“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery — air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, ‘This is what it is to be happy.”
Sylvia Plath
Despite its ubiquitous saloons and wild west history, Jackson is not your typical Wyoming town. Nestled in a valley surrounded by some of the most rugged mountains in the country, Jackson (not to be confused with the nearby ski area of Jackson Hole) attracts cowboys and billionaires, ski bums and celebrities, as well as regular tourists like us and is definitely a place to check off one’s bucket list.
It is not only the posh, buzzy town that draws people in, but the area’s stunning mountain scenery and recreation opportunities. From panoramic bike rides, rejuvenating hikes, a float trip down the Snake River, and a tram ride up to hike nearly eye-to-eye with the Tetons, there’s no shortage of adventure here! Each day offers you a chance to experience the area in a different way. Because there is so much to explore nearby, we keep our same home base in Jackson for four nights and don’t need to spend much time shuttling from place to place.
One of the aspects of Jackson that is so amazing is that it is one of the top small mountain towns in the country and yet only a short bike ride from Grand Teton National Park. This combination of amazing national park right next to amazing small town is actually not that common. So on this vacation, we sort of get the best of both worlds.
Grand Teton National Park is full of pristine lakes and brimming with elk, moose and bear. The grandeur of the Tetons dazzles everyone who lays eyes on the 12 snow-capped peaks and the nearly 14,000-foot-high Grand Teton. The views from town become even more breathtaking once we are on the trails!
The activities on this tour can be adapted for private groups. We could create a biking-tour only, a hiking tour only, or leave it a multisport as we have designed it. Please note, too, that Jackson gets busy and expensive in the summer. Pricing is for the off season and might require a hotel supplement for summer dates.
And once your tour is over, consider joining us on one of our Yellowstone Vacations!
Benefits of Taking a Guided Vacation with Travel Montana >> By taking a guided tour your vacation will be even more amazing than it would be if you were on your own. Our guides are experts – not just in the outdoors – but in knowing the best restaurants, the best times and locations to view popular sights, the history of the region, and in interpersonal dynamics and creating group fun. It means you can let our team take care of every detail so you can actually relax and enjoy your vacation!
Trip Favorite Moments & Reviews
“Very well run, very organized. Great guides who knew how to take care of everybody and provide everything that was needed.”
Carol D.
There are too many favorite moments to pin down just one… the setting is incomparable, and we had great weather. The group got along well, the guides were the best trip guides EVER, the food was great, and oh, can I mention the amazing Tetons again?? I was grinning so much all week I probably should have put sunscreen on my teeth!
Natalie G.
Details
- Activities: Biking, Hiking & Rafting
- Duration: 5 days
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Price Per Person
4 - 5 people: $4,200
6 - 7 people: $3,700
8+ people: $3,500 - Single Supplement: $800
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Other Info:
> Third or fourth persons in the same room receive a 15% discount - Public Tour Date: n/a
Trip Highlights
- Discover breathtaking Grand Teton National Park by foot and bike
- Bike along flat, paved trails with incredible mountain views
- Explore the Snake River two ways: first by bike along a riverside path, then on a guided raft trip
- Experience Jackson, one of the most famous mountain towns in the country
- Enjoy camaraderie, good eats, and western hospitality
Day 1 > Hiking
We meet in Jackson (elevation 6,237) after lunch and depart directly for Teton Village (home of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort) and our introductory hike. A very scenic tram ride will take us to the top of the mountain (almost 10,500 feet) where you’ll be able to see “the lay of the land” and have a variety of hikes and mileages to choose from. Take the tram back down, or hike the 4,000 feet to the base of the mountain if your knees can take it! Tonight we’ll have a casual food truck dinner and then kick up our heels with the Stagecoach Band at what locals fondly call “Sunday Church” at the Stagecoach Bar, a Jackson Hole institution since 1942.
Day 2 > Biking
Our morning begins right outside Grand Teton National Park at Moose Junction and we enter the park on our bicycles via a flat paved trail with incredible views of the Tetons, riding all the way to Jenny Lake and back (16 miles total). After lunch at Dornan’s Chuckwagon, a local landmark, we’ll cycle an even more beautiful 17-mile loop that will take us across the Snake River Valley and back, with the stunning backdrop of the Tetons to motivate our pedaling. You’ll want to be sure you pack your camera today, as our ride takes us to that “special place” you’ve probably seen in dozens of photos on websites and magazines! Tonight, we’ll have dinner at the Rendezvous and optional dancing at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, an iconic Jackson joint that is as western as it gets!
Day 3 > Hiking & Rafting
This morning we’ll return to Jenny Lake and Grand Teton National Park and cheat a bit by taking a short boat ride across the water to get to the trailhead that goes through huckleberry patches and forest up to a beautiful 100-foot waterfall (and beyond). Hike options range from three miles to six miles. Feel free to jump in Jenny Lake after the hike - it’s a tradition! (You also have the option of kayaking, canoeing, or stand up paddleboarding instead of hiking.) Afterward, we'll have a picnic lunch, followed by the serenity of a guided raft trip down the Snake River. You’ll enjoy this relaxing float with interpretive commentary about the Park’s flora, fauna, and history, as well as the Park’s breathtaking scenery. Dinner tonight is "on your own" to give you a chance to explore Jackson a bit on your own — if we have one restaurant recommendation we have a dozen for you! Still have energy? There’s sure to be a bluegrass band around to listen to!
Day 4 > Biking
Today we bike north directly from our downtown hotel on a lovely paved path. On the way, we pass the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the National Elk Refuge, and then enter Grand Teton National Park for our last time. Twenty-two miles later, we’re back in Jackson, just in time for lunch! This afternoon, we’ll continue pedaling along Jackson’s beautiful Pathways trail system through the town of Wilson, ending at Teton Village (12 miles). You are guaranteed to see a moose on this trail (okay, some of them might be fake, but it will still be exciting)! Our final dinner will be at the Granary, with the most scenic sunset views possible. Still have energy to burn? How does the Jackson Hole Rodeo sound?
Day 5 > Hiking
Our final morning we hike at a nearby nature preserve with views of the Tetons. You can choose an easy short hike of two miles or a longer more moderate hike of four miles. Either way, you’ll be immersed in a “nature bath” full of creeks, lakes, aspen and conifer forests, wetlands, and sagebrush meadows. We get you back to the hotel in time to shower and check out before setting you loose for lunch in Jackson. If you depart today, we’ll bring you to the Jackson airport. If not -- yippee -- there’s a lot more to do and see!
Book This VacationTrip Accommodations
NIGHTS 1- 4 >> MOUNTAIN MODERN MOTEL / JACKSON
This new boutique motel is located right in the heart of Jackson within walking distance of the infamous Town Square. It offers comfortable rooms as well as a heated indoor pool and oversized hot tub to relax in after each day's activities.
Book This VacationArrival & Departure
We meet you at our downtown Jackson, WY hotel, just after lunch on the first day of the trip. Jackson has its own airport (JAC) located only 12 minutes from our hotel. Extend your stay, or leave the last day of the trip in the early afternoon. We will provide more information on transportation in the Pre-Departure Packet.
What's Included?
- One local Travel Montana guide will accompany each trip. Additional guide added depending on group size.
- Our trip prices are based on double occupancy. You have the option to pay the single supplement to get your own room if you don’t want a roommate.
- For private trips: If your private group has an odd number of participants, the single supplement for the person getting his/her own room becomes mandatory. You also have the choice to put three people in one room.
- For public trips: Our trip prices are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling solo, you can pay a supplement to get your own room or we can attempt to match you with another solo traveler of the same gender, in which case a supplement will not be charged if we are successful.
- Three dinners, one lunch and all breakfasts are included. Gratuity for these meals is also included. We leave most lunches and one dinner open so that you have time to explore and enjoy the local flavors en route.
- All your transportation is included once you meet your guides on the first day.
- All group activities are included (bike rental, raft trip, boat ride and tram ride).
- NOT INCLUDED Beverages, desserts, two lunches and one dinner, gratuities to your guides, personal expenses, and travel to and from the destination.
When to Travel
Jackson is at an altitude of over 6,000 feet in elevation, which affects its weather patterns. The season for outdoor activities in the area generally runs from May through October. In the summer months of July and August, highs average 80 degrees so the days can be warm. June and September are about ten degrees cooler, making them a wonderful 70 degrees on average for daytime highs, while in May and October high temperatures are around ten degrees lower or 60 degrees. It does tend to rain a bit more in May and June but the days are longer and the hills are greener.
Extending Your Vacation
It is worth arriving early to acclimate yourself to the area and spend an extra day in the town of Jackson. If you have enough time, we recommend renting a car to visit nearby Yellowstone National Park. You might consider flying into Jackson and out of Bozeman, Montana.
Changes to Your Itinerary
While everything under “What is Included” will remain the same, the actual restaurants, hotels, and activities listed in our itineraries are subject to modifications. Changes that are out of our control are common – a restaurant closes or loses its awesome chef, a winery changes its visiting hours, a hotel gets remodeled, a road or trail undergoes construction. You are entrusting us to create an outstanding vacation for you and so it is possible we may take the liberty of making necessary changes (even at the last minute, during the guides’ scout trip) to the itinerary that will improve your overall trip experience. If there is any one experience that is going to make or break your trip, please discuss this with us in advance! We will attempt to keep our website itinerary as current as possible and communicate any major changes with you in the weeks prior to the tour.
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