Skate skiing trails in Jackson Hole, Teton Valley, and Grand Teton National Park offer an unmatched experience to explore the most magical, beautiful winter trails imaginable. There are over 160 miles of groomed trails available from Wilson-Westbank to Jackson, Grand Teton National Park and Teton Valley to Turpin Meadow Ranch along the banks of the Buffalo Fork of the Snake River. Come and enjoy the best local, national forest and national park groomed trails and vast open meadows in some of the most scenic areas in the West.
Click on the trails below to learn more about skate skiing in the Jackson Hole and surrounding areas. Trail links open to a GPS trail map or grooming map, elevation profile, full trail description, and directions to get to the trailhead. Discover 30 skate ski trails and over 100 Nordic and winter trails at JHNordic.com/Trails/.
For the latest trail grooming information, real-time updates, schedules and snow conditions, go to JHNordic.com/Grooming/.
Where to skate ski in and around Jackson Hole
Explore skate skiing on groomed trails in Jackson Hole with beautiful pinstriped snow and wide-open spaces for the perfect glide on your skate skis. Classic cross-country skiing is another excellent option on these groomed trails.
Teton Pines Nordic Center
Teton Pines Nordic Center spans 10 miles of flat, wide-open ski trails. It boasts big views of the southern Tetons and is groomed daily. Full-service Nordic ski shop offers rentals for skate and classic XC skis & boots, waxing/tune-up, lessons, skate ski and classic cross-country clinics, and a range of Nordic clothing and accessories. Easy to get to from Teton Village, Wilson, and Jackson. Walk from START bus. Trail Fee: $23 (2023)
Shooting Star Nordic Center
Shooting Star Nordic Center maintains 10 miles of flat to gently undulating ski trails at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for Shooting Star members, their guests and Nordic pass holders. The public may purchase a Nordic pass. This trail system has dog-friendly loops and is groomed daily. Set on the southern edge of Teton Village, the trails flow up and over gentle hills, around ponds, across meadows with views of the Southern Tetons. Full-service Nordic Ski shop offers rentals for skate and classic XC skis & boots, waxing/tune-up, private lessons, and a Nordic clothing boutique. Season Pass: $500 (2024)
Trail Creek Nordic
The Trail Creek Nordic Trails are groomed daily by the Jackson Hole Ski Club Nordic program. Trail Creek trails loop through the meadows and woodlands of historic Trail Creek Ranch, the Bridger-Teton US Forest lands, and adjacent private lands. Close and East Fields cross easy, gentle open trails and hills. Up a short uphill, trails extend for miles through forests and alpine meadows with easy to intermediate to challenging trails and loops. Ski pass fees ($20) benefit Jackson Hole Ski Club; Contribute to grooming (and support youth ski programs and scholarships) at JHSkiClub.org.
Emily’s Pond – Snake River Dike
Emily’s Pond is a local JH favorite for skate skiing, classic cross-country, fat biking, walking your dog, and trail running. Groomed three days/week by Teton County/Jackson Parks & Recreation, the trail follows the east bank of the Snake River for 2.2 miles (4.4 miles roundtrip). Easy access from Jackson or the Westbank. Expect to see lots of dogs off leash. Nice wide-open views of the Teton Range from Teton Pass to the Grand Teton. Free.
Turpin Meadow Ranch
The Turpin Meadow Ranch trails are set in northern Jackson’s Hole along the banks of the Buffalo Fork of the Snake River, where the historic ranch offers 12 miles of regularly groomed Nordic trails. Warm up on the easy open meadow Summer Homes Loop trail or Willow Trail, before heading uphill to several rolling loops through the forest. The ranch lodge has a cozy fireplace, and open dining area serving lunch and dinner (call for reservations), Nordic ski and fat bike rentals , and overnight elegant cabins. Daily trail fee: $25 (2024).
Teton Park Road – Taggart to Jenny Lake -Grand Teton National Park
One of Jackson Hole’s most stunningly beautiful Nordic ski trails is located in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, at the base of the Grand Teton. Following the Teton Park road, the groomed trail runs from Taggart trailhead on a wide, flat track out to Jenny Lake, groomed three mornings per week. FOr the more adventurous, the grooming continues a full 14.4 miles one way/28.8 miles round trip to Signal Mountain Lodge (see Grand Teton National Park – Taggart to Signal Mountain Trail).
Grooming is organized and funded by the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, thanks to donations from people like you. To contribute to grooming, go to GTNPF.org
Cache Creek – Bridger-Teton US Forest Service Trail
The trail for Cache Creek, located in East Jackson, is a slightly uphill skate ski headed east up the Cache Creek valley, and a fast trip back down. It is also a community favorite for all kinds of winter trails use: skate skiing, classic cross-country skiing, fat biking, walking (with dog and without), and even the occasional snowmobile. Cache is groomed three days/week by TC/J Parks & Recreations. (Monday grooming goes to Noker Mine Draw at the Wilderness boundary). You may be treated to sightings of moose, deer and other wildlife thanks to the winter wildlife closures on the adjacent forest service wilderness that border the trail.
Spring Crust Cruising in Grand Teton –from Taggart trailhead over open meadows
Spring crust cruising, when you can ski over fields of snow, only occurs in March and April, and only under special conditions. Days need to be warm enough to melt the top of the snow, and nights cold enough to freeze it hard. Cloudy nights are renown for disappointing a good long crust cruise. Once the crust forms and while the snow is still smooth (it gets runnels and lumps over time), it can be a thrilling experience to “cruise” over the wide open spaces in GTNP, as well as in the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee national forests. Check the JH Nordic Daily Trail Reports in late March and April for updates. Or test the snow wherever you are early in the morning to see if a solid crust has formed. Park at the Taggart trailhead and explore (most people head north). Be sure to return early enough before the snow softens.
Teton Canyon
The trail at Teton Canyon is groomed four days week by Teton Valley Trails & Pathways (TVTAP). This flat, wide trail heads straight toward the Grand Teton from its west side for 3.6 miles (7.2 miles round trip). This is a multi-use trail with good lanes for your type of travel – check out the signs at the trail head. No trail fee, however donations are encouraged to support regular, quality grooming @ TVTAP.org
Alta Track
The Alta Track features a wide open groomed track set in the rolling gentle hills and fields east of Driggs and just inside the Wyoming border. This track boasts views of the Grand, Middle and South Teton’s west faces, and offers easy level skate skiing. Groomed three days/week by Teton Valley Trails & Pathways, our local year-round trails non-profit. No trail fee, but donations are welcome to support regular, quality grooming @ TVTAP.org. Dogs are welcome if they are well behaved and under voice command. As always, never leave your dog poop behind. Crust cruising only on the interior of the groomed tracks, not between the track and people’s homes.
Teton Reserve
Teton Reserve is located half-way between Victor and Driggs, and is a family-friendly, mildly hilled trail, so a good place for easy, gentle skate and classic skiing.
The trail is allows skiers to create their own adventure. You can take a shortcut in a few places where the trails nearly touch each other, or it can be skied as one continuous 7KM loop on the south and 4KM on the north. Groomed three days/week by local trails non-profit, Teton Valley Trails & Pathways, make a donation to support grooming @ TVTAP.org. No dogs. No crust cruising.
Grand Targhee
Thanks to its base elevation of 8,000 feet (2,000 feet above the valley floor), Grand Targhee Nordic Trails have one of the longest Nordic trail ski seasons in the region, with early and late season snow. Located on a shoulder on the side of the alpine ski resort, the terrain provides rolling hills in open alpine meadows and aspens forests overlooking Teton Valley. The base lodge of the ski resort has good food and drinks for apres-ski, and ski rentals. Trails are groomed three days/week. New in the 2024/25 season, dogs may go with you when you purchase a $5 dog pass. Nordic ski pass: $25 (2024)
