January 2021 & February 2023
There is no place more magical to cross-country ski than at Grand Teton National Park near Jackson, Wyoming. The flat, perfectly groomed trail cutting through the national park follows the staggering Teton Mountain Range the entire ski. Though the mountains do like to hide behind the clouds frequently, visiting on a clear day is truly breathtaking.
Each year Teton Park Road, the main road through the park, is closed to vehicles November 1 to April 30. The 14-mile stretch from Taggart Lake trailhead to Signal Mountain is available for nordic skiing. Grooming for both skate and classic skiing starts in mid-December to early March, snow dependent. The road also includes a groomed multi-use path for walking and snowshoeing. This is the best nordic ski trail that I have experienced.
Taggart Lake trailhead is about a 25 minute drive from downtown Jackson. Take a left at the Moose Junction sign and follow the road for about 3 miles. You’ll come across the large parking lot for Taggart Lake on the left. But keep following the road until you come to a smaller lot on the right at Cottonwood Creek Picnic Area. This is the closest you can get to the start of the groomed road. If this lot is full, flip around to Taggart Lake and ski on the bike path to get to the official start of the trail. Both of these lots fill up early mainly due to backcountry skiers.
We typically like to start our adventures early in the morning so we can pack in as much fun as possible. Our trip to Tetons was no different. However, we may have overlooked the fact that it is usually freezing in the morning during winter. We originally tried to start our ski at 7am and went about a mile before we couldn’t feel our faces, fingers or toes. For once we were smart and decided to turn around, sit in the car for a couple hours and wait for the temperatures to rise. Learn from our mistakes and enjoy a little extra sleep in the morning and start the ski at 9 or 10am instead so you can actually enjoy the adventure!
Both times we’ve skied Teton Park Road we’ve gone to South Jenny Lake which is about 5 miles one way. We skied off trail into the visitor center where there are benches that make for a nice lunch spot. Once we did off trail it even more to make it to the lake viewing point. I didn’t think the trek was worth it.
Although the entire road is groomed for 14 miles, we’ve never made it to the signal end part of the road past Jenny Lake. It would be ideal to leave a car at both ends of the road, Taggart Lake and Signal Mountain, so it could be skied completely in one day.
The Teton Mountains do like to regularly hide behind the clouds. The first time we drove to the park, we didn’t see a single glimpse of a mountain thanks to the gloomy day. But, if you do happen to visit on a clear day, you’ll be stunned by the towering mountain peaks. Like biking, skiing offers the best, unobstructed views and picture-taking opportunities. And the best part? You get these mountain views the entire ski.
The road itself is nearly flat until Jenny Lake. This makes it great for both skate and classic skiing. I’ve read that the Signal Mountain half is a little more hilly, but still great for beginners. The Taggart Lake to Jenny Lake section is groomed Tuesdays and Sundays while Jenny Lake to Signal Mountain is groomed on Fridays. We did our best to plan our ski days around the grooming schedule. Although the trail is in great condition all week, it’s hard to beat that fresh corduroy and untouched tracks.
On your way back to the parking lot, watch for dogs and kids. The beginning of the trail gets very busy later in the day. Swing by Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream to celebrate a ski well done with the best cookies & cream I’ve ever had.
I highly recommend Grand Teton National Park as this is my favorite Nordic ski trail. We try to visit Jackson and the park every winter because it’s so unbeatable. If you love the Tetons like we do, be sure to visit in the summer months as well. There is a fantastic bike path that runs through the middle of the park and can’t be missed!
Visit in the summer and bike through Grand Teton National Park!
Other Winter Activities in Jackson
Snowshoe to Taggart Lake: if your legs need a break, try out a pair of snowshoes. This is a 4 mile round-trip to the frozen lake. This was our first time snowshoeing and it was a very nice experience with great mountain views. We did get momentarily lost and had to hike off the beaten down track–don’t recommend! It’s not nearly as fun to sink through the snow every step.
Snow Tubing: Head over to Snow King Mountain Resort and try out the King Tubes. Fly down the mountain on an innertube. It’s like a snow covered roller coaster with a conveyor belt to take you back to the top. Tickets are $35 for one hour of riding and it was well-worth the ticket price.
National Elk Refuge Sleigh Ride: This is one of the most unique experiences that Jackson offers. They offer horse drawn sleigh rides through the National Elk Refuge. The refuge is home to 5,000-8,000 elk who arrive each year in December and January and stay until April. The sleigh offers an up close and personal view of 1,000 of elk eating, laying and sometimes fighting. We did this on an absolutely freezing afternoon when the wind was howling, but still 100% worth it. It was amazing to see these huge animals in their natural habitat. The commentary the driver offers was fascinating. This is a must do activity when in the Jackson area.
Tickets are sold out of the white trailer at the Jackson Hole/Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center parking lot on the outskirts of town when heading to the park. A shuttle leaves from the Visitor Center to the entrance of the refuge. Tickets are $40 per person and the sleigh rides operate from mid December to early April each year
Town of Jackson: This quaint town is even more magical during the winter. There is a small ice rink in town square with skate rentals available. Don’t miss the famous antler arches lit with Christmas lights. Night skiing is available at Snow King Resort as well as the cowboy coaster and gondola rides. Check out the famous million dollar saloon with their saddle seats for a beverage
