Things to Do in Jackson Hole in January

VerdictGood
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PricesPeak Season

January in Jackson Hole means skiing. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort typically has its roughly 2,500 acres of skiable terrain open by this point, and the snowpack tends to sit deep enough for the steeper chutes and backcountry gates to run consistently. Average daytime temperatures reach about -2°C (29°F), with nights dropping to around -13°C (9°F). The valley floor sits at 1,900 metres (6,200 feet) of elevation, and that altitude makes the cold sharper than the thermometer alone suggests. Step outside at 7 a.m. and you feel it in your lungs before you reach the sidewalk.

The town of Jackson stays open and active through the season. Restaurants near the Town Square keep full winter hours, galleries on Cache Street hold regular openings, and the Center for the Arts runs evening programming most weeks. Teton Village, at the base of the resort about 19 km (12 miles) northwest of town, has its own cluster of dining and lodging that fills up on weekends and holidays. Nearly everything in the valley prices at peak-season levels from late December through early March.

For non-skiers, January still works if you have a genuine interest in winter wildlife. Sleigh rides through the National Elk Refuge pass within metres of thousands of wintering elk, and Grand Teton National Park offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing against a frozen Teton backdrop with far fewer visitors than summer brings. If neither skiing nor elk herds draw you, consider June or July instead, when the hiking trails and river access open up across the valley.

Why visit in January

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort receives an average of 10-12 metres (400-500 inches) of snowfall per season, and January typically delivers the deepest and most consistent powder of the year.
The National Elk Refuge hosts between 5,000 and 7,000 elk through January, the largest wintertime concentration in the region, viewable by horse-drawn sleigh.
Winter crowds at Grand Teton National Park drop to a fraction of summer levels, leaving the Teton Park Road corridor and trails like Taggart Lake open to skiers and snowshoers in near-solitude.
Compressed winter daylight, with sunrise around 7:50 a.m. in early January and sunset near 5:20 p.m. by month's end, creates long golden-hour windows that light the Teton Range in warm tones for extended morning and evening stretches.

Worth knowing

January's cold is not a Colorado-resort level of cold. The valley sits further north than most Rocky Mountain destinations and traps frigid air through overnight temperature inversions, making extended time outdoors on non-skiing days genuinely uncomfortable.
Most of Grand Teton National Park's road network is closed to vehicles from November through April, limiting access to the main highway corridor and a handful of trailheads.
Peak-season pricing means lodging and dining rates reach their yearly highs across the valley, with no real budget alternatives within the immediate Jackson Hole area.

Best for

Think twice if

Weather measured -2° / -13°C 61mm rain · 12 rainy days · 73% humidity rains perceptibly ~1.5h/day · 89% of mornings dry

Crowds high

Pack Merino wool or synthetic base layers, an insulated waterproof ski jacket rated for at least -20°C, insulated waterproof boots with aggressive tread for icy sidewalks, ski gloves or mittens rated for subzero temperatures, goggles for mountain days, and a balaclava or neck gaiter to protect exposed skin in wind chill.

January is the coldest month in Jackson Hole. Most precipitation falls as dry, light powder that builds on a snowpack typically reaching 150 to 200 cm at the resort's mid-mountain stations by month's end. Storm cycles tend to arrive every 7 to 10 days, dropping 15 to 30 cm of fresh snow over 2 to 3 day windows. Clear nights regularly push temperatures well below the monthly average. Morning inversions trap cold air on the valley floor, so downtown Jackson often sits several degrees colder than mid-mountain at the resort. The air feels dry despite the humidity reading, which accelerates dehydration at altitude.

Seasonal caution

Overnight lows can reach -20°C (-4°F) or below, and wind chill on exposed ridgelines at the resort can drop to -30°C (-22°F). Frostbite on uncovered skin develops within 10 to 15 minutes at these levels. Cover all exposed skin on the mountain.
Avalanche danger in the Teton backcountry is elevated through January. Anyone skiing outside resort boundaries needs avalanche training, a beacon, probe, and shovel. Check the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center forecast daily before heading out.
Highway 22 over Teton Pass sits at 2,570 metres (8,431 feet) and closes frequently for avalanche control throughout January. Road conditions can change within minutes during storm events.

Year-round climate

Averages from the last 5 years.

Monthly climate averages for Jackson Hole
Month	Avg high (°C)	Avg low (°C)	Rainfall (mm)
Jan	-2	-13	61
Feb	0	-11	82
Mar	4	-9	75
Apr	8	-6	51
May	14	-1	59
Jun	22	5	29
Jul	27	10	13
Aug	25	9	49
Sep	21	5	48
Oct	13	-1	58
Nov	4	-7	55
Dec	1	-9	94

Holidays and festivals in January

Public holidays

New Year's Day(New Year's Day)1 January 2027
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day(Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)18 January 2027

Best things to do in January

Skiing and snowboarding at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

winter sports

JHMR's 4,139 feet (1,262 metres) of continuous vertical drop is the largest in the United States. The mountain features 133 named runs, with roughly half rated expert or advanced. January's snowpack tends to open the full mountain including Corbet's Couloir, the resort's most famous expert chute.

January typically delivers the season's deepest base and most consistent powder cycling, with storm systems refreshing the snowpack every 7 to 10 days.

Booking tipBook lift access online at least 3 days ahead. Weekday visits see significantly shorter lift lines than Saturdays and Sundays.

National Elk Refuge sleigh rides

wildlife

Horse-drawn sleigh rides cross the snow-covered National Elk Refuge on the east side of the town of Jackson. The 45-minute rides pass within 30 metres of wintering elk that congregate across the refuge's open meadows in enormous herds by mid-January.

The elk herd reaches its peak winter concentration on the refuge by mid-January, with animals clustered most densely before calving season dispersal in spring.

Booking tipWeekend slots fill quickly, especially around the MLK holiday. Book at least 3 days ahead or go midweek for a quieter ride.

Cross-country skiing on Teton Park Road

winter sports

Grand Teton National Park closes Teton Park Road to vehicle traffic from roughly November through April, turning the 20 km (12.5 mile) stretch from the Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain into a Nordic skiing and snowshoeing corridor. The road follows the base of the Tetons with views that summer drivers share with traffic but winter skiers have to themselves.

January's snowpack provides reliable full coverage of the road surface, and the stable cold preserves track conditions between storms.

Booking tipNo booking needed. The Taggart Lake Trailhead parking area is typically plowed through winter.

Dog sledding through the Bridger-Teton National Forest

winter adventure

Several outfitters run dog sled teams through the national forest surrounding the valley, covering 15 to 25 km (9 to 15 mile) routes through lodgepole pine forests. Rides typically last 2 to 3 hours and include a stop at a warming yurt or cabin where the silence of the snowy forest is total.

Dog sledding operates only during the snow season, roughly December through March, and January's reliable cold ensures firm trail conditions and comfortable running temperatures for the dogs.

Booking tipBook at least a week ahead for weekend slots. Most outfitters require a minimum of 2 participants.

Wildlife photography in Grand Teton National Park

photography

Moose browse willow flats along the Gros Ventre River corridor, and bison herds gather on the wind-swept flats near Kelly. Both species stand dark against white snow, making them far easier to spot and photograph than in green-season months. The low-angle January light warms the Teton peaks in gold and pink for extended stretches at dawn and dusk.

Snow cover and leafless willows make large mammals highly visible, and the lower sun angle creates dramatic side-lighting for longer periods than in summer.

Snowshoeing to Taggart Lake

winter hiking

The Taggart Lake trail, roughly 5 km (3 miles) round trip, leads through snow-blanketed conifer forest to a frozen lake at the base of the Tetons. The trail is well-traveled enough in January that a packed-down track usually exists, making it accessible to first-time snowshoers.

The lake freezes solid by January, creating an open amphitheater viewpoint beneath Avalanche Canyon. Stable snowpack and a well-packed trail make this the most accessible backcountry winter hike in the park.

Booking tipNo booking required. Arrive before 10 a.m. on weekends to secure parking at the trailhead.

Night skiing at Snow King Mountain

winter sports

Snow King, the original Jackson ski area, sits right at the edge of downtown. Night skiing runs on select evenings with the lit runs offering views of Jackson's town lights below. The mountain's shorter vertical and less aggressive terrain make it a more relaxed alternative to JHMR.

January has the shortest days of the ski season, making night skiing a practical way to extend time on the mountain by 2 to 3 hours after an early sunset.

Booking tipCheck Snow King's schedule for night skiing availability, which typically runs on Fridays and Saturdays.

What to eat in January

On menus now

Elk tenderloin
Wyoming-ranched elk appears on sit-down restaurant menus across the valley from November through March. Leaner and earthier than beef, it pairs naturally with red wine beside a lodge fireplace on a January evening.
Bison chili
Bison chili is standard cold-weather fare at casual restaurants in downtown Jackson, served thick enough to hold a spoon upright. Peak comfort food when the valley stays below freezing for weeks at a time.
Cheese fondue
An apres-ski tradition at Teton Village restaurants, shared from a communal pot after a day on the mountain. January cold makes the warm, melted-cheese pot feel less like indulgence and more like recovery.

What to drink

Huckleberry hot toddy
Local bartenders mix huckleberry syrup from the previous summer's Rocky Mountain berry harvest into warming whiskey cocktails through ski season. The tart berry sweetness cuts through bourbon's warmth.
Wyoming Whiskey bourbon
Distilled in Kirby from Wyoming-grown grain, this bourbon shows up as the house regional pour at bars in Jackson and Teton Village. A fireside choice that tastes better when you can hear wind pushing against lodge windows.

Regular events in January

New Year's DayFree

The valley's ski resorts mark January 1 with holiday programming. Crowds from the Christmas-New Year holiday week thin gradually over the first days of the month, making January 2 and 3 noticeably calmer on the lifts.

January 1

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend

The federal holiday on the third Monday of January brings a 3-day weekend that fills lifts and lodges across the valley. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort typically runs extended hours and additional programming for the holiday crowd.

Third Monday of January, around January 15-20

Stage Stop Sled Dog RaceFree

An annual multi-stage sled dog race across western Wyoming. The race has traditionally started in the Jackson area, with free spectating at stage start and finish points along the route through multiple communities.

Late January through early February

Ranger-led snowshoe walks in Grand Teton National ParkFree

Grand Teton's winter naturalist program offers guided snowshoe walks led by park rangers, departing from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose. Walks cover winter ecology, animal tracking in fresh snow, and Teton geology.

Select days throughout January, weather permitting

Best places this January

National Museum of Wildlife Art
museum
Founded in 1987 and built into a hillside overlooking the National Elk Refuge, this museum houses over 5,000 works depicting North American wildlife. Winter exhibitions tend to focus on the Teton ecosystem. From the terrace, you can often spot elk on the refuge below without binoculars.
North of downtown Jackson, along Highway 26/89
George Washington Memorial Park
park
Better known as the Town Square, this small downtown park is framed by elk antler arches at each corner. The arches photograph well against January snow and ice. The surrounding blocks host most of the valley's dining and gallery options.
Downtown Jackson
Grand Teton National Park, Teton Park Road corridor
national park
The park's inner road closes to vehicles in November, transforming into a winter corridor for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Teton Range rises directly above the road, and the snow-covered valley floor in January creates a scale and silence that summer visitors rarely experience.
Moose
National Elk Refuge
wildlife refuge
Established in 1912, this roughly 10,000-hectare (24,700-acre) refuge on the east side of Jackson hosts one of North America's largest wintering elk herds. Even beyond the sleigh rides, driving along the refuge boundary at dawn often reveals coyotes, trumpeter swans on open water patches, and occasionally wolves tracking the herd margins.
East of downtown Jackson
Chapel of the Transfiguration
historic site
This log chapel, built in 1925 near the Moose entrance of Grand Teton National Park, has a picture window behind the altar that frames the Tetons. The chapel is accessible from the main highway in January, though the short access road may require a brief walk depending on winter plowing. The view through that altar window with snow-covered peaks filling the frame is one of the most photographed scenes in the valley.
Moose
Snow King Mountain
ski area
Jackson's in-town ski area, operating since 1939, sits at the south edge of downtown with a base you can walk to from the Town Square in about 10 minutes. The mountain runs a tubing hill and offers night skiing on select January evenings. Its 480-metre (1,571-foot) vertical suits families and skiers after a lower-key alternative to JHMR.
Downtown Jackson
Jackson National Fish Hatchery
nature and education
Founded in 1950 and located about 2.5 km (1.5 miles) north of town, this federal hatchery raises Snake River cutthroat trout. The outdoor raceways are typically accessible year-round, though the visitor center operates on reduced winter hours. The grounds back up against the Elk Refuge and offer a quiet walk away from the busier attractions in town.
North of downtown Jackson

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Heavy insulated waterproof boots with aggressive treadSidewalks and parking lots in Jackson stay icy through January. Fashion winter boots with smooth soles are a recipe for falls. Pack boots rated for at least -25°C with lugged rubber soles. Shop
Chemical hand and toe warmersEven quality ski gloves struggle in extended subzero conditions. Tuck disposable warmers into gloves and boots, especially for the first run of the day when the mountain is coldest. Shop
Ski goggles with interchangeable low-light lensJanuary brings frequent overcast storm days that create flat-light conditions on the mountain. A yellow or rose-tinted lens makes terrain features visible when the sky and snow merge into the same shade of grey. Shop
SPF 30+ sunscreen and SPF lip balmSnow reflection at elevation intensifies UV exposure even in winter. Sunburn at below-freezing temperatures surprises first-time mountain visitors, and the dry air chaps lips within hours. Shop
Insulated reusable water bottleThe dry mountain air dehydrates faster than most visitors expect at this altitude. An insulated bottle keeps water from freezing during a day on the mountain. Aim for at least 2 litres per day. Shop
Headlamp or small flashlightDaylight ends early in January. If you're walking from parking lots or bus stops after a full ski day, downtown sidewalks are dark and slick with ice. Shop
Thin merino wool liner glovesLiner gloves let you operate a phone camera or adjust bindings without exposing bare hands to the air. Bare fingers in January wind chill lose dexterity within seconds. Shop
Moisturizing lotion and nasal saline sprayIndoor heating and the dry mountain air combine to crack skin and parch nasal passages. Apply lotion after showering and use saline spray before bed, especially in the first 3 to 4 days as your body adjusts. Shop

Insider tips

Snow King Mountain rarely has lift lines even on holiday weekends. If JHMR feels crowded on a Saturday, Snow King's runs are a 10-minute walk from the Town Square.
Jackson Hole scores 8.3 out of 10 for solo-traveler safety (see /research/solo-safety/). Solo visitors tend to find the ski community welcoming, and single-occupancy tables at the better restaurants are not uncommon in January.
The coldest part of most January days is the hour right around sunrise. If you time your walk to the ski shuttle or chairlift for 9 a.m. instead, the air has usually warmed by 3 to 5°C and feels noticeably more manageable.
Wilson, the small community about 10 km (6 miles) west of Jackson, has a few restaurants and a calmer pace that locals prefer over the busier downtown scene. Worth a dinner trip if the Town Square restaurants are fully booked.
LGBTQ+ travelers will find Jackson's resort-town culture welcoming. The valley rates 7.5 out of 10 for LGBTQ+ friendliness (sourced from TTDI's editorial rubric), with Teton County carrying a markedly different social atmosphere from much of rural Wyoming.

Avoid these mistakes

Underestimating the cold by dressing for a typical Colorado ski resort. Jackson Hole sits further north than most Rocky Mountain destinations and the valley traps frigid air through overnight temperature inversions. The kind of base layers that work at Vail or Breckenridge may leave you shivering by 10 a.m. on an exposed Teton ridge.
Driving the Teton Pass road toward Victor, Idaho without checking WYDOT conditions first or without proper traction equipment. The road is steep, narrow, and icy in January, and some rental agencies discourage taking sedans over it in winter.
Assuming you can drive to Yellowstone through Grand Teton's interior roads in January. The road from Moose to Yellowstone's south entrance closes to regular vehicles from early November through approximately mid-May. Winter access to Yellowstone from the Jackson side requires a guided snowcoach or snowmobile tour, which books up weeks ahead.

Practical tips for January

Book accommodation at least 6 to 8 weeks ahead for January dates, particularly around the MLK Day holiday when availability tightens across the valley. Four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive is strongly recommended for any rental car. The START bus connects Teton Village, Wilson, and downtown Jackson on a regular winter schedule, though evening service runs less frequently than daytime routes. Grand Teton's Moose entrance stays open year-round, but the inner park road is vehicle-free in winter. Cell service works reliably in town and at Teton Village but drops off quickly inside Grand Teton National Park. For backcountry skiing or snowshoeing beyond marked trails, carry an avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel. Most downtown Jackson restaurants accept reservations, and popular Saturday dinner spots fill by early afternoon.

FAQ

Is January a good time to visit Jackson Hole?

If you ski or snowboard, January is one of the strongest months of the year. The resort's terrain is fully open, powder is reliable, and the town is geared entirely toward winter visitors. If you don't ski, January still offers wildlife experiences and winter scenery, but the extreme cold and limited non-ski activities make summer a better fit for most general travelers.

What is the weather like in Jackson Hole in January?

Cold. Daytime highs hover around freezing and overnight temperatures drop well into the negative teens Celsius. Most precipitation falls as snow, and storm cycles tend to refresh the powder every week or so. The air is dry, the sun is bright between storms, and wind chill on the mountain can make even a technically mild day feel brutal. Dress for conditions comparable to northern Montana or southern Alberta.

Is Jackson Hole crowded in January?

Moderately to heavily, depending on the week. The holiday crowds from Christmas and New Year's thin by early January, but the resort stays busy on weekends throughout the month. The MLK Day holiday weekend in mid-January is particularly packed. Midweek visits in the first or second week of January tend to offer the shortest lift lines and best restaurant availability.

Can you visit Grand Teton National Park in January?

Yes, though vehicle access is limited to the main highway corridor. The scenic inner road, Teton Park Road, is closed to cars from November through approximately mid-April but becomes an excellent cross-country skiing route. The Moose entrance visitor center operates on winter hours, and the park's ranger-led snowshoe programs run on select days. Yellowstone's south entrance, reached through Grand Teton, is closed to regular vehicles and requires a guided snowcoach or snowmobile for winter access.