The Jackson Hole trail map is the stuff of skiers’ dreams.
Advanced skiers will find and abundance of fast black and double black downhills.
Long blue and green runs criss-cross the mountain ridges offering endless powder fun for intermediates and beginners.
This is one of the best ski resorts in the USA. Once you have been, you will want to come back again and again.
Jackson Hole stats
Base Elevation: 1924m
Skiable area: 10km2 inbounds and 12km2 backcountry
Runs: 116. 10% easy, 40% difficult, 50% advanced
Longest run: 7.2km
Pass: Icon Pass
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is located in Teton Village, about 20km from the town of Jackson, Wyoming.
It has five race, terrain or snow park runs, five long green beginner runs, 31 intermediate blue runs, 21 double blue runs, 53 black runs and 24 double black runs.
Make no mistake, half of Jackson Hole’s runs are rated expert. This is considered to be one of the most challenging ski resorts in America.
But average skiers and snowboarders should not be intimidated. You will find plenty of fun blue and green terrain at Jackson Hole. And viewing the advanced runs, particularly with a beer in hand, is entertainment in itself.
Jackson Hole advanced runs
The resort’s advanced runs are insane.
You’ll find loads of chutes and cliffs to jump off. The most jaw-dropping of all is Corbet’s Couloir.
You have to be seriously good to take this run on. It’s close to a 7-metre vertical drop followed by a quick right turn to avoid smashing into the rocky walls.
It’s named after Barry Corbet, a mountaineer who in 1960 spotted a narrow crease of snow shaped like an upside-down funnel, high up on the mountain.
Corbet apparently pointed to the sheer vertical drop and said: “Some day, that will be a ski run.”
Local ski patroller Lonnie Ball was the first person to conquer Jackson Hole’s sheer vertical drop in 1967.
These days Corbets is the dream of Olympians and every year they race for the title of the Kings and Queens of Corbets.
Take a look at the incredible action below:
Listen closely and you will hear the fourth placed racer say: “That was the scariest thing in my life”.
What you may have missed in that video was this guy, riding the WALL on his way down Corbets.
If you are skiing Jackson Hole as an intermediate or beginner, you should catch the Aerial Tram up here to take a look. It offers a breathtaking view of the action. Just make sure you catch it back down again.
More black Jackson Hole ski runs
Jackson Hole’s Alta Chutes are great steep runs with a trees, rocks and plenty of powder. You can access them using the Sublette chair.
The chutes face north and are often protected from the wind and sun so the snow stays powdery soft for days.
Alta Zero has stacks of cliffs you can jump off, Alta One has fantastic tree-skiing.
Watch the video below to see what the drop in is like. It gives you a good idea of the skills you will need to ski this Jackson Hole run.
The wind tends to fill Casper Bowl with stacks of snow, so this is the place to go if you love waist-deep powder skiing. To get here take a 5 to 10-minute hike from the top of the gondola or from the Tensleep Traverse.
The Rendezvous Bowl is a great place to warm up for the day. It’s a massive open ski field to the right of the Tram. When you’re ready slip down difficult Wally World trail and into the Cheyenne bowl.
If you’re looking for long runs with good steep sections, make your way to the Saratoga Bowl on Après Vous Mountain.
Intermediate runs at Jackson Hole
Over the past few years, Jackson Hole has prioritised improving the intermediate ski and snowboard areas to offer a huge variety of terrain.
These improvements have changed the impression that Jackson Hole is just a mountain for advanced skiers.
If you love rolling groomers, stash parks and long uncrowded runs, the intermediate Jackson Hole ski runs will delight you.
Intermediate riders will want to start off at Bridger Gondola. Head left onto Lupine way and you’ll find dozens of blue runs down the mountain. Drop into Amphitheatre for a fun, groomed run with powder stashes and terrain parks to play in as you make your way down to Thunderbird Quad.
If you take Sundance off the Bridger Gondola, you’ll head into the super-fun Casper ski area at Jackson Hole. You can use the Casper high-speed lift to tackle the blue runs higher up the mountain.
Jackson Hole Stash Parks
The ski resort has four different Burton Stash parks.
Little Stash, next to the Antelope Flats run (in between the Sweetwater Gondola and Teewinot lift), is the place for beginners. It has a tree fort, mini log rides, and banked turns.
Deep Flat stash off Apres Vous lift below the Nastar course is the place to up your skills from beginner to intermediate. Teenagers will love conquering the moose jib and wall ride.
Campground Stash, between the Casper and Bridger lifts, has an A-frame, a half-pipe, a wooden quarter pip and a dance floor.
Stashley Ride off the Ashley Ridge Run (between Casper and Tenton lifts) is the most difficult stash park.
Stashley is known for the satellite dish, ninja pillows and field goal features. You will find a few of the best local skiers and riders testing their ability here.
Terrain parks
If you want to start testing your terrain park skills, you should head to Antelope Flats. This park has small jumps and rails that even beginners can try.
Bronco park is more challenging and it’s constantly changing as new features are added through the winter. Bronco usually has about 20 ramps, boxes, rails and step ups. You can access it from the Teewinot lift.
Beginner runs at Jackson Hole
The upside to being at a resort with a reputation for extreme advanced runs is that the green runs are less crowded.
It’s also cheaper. Jackson Hole has a beginner lift pass that is valid only for the beginner terrain.
And Jackson Hole still has plenty of beginner runs to keep you going.
First-time skiers and snowboarders should stick to runs off of Teewinot Quad and Eagle’s Chair and the Sweetwater gondola mid-station. From these three lifts, the only terrain you can access is green, so you won’t have to worry about going on a black run.
If you’re up for it, you can cruise through the trees on Antelope Flats. But if you like wide-open runs, head to Pooh Bear or Eagles Rest.
If you’re sking or snowboarding for the first time, book a lesson at the Jackson Hole Ski School.
The resort offers a learn to ski guarantee. If you can’t control your speed or make a wedge turn after your first lesson, you will get another lesson free until you master the skill.
The Jackson Hole Ski School offers private lessons, kids lessons and camps adult lessons and back country guides.
Need more information?
Need to know more about Jackson Hole? Head to their website for the details on all the ski runs, lift tickets and more.
Getting there: To get to Jackson Hole, Australians will most likely fly through LAX and Salt Lake City airports. From Jackson airport, it is about a 30-minute drive to Jackson Hole Ski resort.
Staying there: Jackson Hole ski resort has a detailed list of ski accommodation on its website including specials and package deals.
