Grand Targhee Resort
The back side of the Tetons where the snow falls harder and the prices haven't gone insane.
Our Take
Grand Targhee sits on the Wyoming side of the Tetons, which means it faces west into the moisture stream that Jackson Hole's eastern aspect mostly misses. The result is 500 inches of average annual snowfall on a mountain that shares the same geological drama as Jackson -- the Tetons rise directly behind the base lodge like a movie set backdrop -- but without the lift lines, the $300/day ticket prices, or the general anxiety of a resort that knows it's famous. The terrain has 2,602 acres spread across Fred's Mountain and Peaked Mountain, with a snow cat operation for off-piste access above the lifts. The groomed runs are outstanding but the powder skiing is the reason people drive three hours from Salt Lake City or fly into Jackson and cross the pass. Targhee snow is the wet-heavy Teton base with enough cold-air influence to keep the top layer light -- it's a two-layer cake that forgives aggressive skiing and rewards floaty technique. The Ikon pass gives you 5 days here, which is not enough.
Nerd Stats
Avg Annual Snowfall
500"
Skiable Acres
2,602
Vertical Drop
2,200'
Summit Elevation
10,200'
Fun Facts
- Grand Targhee averages 500 inches of snowfall -- more than Jackson Hole, because the west face of the Tetons catches storms that the east face misses.
- The resort is 42 miles from Jackson via Teton Pass (8,432 feet) -- the drive is spectacular and occasionally terrifying in January.
- Peaked Mountain's snowcat operation serves 1,000+ acres of ungroomed terrain above the lift network.
- Targhee regularly closes for whiteout powder days. The locals call this 'Targhee Sunshine' and consider it a feature, not a bug.