There’s a time and a place for curbside valets, five-star lodging, and après-ski outfits consisting of faux fur, Moon Boots, and matching sweater sets — and it’s not the winter months at Grand Targhee Resort. Because if you’re making the journey to Alta, Wyoming, possibly traversing the treacherous Teton Pass along the way, you’re there for one thing and one thing only: the powder.
With 500 inches of annual snowfall and a “where skiing still rules” motto, this is a resort that prioritizes time on the slopes above all else. The walk from the parking lot is minimal, the guest accommodations are within feet of the lifts, and there’s an efficiency that stems from the standard amenities. And while Grand Targhee is regularly mentioned in the same sentence as nearby Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King Mountain, an apples-to-apples comparison is nearly impossible — unless you’re talking about the amount of in-bounds terrain. In that case, Grand Targhee, with a grand total of 2,600 skiable acres, comes out on top.
The privately owned resort has been around since 1969 and famously starred in Warren Miller’s 1990 ski film Extreme Winter, yet it still manages to fly under the radar (at least to winter sports enthusiasts outside of Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah).
“Grand Targhee is unique in the industry in that it remains a relatively quiet destination resort,” says Joshua LaForest, the director of the Mountain Sports School. So, if you’re searching for a mountain with room to get comfortable on the slopes, improve your technique, or tackle expert terrain, there’s no better place to go. Not to mention, on a bluebird day, the views of the Tetons are nearly unmatched.
Here’s everything you need to know to plan the perfect ski trip to Grand Targhee Resort.
Courtesy of Grand Targhee Resort
When to Go
Grand Targhee’s winter season typically kicks off in late November and runs through mid to late April — although, like most ski resorts, the exact dates tend to shift each year based on the weather and snow conditions.
While you may want to be among the first skiers and snowboarders on the mountain, jumping on the lifts at the very beginning of the season, LaForest says that you’re more likely to experience “deep, cold snow and no crowds” from mid-February through mid-March. Just be sure to dress appropriately — winter temperatures can reach below 0 degrees Fahrenheit — and avoid President’s Day weekend if you prefer less congested runs.
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Where to Stay
Slopeside accommodations: Grand Targhee has four different lodging facilities, with rooms ranging from standard kings to bi-level suites. The accommodations at Teewinot Lodge can fit between two and four guests — choose from one king bed or two queen beds — and each room has its own coffee maker, mini fridge, and boot dryer. Targhee Lodge is geared more toward budget-conscious skiers, and all rooms are outfitted with two queen beds. The Sioux Lodge has bi-level suites that house up to 10 people; six-guest, open-concept loft suites; and slope-view studio suites that can technically sleep up to five (but it’s a pretty tight squeeze). The Tower Suite is definitively the most spacious option, with two bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, as well as panoramic resort views.
Off-mountain: Skiers who prefer to stay overnight in nearby Driggs, Idaho (a 20-minute drive from Grand Targhee) have a few rustic, albeit comfortable, possibilities. Teton Valley Cabins offers pet-friendly log cabins, and guests can take advantage of the hot tub, high-speed Wifi, and daily housekeeping services. Teton Valley Resort also has a lineup of cozy cabins that sleep anywhere from two to eight people.
In Jackson Hole: If you’re only planning on skiing Grand Targhee for just one day — and the rest of your trip will be spent in nearby Jackson Hole — you may lean toward keeping the town of Jackson as your base camp. Both The Lodge at Jackson Hole, which completed an $8 million renovation in 2024 and The Virginian Lodge are solid picks (and each property has a hot tub for post-ski-day recovery). Grand Targhee also provides a daily shuttle service for guests staying in Jackson or Teton Village.
Lydia Mansel/Travel + Leisure
Where to Eat
Snorkels Cafe: Start your morning at Snorkels Cafe with a burrito (a Wyoming staple) or a breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee. The casual eatery is also a great spot for lunch — think soups and sandwiches — and a sweet treat toward the end of the day.
Powder Cache: Powder Cache is the most elevated restaurant at Grand Targhee, with lunch and dinner menus that include elk bolognese, bison short ribs, and steak frites. The floor-to-ceiling windows and stone fireplace only up the ante on the atmospheric mood.
The Trap Bar & Grill: The Trap Bar & Grill, affectionately known as “The Trap,” is where you’ll find all kinds of snow-day classics: burgers, wings, nachos, and a curated list of signature cocktails. Just go easy on the Targhee Hot Toddys and the Teton Teas until it’s time for après.
The Mother Truck: Winter weekends at Grand Targhee mean The Mother Truck is open for business. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday through Sunday, the food truck serves street tacos, burritos, and margaritas, all of which can be enjoyed from the deck of The Trap.
Where to Après-Ski
The Trap Bar & Grill: If you’re the type of skier or snowboarder who needs a massive après-ski scene, you may not be super impressed with Grand Targhee. That isn’t to say that après-ski doesn’t exist at the resort, though; it’s just concentrated in one place. After the lifts stop running, The Trap fills its high-top tables, bar seats, and stage-front areas with those eager to end the day with an adult beverage and a bit of live music. It’s classic ski culture at its finest; there’s no need to change out of your base and mid-layers into something nicer. To see which bands and acts will take the small stage at The Trap, check out the resort’s event listings or follow the Grand Targhee Instagram account.
Courtesy of Grand Targhee Resort
Off-mountain Activities
Spend an afternoon snowmobiling: “Teton Valley provides access to miles of snowmobile, cross-country, and snowshoeing trails,” says LaForest. Those interested in the former activity can book four- to 12-hour snowmobile adventures with Teton Valley Adventures, an outfitter based in Driggs — or take a snowmobile out on their own.
Go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing: You can’t venture to northwest Wyoming and not step foot in Grand Teton National Park, even in winter. When the snow covers the ground, the park becomes an incredible place for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. You can rent equipment on your own from Skinny Skis in downtown Jackson, or, if you’d feel more comfortable, go with a guide. Jackson Hole EcoTours offers half-day tours with its naturalist guides.
Grab your skis and head into the backcountry: Want an activity that’s a bit more adventurous than alpine skiing? Driggs-based Yöstmark Backcountry Tours takes intermediate and experienced skiers out into the backcountry — either along the Teton Pass or in the Targhee side country — with guides advising on all things uphill travel and risk management.
How to Ride
Tickets: To access the runs at Grand Targhee, you’ll need a Targhee Card, a $5 reusable RFID card that can be picked up at the resort. Full-day adult lift tickets start at $135 online, and half-day tickets, with mountain access beginning at 12:30 p.m., will run you anywhere from $108 to $132. Shoshone-only lift tickets are another option for beginners and families sticking to the greens at the bottom of the mountain; prices start at $57. Children under 5 ride for free, although they’ll still need the Targhee Card. Grand Targhee also accepts the Mountain Collective pass — which allows holders two free days plus unlimited half-price single-day lift tickets after that — and its own season passes.
Rentals: Rental gear — skis, snowboards, boots, helmets, goggles, and poles — are available to rent on-site from the Rental and Demo Shop, located just below the Main Plaza. Anyone renting equipment or staying at the mountain overnight can use the complimentary ski check (no need to haul everything around when you’re not getting in runs).
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Skiing Info
Grand Targhee Resort has six lifts — including Colter, a high-speed six-seater that opened in 2022 — to access its 95 runs. The skiable terrain is 10 percent beginner, 45 percent intermediate, 30 percent advanced, and 15 percent expert-level. With the base area at a 7,851-foot elevation, the vertical drop comes in at 2,270 feet.
If you’re relatively new to skiing or snowboarding, LaForest recommends staying close to the base area: “The terrain off Huckleberry conveyor is a gentle, wide-open learning area … Little Big Horn, Mark’s Meadow, and Outback, [all] off the Shoshone chair are ideal for beginner to novice skiers or riders.” For anyone who falls into the intermediate category, he suggests trying out Chief Joseph Bowl, a piste he describes as “wide with undulating terrain that affords intermediates a long run and access back to our base area.” Rolling Thunder, another blue run, tends to leave skiers raving about the Tetons in the distance.
And if you’re comfortable with steep slopes and challenging terrain? You have a ton of options. “Venturing anywhere off-piste will provide glades, wide-open bowls, and deep snow,” he says. “A great progression is to start somewhere in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly — accessible by the Dreamcatcher lift. Next, head to the Sacajawea lift and test your grit in our expert terrain of Das Boat, Reliable, and Otter Dog.”
Lydia Mansel/Travel + Leisure
Programming
Grand Targhee’s Mountain Sports School offers a few different types of instruction. First-timers will benefit from the Start Met Up Package, where beginners experience a 3:1 guest-to-instructor ratio while learning the ropes. Group and private lessons are also available for anyone ages 6 and up; children ages 3 to 5 can be booked into Mini Moose one-on-one lessons. There are also adaptive programs specifically designed for skiers or riders with physical, intellectual, or cognitive disabilities.
