When skiing and snowboarding at Jackson Hole, the Tram is the obvious place to start the day. Make sure to get an early start, however, because the local powderhounds and visitors will be there bright and early. The Jackson Hole Tram is the quickest way to access some of the best, and most difficult terrain at the resort, including the infamous Corbet’s Couloir. The Tram loads about every ten minutes, and holds around 100 people. Stick to the left side near the windows if you want to get a look at Corbet’s on the way up. There is no intermediate or beginner terrain off of the Tram. Intermediates may be able to work there way down the advanced rated Rendezvous Bowl, however, it’s not recommended to do so during low visibility or stormy weather. From the top the options are pretty simple, Rendezvous Bowl, or Tensleep, which goes back to the center of the resort.
Taking a step back from the Tram for a second, there is a ton of amazing terrain accessed from the other lifts at Jackson Hole. Beginner skiers and snowboarders have two lift choices, the Eagle’s Rest chair, and Tweewinot Quad. This is the only beginner terrain at Jackson Hole.
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders have a lot more options. The Teewinot Quad is still a good place to start, then hop on the Apres Vous Chair for some of the best and longest groomers around. Some of these runs are groomed nightly, and other can give skiers and snowboarders a taste of the off piste terrain. From the top of Apres Vous, the Casper Bowl Triple can be reached. There is more good intermediate riding here that drops back to the Casper Bowl lift, or all the way to the mountain’s base.
Jackson Hole has some of the best inbounds advanced and expert skiing and snowboarding in North America. All over the mountain there are steep runs, tight chutes, and technical terrain. It’s nearly impossible to chronicle the lines and possibilities, and exploring to find them is half of the fun. Careful following tracks, however, because the locals are a daring bunch, sending lines like you see in the movies. Dropping from the Tram into Rendezvous Bowl towards the Sublette Quad, there are a ton of options. Laramie Bowl is wide open, while the Alta Chutes are fun and quintessential Jackson Hole. Below the Sublette chair is The Hobacks. This area can have some of the best skiing and snowboarding at Jackson Hole, but beware, there’s no bailing out to a groomed run from here, it’s just you and nearly 3,000’ of amazing vertical drop back to the base.
From the top of the Tram, dropping into Tensleep accesses more bowls and chutes. From here there is no access to the Sublette Quad without taking the Thunder Quad. Thunder chair is home more rocky and tight chutes that are visible from the lift. The Bridger Gondola also accesses the terrain in the middle of Jackson Hole, including the steep and gnarly chutes of the hike-to Casper Bowl.
On the far skier’s left side of the mountain, the Apres Vous chair has some awesome advanced terrain that can be overlooked in favor of the other side of the mountain, this means more powder for longer. Take a right as you get off the chair and drop into Saratoga Bowl for fun natural features, trees, and cliffs. The newest Teton Quad chair also accesses some fun terrain that was previously only accessed by hiking.