Teton Valley treasures
24 Apr 2023
A hidden gem that shines in winter
Winter/Spring 22-23
Written By: Caleigh Smith | Images: Mark Gocke, Keegan Rice and Jonathan Selkowitz
Driving slowly down the icy and winding two-lane Teton Pass, you cross into the easternmost edge of Idaho, leaving the hubbub of Jackson Hole behind. The same low winter sun sparkles across many feet of snow and the same crisp mountain air filters through your car, and yet somehow the energy is different.
Fewer people mill through any given street and the cadence of life here feels just a little bit more relaxed. Teton Valley, as picturesque as any wintertime playground, is a lesser-known gem among such giants as Jackson, Aspen, Tahoe, etc., and yet it has all the same backcountry access, snowfall, and winter adventure; the only difference is the view. We promise the backside of the Tetons is just as stunning as the front. Teton Valley is comprised of small mountain towns such as Victor, Driggs and Tetonia, as well as Alta, Wyoming, and has nearly endless opportunities for exploring the backcountry in the winter. You don’t have to be the next ski movie star to take advantage of the thousands of feet of backcountry skiing, miles of fat biking trails, or countless snowmobiling options. Between Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Grand Targhee Resort, front-country enthusiasts can find all the groomed, in-bounds powder they could possibly dream of. But what if you’re looking for something a little less trafficked? If backcountry skiing is your goal, Teton Pass offers options galore from top to bottom. Need a quick pre- or post-work venture? The top of the pass serves as the locals’ bread and butter, with a boot-packed approach and glorious, mostly low-consequence blower powder turns on the way down. Driving down the pass towards Victor, Idaho, you will meander through a massive playground where skiers can enjoy hundreds of inches of snow each winter. Grand Targhee Resort also offers cat skiing for those skiers and boarders who fall somewhere in the middle of lift life and hike to ski. Going even beyond that, High Mountain Heli Skiing can help the most adventurous access even farther reaches of eastern Idaho powder.