town of Jackson is about an hour's drive away and offers the full gamut of accommodations from five-star resort hotels to budget motels. Targhee is also one of the few resorts we've found that still offers parking lot camping options for skiers with camper vans or RVs. You can even rent an approved portable firepit to use in the parking lot for the full campfire vibe.Targhee is located a few miles from Alta, Wyoming, high above Teton Valley, Idaho. The closest major town is Driggs. You'll likely want a car to get around, but there are a few public bus lines and resort shuttles that connect the resort to the town of Jackson Hole and the Jackson Hole Airport. If you're staying in Jackson and take the GTR shuttle, you'll even get a discounted lift ticket.
On-mountain dining is focused in the small base area, and the crown jewel is undoubtedly the bustling Trap Bar. Try out the local-favorite Wydaho Nachos, paired with a pint of local beer. If you're staying on the mountain and want to mix things up a bit with a fancier meal, don't skip out on the Powder Cache restaurant next door. Down the valley, Driggs has a much larger selection of excellent food, including the bakery and coffee at Wydaho Roasters, great pan-Asian fare at Teton Thai, or pub food at the Royal Wolf.
Targhee is one of the few resorts where true powder skis make sense as a daily driver, so if you're coming to visit during a storm cycle, fat powder skis are certainly your friend. Temps can get pretty cold, especially during storms (shoutout to low-density powder), but the dry air and cold, dry snow tend to mean it doesn't actually feel that cold. Gore-Tex outerwear and an extra layer are always a good idea.Where To Ski and What To Do at Grand Targhee first appeared on Powder on May 31, 2025
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