Best Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Trips in Grand Teton National Park
Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing in Jackson Hole!
The breathtaking peaks of the Teton Range are covered with a deepening snowpack. Inside the tranquil Grand Teton National Park, a winter wonderland has emerged, providing ample opportunities for exploration on cross country ski or snowshoes. The guides at Jackson Hole Ecotour Adventures have been out exploring the park on Ecotours, here are some of our favorite spots!
Hermitage Point
Hermitage Point is at the end of a long peninsula on Jackson Lake, offering stunning views of Mount Moran and the northern Teton Range. The point is 3.5 miles one way from the parking lot at Colter Bay but opportunities exist for shorter loops to explore Heron and/or Swan Lakes. We enjoy looking for track and sign from foxes, coyotes, American martin, red pine squirrel, otter, and beavers along the way.
Teton Park Road
Grand Teton National Parks inner loop road is closed to vehicles in winter time but, thanks to a grant from the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, is groomed for some of the most scenic Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing in North America. From the start of the seasonal road closure at the Bradley/Taggart Trailhead, follow the groomed track of the Teton Park Road as far as Signal Mountain, some 12.5 miles to the North! Explore this groomed trail for as long or short of a distance as you like, the nordic track and relatively flat gradient makes for perfect beginner to expert skiing, whether classic or skate!
Jenny Lake
For those wanting to a longer ski tour to one of Grand Teton National Parks most scenic locations, Jenny Lake is the spot! In the summer it is one of the parks most popular areas but in winter you just might have it to yourself. Lake ice can be thin especially in early winter but eventually the lake freezes over with a thick supportable sheet of ice. Travel at your own risk.
Lucas-Fabian Homestead
A shorter option from the Bradley-Taggart Trailhead is a visit to the beautiful Lucas-Fabian Homestead. Located two miles from the parking lot along the stunning Cottonwood Creek, this homestead could have become a subdivision if not for the work of Harold Fabian, Vice President of the Snake River Land Company. Throughout the 1920’s, Philanthropist John D Rockefeller JR. used his fortune to purchase homesteads in the Jackson Hole Valley which were later added to Jackson Hole National Monument, which in 1950 was added to Grand Teton National Park. Read our blog post on the battle to save Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park here.
Granite Canyon
Looking for easy access to Grand Teton National Park from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort? Check out Granite Canyon and the Moose Wilson Road! Numerous loop and out and back options exist, we like winding trail to the mouth of Granite Canyon in particular. Along the trail you will pass through aspen forests, sagebrush meadows, mixed conifer forests, and cross the riparian area along Granite Creek, four of the five plant communities found in Grand Teton National Park. Look for track and sign from moose and elk, to foxes, coyotes, or even an elusive great gray owl, the largest owl in North America. Check out JHNordic.com for more options from the Granite Canyon Trailhead.
Moose Wilson Road
Closed to motor vehicles in winter, the Moose-Wilson road is an ideal trail for beginner to advanced cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Start from the south at the Granite Canyon Trailhead or from the North end at the Death Canyon Trailhead. The snow packed road winds through conifer forest with plenty of options for loops and out and back treks. We like combining a ski up the road with a loop over to the mouth of Granite Canyon and back to the Trailhead, about 4 miles.
Two Ocean Lake
Snowshoers head toward Two Ocean Lake in northern Grand Teton National Park This quiet corner of Grand Teton National Park offers opportunities for solitude, you might even be breaking your own trail through the powder snow! From a pullout on Pacific Creek Road, follow the Two Ocean Lake Road to the lake and views of the Northern Range of the Tetons. We like looking for tracks and exploring the woods around the lakes on tours. For a longer adventure, make the ski a loop and visit Emma Matilda Lake on the return trip.
Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoe Opportunities Abound in Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park These are some of our favorite trips in the park, many more trip ideas exist from our friends at Jackson Hole Nordic. Please let us know if we can help with guiding your next adventure in Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Parks by calling us 307-690-9533 or emailing info@jhecotouradventures.com. Jackson Hole Ecotour Adventures leads wildlife safaris, cross country skiing tours, and snowshoe tours in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks 365 days a year. Let us help maximize your Jackson Hole Experience Today!
