Family-friendly Activities In Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Jackson Hole, Wyoming is a great family vacation destination that has something for everyone! Whether you’re interested in visiting the nearby National Parks or just doing some sightseeing in town, there are plenty of fun things to do in and near Jackson Hole. There’s a great variety of natural beauty, entertainment, and delicious food for the entire family. Whether you’re 2 or 92, there are activities you’ll enjoy in and around Jackson Hole!

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Things to Consider when Planning Activities in Jackson Hole

How much time do you have? If you are only in the area for a few hours, you will have to be more selective in what you choose to do than if you are planning to stay for several days. Decide which activities are most important to you and fit in other activities as time permits.
How many people and how old are those in your party? The size and ages of your party will help decide what activities you can do during your visit. If you have a wide range of ages, it might be best to split up and do different activities.
What are the interests of those in your party? Do you enjoy high adventure or would you rather take a leisurely stroll? A whitewater rafting experience or a calm boat ride? Consider the preferences of your party members when deciding which activities to do.

What to Do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

If you’re vacationing with your family, you’ll want activities you can all enjoy together. Here are some of the best ways to spend your time in Jackson hole.

Bar T-5 Covered Wagon Cookout

Take a trip in a covered wagon pulled by beautiful draft horses! The ride will take you into scenic Cache Creek Canyon, where the old mountain men used to hide their goods. Your wagon driver (called a wrangler) will treat you to fun cowboy jokes and intriguing stories. Once you get into camp, which is in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, you’ll get to witness the covered wagons circle up, just like they did in the old days.

Next, you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner of barbecue chicken, roast beef, corn on the cob, salad, rolls, the world-famous Bar T-5 baked beans, drinks, and dessert. This cowboy cookout is all-you-can-eat, and the food is delicious. They even have gluten-free options!

After dinner, you’ll be treated to a western show performed by the Bar T-5 band. Corny cowboy jokes and campfire songs will keep you well entertained, and someone from your party just might be called up to center stage!

A scenic wagon ride in the twilight will take you back to your vehicle. The trail is only 2 miles long, but the journey seems like a trip back in time.

River Rafting

There are many options for river rafting in the Jackson Hole area. You can book a “scenic float trip” with Teton Expeditions, in which you’ll glide down a lazy stretch of the Snake River. More adventurous souls can book a whitewater rafting trip with Jackson Hole Whitewater or Barker-Ewig Rafting. These thrilling whitewater trips will take you and your family through class four rapids, so young children may not enjoy this as much.

Horseback Riding

Whatever your travel itinerary may be, the A-OK Corral has an option that will fit your schedule! They offer everything from one-hour rides to all-day adventures. The horses at the A-OK corral are incredibly well trained and great with novice riders and kids. Each ride will take you through the breathtaking Gros Ventre wilderness with incredible views of the Grand Teton mountain range and the Snake River. Reservations are encouraged and walk-ins are welcome, too!

Snow King Resort

Adventure is plentiful at the Snow King Mountain Resort! This place has something fun for everyone.

Kids will enjoy the Amaze’n Maze. Before entering the maze, the participants receive a maze “passport.” Each passport is stamped with the time the participant began their journey in the maze. They must then navigate to four checkpoints within the maze, receiving a letter on their passport at each. Once their passport has all four letters, spelling “MAZE,” they must find the exit as quickly as possible.

The unforgettable “Cowboy Coaster” is a must when visiting the Snow King Resort. Nearly a mile of roller coaster track twists and turns through Snow King mountain’s beautiful wildflower meadows. Riders can control their own speeds on this adventurous ride.

Everyone will love the thrilling Alpine Slide, a fast-paced track down the side of the mountain. This ride features incredible views of Jackson and the Grand Teton Mountain Range.

One of the most popular attractions at Snow King is the Treetop Adventure, a zipline ropes course. “You’ll harness up, clip in and safely ride zip lines, shimmy over suspended bridges, scramble up nets, cross swinging logs and even ride an aerial skateboard.”

Other attractions at Snow King include a Bungee Trampoline, guided hikes, miniature golf and a scenic, 20-minute chair lift ride to the top of the mountain. You can pay for each attraction at Snow King separately, or you can purchase an all-inclusive day pass for unlimited adventures.

Town Square

You can’t visit Jackson Hole without taking a trip to the iconic antler archways in Town Square. The shops at Town Square are all cowboy themed, and it can be fun to window shop or even find some souvenirs to take home.

Yippie I-O Candy Co.

This quaint little store has barrels of unlimited candy and treats. They’ve got creative and interesting sweets, like lollipops with real scorpions in them! They also have delicious homemade fudge for sale by the pound.

Teton Toys

Kids will absolutely love this store! It is completely packed to the brim with every toy they’ve ever wanted. Board games, Lego sets, dolls, costumes, Moon Sand, puzzles, stuffed animals; if you can name it, they’ve got it.

Five and Dime General Store

If you’re looking for a quirky souvenir of Jackson, this is the place for you! They’ve got the best prices in town and the most versatile inventory.

Mormon Row

Tucked away in the antelope flats is a wonderful historic site called Mormon Row. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called “Mormons,” settled in the area in the 1890s. They clustered their farms close together in order to share labor and community. This was a stark contrast from many of the isolated homesteaders of the era.

Several homesteads and two beautiful barns still adorn Mormon Row, and it is quite a picturesque sight with the Grand Tetons framing this historical place.

Grand Teton National Park

Because of its close proximity to the town of Jackson, a visit to Grand Teton National Park would be a great way to spend part of your vacation. Although the national park is a heavily-trafficked area, it’s always a good idea to bring bear spray.

Jenny Lake

With the Grand Teton mountain range dropping steeply into the lake, this gorgeous destination is always a highlight of any trip to the national park. Walk along the paved boardwalk and enjoy looking for glaciers in the mountain peaks and chipmunks underfoot. Ride the ferry boat across the lake and hike a short distance (1.2 miles) to Hidden Falls. From there, you can take a hike up to Inspiration Point or enjoy the view from the dock. Jenny Lake is typically busiest on the weekends; a weekday trip might enable you to see and do more during your time here.

String Lake

This is a popular destination for families, as it is much quieter than the popular Jenny Lake. String Lake is thin, shallow, and perfect for wading or even relaxing on a blowup flotation device. Bring a picnic and enjoy a day of fun in the gorgeous scenery.

Jackson Lake

Much bigger and drastically less busy than Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake offers amazing views of the Grand Tetons. If your family enjoys boating, this is the lake for you. Bring kayaks, canoes, or rafts and enjoy paddling across the lake and exploring one of the islands.

Hike to Taggart Lake

This relatively flat hike is 3 miles round trip and well worth it. Taggart Lake is always very quiet and peaceful. Bring a hammock and inflatable tubes and enjoy looking for animals on the other side of the lake. Bring binoculars!

Menor’s Ferry

For quick trips to the national park, make a stop at Menor’s Ferry. This homestead was built by Bill Mener in the early 1890s, and many of the buildings still stand. You can also take a look at the ferry itself, which was fully operational until a bridge was built in 1927.