Jackson: Town Square, History and Nature Experiences

Jackson combines distinctive Western culture, history and nature experiences with a varied program centered around Town Square. Anyone looking for a vacation rental or vacation home in Jackson can tailor their stay to a wide range of interests: local history and events, winter activities at Snow King Mountain or wildlife viewing at the National Elk Refuge. This creates a destination that enables both active days and shared discoveries.

Town Square as Jackson’s distinctive center

A characteristic detail of Jackson is the elk-antler arches at Town Square. There is one such arch at each corner; the elk antlers come from the nearby Elk Refuge. In winter, Town Square also has an ice-skating rink. Throughout the year, the square hosts rallies, commemorative events, an Easter egg hunt and other lively events.

This makes Town Square worthwhile not only as a brief sightseeing stop. Depending on when you travel, you can plan a winter activity there or include events in your itinerary. For families and travel groups with different interests, this location provides a tangible connection between city life, tradition and shared time outdoors.

History, tours and rodeo

The Main Gallery of the Jackson Hole History Museum covers more than 11,000 years of human history in Jackson Hole. Texts, artifacts, videos, removable drawers with objects that can be touched and interactive kiosks provide different ways to engage with the topics. If you would like to learn about history beyond the museum, you can also take part in a free, one-hour guided walking tour through downtown Jackson. The tour is led by a knowledgeable local guide.

Another side of the region’s culture is showcased by the Jackson Hole Rodeo. The program includes bareback riding, bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, saddle bronc riding and mini bull riding. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between different focuses, including historical insights, a guided city tour and a traditional rodeo experience.

Snow King Mountain and views of the Tetons

Snow King Mountain is just steps from Town Square in Jackson, Wyoming, and is a year-round destination for recreation, adventure and outdoor activities. In winter, Snow King is a ski resort offering skiing, snowboarding, tubing and night skiing. Those looking for winter activities during their vacation will therefore find several clearly defined options at a single destination.

Even apart from winter sports, the mountain is one of Jackson’s distinctive experiences. The Snow King Gondola offers panoramic views of Jackson, the surrounding mountain ranges and the Tetons. This change in perspective complements the impressions from Town Square and downtown with a broad view of the landscape.

Wildlife and educational programs at the National Elk Refuge

The National Elk Refuge & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center is an interagency visitor center in Jackson. In winter, the National Elk Refuge is suitable for observing overwintering elk, bighorn sheep, trumpeter swans and bald eagles. The official entrance to the National Elk Refuge is Refuge Road.

The National Elk Refuge also offers free educational programs year-round. This means a stay in Jackson can be combined not only with winter sports or local history, but also with wildlife viewing and a closer look at the area’s fauna. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore consider whether the focus of your trip should be on culture in town, activities at Snow King Mountain or the landscape and wildlife of the Refuge.

Compare other destinations

If you would also like to compare other destinations, you can include Alta, Teton Village, Wilson and Moran in your further travel planning.

For the overarching travel overview: Teton.