What was once a hidden gem is now a family skiers’ hazard. Too crowded for the rocky and steep terrain and with the ever growing number of inexperienced skiers descending on Jackson it’s time to look elsewhere for that fun family experience. Unlike top end resorts like deer valley which limit the number of skiers for safety, the resort imposes no such constraints.

If you’re looking for a more exclusive family skiing experience with beautifully groomed runs then consider yellowstone club at big sky, aspen, or deer valley.

J-Hole has changed dramatically over the years like many great ski areas.

However if you are serious about powder and steeps, you gotta make the trip at least once.

Jackson Hole was a trip we took after enjoying the amazing Yellow stone national park, which was so close and the most unique experience. Couldn’t recommend that extra activity high enough. As for the trails, there was a vast variety both off and on piste, yet the time of year we went (February), the snow falls were getting fewer, therefore less powder. Unfortunately we did not get a dumping of snow whilst there but we supposedly had just missed it. Tree runs were fun to find the patches but the main runs were getting a bit icy. The beauty of the mountain was second to none and the lifts were well organised and worked well and efficient. Can be very busy as quite a touristy place but the charm and character of the town was just beautiful! Less activities and nightlife to say Whistler but still had some options.
Jackson hole is a place for everyone and anyone who loves beauty and riding the mountains. I went with my husband and I we loved it but I would love to go back here with my family one day.

Jackson Hole is such an incredible hill and that’s why lots of people go there. It would pretty much be perfect if it wasn’t for the crowds. We experienced the powder day throngs during a big snow storm that dumped 5ft on Jackson Hole in a few days. Even though we arrived an hour before the lifts opened, the queues to the tram and Bridger gondola were ridiculous. We queued for the Sweetwater gondola and Teton, which wasn’t quite as bad, but as we exited the lift to hit the Moran face it was like a zoo, with people leaping off rocks and nearly landing on our heads.

All the locals were raving that the first powder day was the best day ever. It was pretty sweet but the freshies didn’t last very long, and you could feel the massive bumps underneath the 3ft of powder on many of the slopes. We’ve had far better powder days at our little local hill.

During the 2019 season the Ikon Pass holders got a bad rap for making Jackson Hole so busy, and whilst Ikon may have been one of the contributors along with an amazing snow season, it was probably more likely that the locals created the crowds on powder days. We went out on a couple of bluebird (non-powder) days and it was pretty quiet with just the destination travellers.

One of the things that surprised us about JH was the good intermediate runs and the amount of amazing advanced terrain. Jackson Hole is marketed as a ski hill for expert and extreme skiers, and every second of their Facebook posts seem to be about Corbet’s Couloir, even though the resort has so much on offer for the average skier or snowboarder.

We were also pleasantly surprised about the friendly vibe of the place. We’d heard that there can be a lot of unpleasant attitude emanating from the locals, but this wasn’t our experience and we met some amazing locals who took us under their wing.

We stayed in both Teton Village and Jackson, and we much preferred staying on the hill. Jackson was a cool town and whilst it would be OK for a short stay, we found that the inadequate buses, traffic jams and the time involved to park the car were a bit annoying.

Whilst in Teton Village, we stayed at the fabulous Teton Mountain Lodge. You can see our review here.

See the Jackson Hole overview for our thoughts on the pros and cons and you can also see our US ski resort ratings to see how Jackson Hole compares.

Long time repeat visitor and resident for 8 years. The ski experience has declined steadily beginning with the mountain collective pass and now the ikon pass. Relentless marketing programs and social media hype targeting the extreme skier/rider posers have absolutely swamped this once very special place. This resort is virtually unskiable on powder days because of the crowds. Not only are liftlines atrocious, but also employees, privates and assorted insiders heve early shots and line cutting deals. This is a significant and knowledgeable group. Add an already growing local population on top of swarms of visitors and this is a nightmare. Inbound stashes are ripped by 10. Sidecountry hammered by 11. Totally bumped out next day. Try a 40 minute line on the Union Pass chair. Attitudes here have gotten increasingly adolescent if not down right negative. A generally younger, careless, and reckless crowd that has been attracted is downright dangerous at this resort now. You literally have to ski while looking over your shoulder. Leave the kids home.

What has happened at JH is an absolute shame and largely driven by cheap passes. Transportation infrastructure and lift capacity is simply inadequate to absorb the crowds. I understand business and “more” is the blind mantra followed financially. I understand the modern climate of inclusive entitlement. The simple fact is that the financial wizards have seriously underpriced access to a somewhat limited resource and have effectively ruined the experience not only at JH but arguably at every other independent resort that signed up. One could argue those wizards could not care less about the on snow experience. JH was on a hyper growth trajectory before these programs ever were adopted.

Do not believe the hype. The ski resort which had grown an elite reputation over the years discounted that brand and no longer exists. The experience overall is adolescent, negative and dangerous. Look elsewhere for a pleasant time. At the once mighty JH it is a battle. An absolute battle from getting to the parking lot at the base of the mountain to fighting the way too cool mobs once there.

Jackson is an Ikon, it steep, long and there are miles and miles of great faces to explore. This is a must do, unfortunately about 1 milion others agree.

First went to jac on a college trip in 1986, been there 18x over the yrs, seen it at its best (1986) and worst (now- it’s like The Hamptons). Early on the place was great- incredible skiing, not crowded, friendly locals. Then places like the 4 seasons and others came in, bot up everything in sight, and established themselves. 2006 was a great yr, the locals called it 2000-“sick”, supposedly 800” of snow that yr, I recall being on the Bridger line at 8am on an 18” overnight day, was chatting w the property manager hitter of one of the hotel resorts, by 845am the line was crazy long, he said wow I’ve never seen it this crowded, it was the beginning of the end of the Jackson everyone loved. by 1pm that day everything on the mtn had be skied up, yrs ago after a storm like that 2-3 days later u could still find some untracked lines if u knew where to go, no more. In 2006 on another pow day I was 5th person on the tram line 8am, tram holds 100 people, I got on the THIRD tram. While waiting u see groups and groups of private groups come thru the “other” door and hop right on, IF u want first run, pay the mtn guide people! In 1986 the shuttle from Teton village to the base was a little old school bus w drivers who chatted w everyone. It’s now sourced out, runs every 30 mins, and as u get on off there’s a big sign over a basket saying TIPS WELCOME. In the last 10 yrs most of my one week trips (I go in Jan or feb) have also had one day of rain, yrs ago that rarely happened, that’s true almost everywhere these days 😞.

In 2010 I started bringing my wife and kids as they were ready, we had a lot of fun, but be warned of the jack-holes flying down Casper / other areas if u have kids- see the snow angel signs on the mtn for proof.

So where’s Jackson now? They joined the ikon pass, they want profits, they didn’t need to as they are an elite resort. The result? Tram lines are now 1000 people long early on, Bridger and sweetwater gondola lines are ridiculous too. I was waiting for apres vous to open one morning this yr on a powder day, the line went to the teewinot chair. the locals said “I’ve never seen it like this before”, they all blame the ikon pass. Jackson hole addressed the crowds in a recent letter, they said “as we calculate it” the crowds are a result of the great snow yr, not ikon pass. Whatever, I’m a numbers person, reminder they said as we calculate it... lines are the longest ever first yr they’re on ikon.

The ikon pass- bear in mind it was created by a Wall Street dude. It’s nothing more than a “basket” trade / similar to an etf. Think of it this way, u pay say $900 to get 20 lift tix, and can use say 7 days in a row at a resort on the “menu”. Avg jac cost per day of $45 for a ticket, vs $154 for one day at the jac base! So u buy the pass, and say ok where to do my week? U can pick Jackson a top place or sumthin else, of course u pick Jackson! The option to choose Jackson is priced TOO CHEAP, so everyone picks Jackson vs ie some good but smaller place. Jackson is an elite resort, they don’t need the ikon pass, people will go there no matter what.

And as for local infrastructure- START buses are filled, u can’t get on them on days. Rte 22 is like the jersey shore / hamptons on a Friday in July. And the locals, this yr on the chair a person says to me where ya from, I say live in ct and work in nyc, been here 18x. She and friends grill me w questions, I finally say don’t worry I won’t be coming back, she apologizes, I said no worries (then let out a silent but deadly fart that could have woken up a grizzly bear).

So where to ski??? My view is u want great snow, terrain and minimal crowds. So Targhee an hour away from jac great just a bit smaller and more intermed but there’s stuff there that’s very challenging too. Big sky and telluride phenomenal, and in Utah places like solitude, snowbasin, and Brighton are great, in 2017 my bud and I found fresh lines at Brighton solitude 3 days after a storm. Snowbird and Alta great, but they can get crowded.

So Jackson- I hear after 3 yrs u can drop the ikon pass, pls do.

Skiing here 35 yrs, season pass holder. Have therefore noted the transition - or deterioration. Yes, terrific off piste expert skiing if your expectations are modest, but don't expect endless powder runs or the pristine big mtn experience. Nor will you get fast lifts to the real skiing. This has become mainly limited to ski schools and private guided ski parties. You will see them all as they are allowed to cut in front of you while you stand and freeze on the endless tram line. All the new developments have been devoted to creating a "Vail" experience for beginners and intermediates while daddy takes off with the private $1000+ guide. Quite shocking how they haven't bothered upgrading the ancient upper mtn lifts, but then again, who needs them when you can ski the 4k vertical feet through the hobacks and be back on top in a flash because your guide cuts the tram line. It's become all about money here, not skiers. Sad

This place is as good as it gets. If you are lucky enough enough to get hit with fresh snow in Jackson Hole it'll be a day you won't forget. The fall lines at Jackson Hole can not be beat. The terrain has everything an experienced rider can ask for and when it snows, oh man, it's nirvana. There are only 2 negatives in my opinion and they are nothing compared to the positives

First: the town of Jackson isn't at the base of the mountain but 20 minutes away. Teton Village is at the base, which is fine, but Jackson is much cooler and I missed that Telluride type feeling of having 'town' itself' directly at the base. Nothing against Teton, but it's not Jackson.

Second: the lift lines can get crowded. There's no way around this. For a mountain that has everything Jackson Hole has, there's no way to keep it to yourself. That being said, once you are at the top and start making turns down Rendezvous Bowl, you'll forget about everything else and be blown away but the majesty of this place.

You can't be an advanced-expert skier/boarder and not visit this place. It is that good.

Spending 4 days skiing at Jackson my impression of the mountain had changed. I was hyped to start the trip but found I was unsatisfied with the terrain. After a couple of days and exploring the mountain once you find the spots to hit up it becomes a very fun mountain to ski!

The layout of the lifts is nice preventing you from skiing a lot of vert and cat tracks to get back to the lift of your choice. Was extremely warm and had poor coverage mid-mountain down but still was able to have great days on the upper mountain!

On powder days it gets extremely crowded, even on off-peak times, but normally clears by early afternoon.

Overal I'd definitely recommend spending at least a few days to learn the mountain and find the goods!!