Jackson Hole is a bit of a paradox. The 42-mile Valley – located in the heart of Wyoming nestled between the Teton Mountain Range and Gros Ventre Range and just an hour or so from Yellowstone National Park – is among North America’s most strikingly rugged landscapes. Surrounded by majestic mountains and home to the National Elk Refuge as well as more than 60 other species of mammals and 100 species of birds and game fish, it feels like an untouched world unto itself.
But then, in a 180-degree shift, a deeper look at the area reveals it is a bustling enclave with modern amenities that rival those in the fanciest zip codes in the world. The region is so well-appointed that it has become a popular destination for the likes of Sandra Bullock, Kim Kardashian, Matthew McConaughey, and more.
A paradox, indeed, but it all works. Worlds do not collide in Jackson Hole; they come together in a symphony of outdoor wonder, epicurean expedition, and world-class hospitality that – once experienced – will never be forgotten.
The winter months are particularly magical in the region, offering everything from ski and snowboard adventures to sleigh rides and full-day wellness journeys. The options for exploration are nearly endless in the effortlessly chic refuge. So much so, in fact, it is best to begin planning an adventure to the area with a base camp or two, each of which can curate and book the perfect stay based on the guest’s personal preferences and bucket-list activities.
For example, the Forbes Five Star award-winning Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole is a one-stop shop for those looking for luxury and adventure alike. Located in the middle of all of the area’s action, the Four Seasons resort is just a mile from the entrance of Grand Teton National Park, among the top mountaineering, hiking, backcountry, and fishing locales in the United States and home to moose, bald eagles, elk, deer, bears, and bison. Given its location, the resort offers its guests a fully customizable four-hour safari across Grand Teton National Park and the nearby Bridger-Teton National Forest via luxury SUV.
During the winter months, the resort also features a private one-hour flight to discover Yellowstone’s elusive gray wolf population in addition to a slew of snow-themed expeditions including slope-side access directly outside the resort with 13 lifts and 4,139 feet from the valley floor to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. Given it is the Four Seasons, it will come as no surprise that its basecamp has a ski concierge team that can arrange all aspects of equipment rental, as well as tuning, valet, storage, and even in-room boot fittings.
Looking to take a walk on the wilder side? Four Seasons also boasts snowmobiling tours, sleigh rides through the National Elk Refuge, and a fabulous dog sledding program, whisking guests across the Continental Divide with the help of the gorgeous, lovable animals.
After a day of play, it doesn’t hurt that the resort also happens to be one of the most magnificent properties in the country. There are just over 100 rooms, 18 suites, and 34 residences, with the two- to five-bedroom residences offering the ultimate in mountainside luxury. On property, there is a heated outdoor pool, multiple hot spring-style jetted tubs, three award-winning restaurants, a small-bite mixology bar, a hidden speakeasy (ask nicely – they will let you in), and a dedicated team of on-site naturalists that lead adventures ranging from wildlife safaris and fly fishing to stargazing.
Oh, there is also the spa. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Spa at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole is accessible to resort guests via special elevators on each floor to ensure privacy – and avoid being caught in a robe in public. Both the men’s and women’s lounges are breathtaking, offering mountain views, massive stone fireplaces, and a steam room, sauna, whirlpool, and cold plunge. And while one could make a day of those relaxing pursuits alone, the treatments are the star of the show, each with the ability to melt stress and elicit absolute euphoria. Of note are the Couples Après Ski Ritual, a 100-minute escape from the mundane that starts with a relaxing soak together in a private spa suite with Champagne followed by a side-by-side massage using local arnica, and finally an anti-inflammatory body wrap paired with an invigorating magnesium-rich foot scrub; the 100-minute Summit Facial, which is specially designed for the high-altitude environment of Jackson Hole by combining power of an award-winning HydraFacial, oxygen infusion, and microcurrent technology; and the two-hour Sacred Earth Ritual, an aromatic and purifying experience using sea salt, Hungarian moor mud, and capsicum peptide. The spa even has a full menu of vitamin therapy, including IV drips, booster shots, and oxygen therapy.
In addition to the Four Seasons, Jackson Hole also boasts Amangani, the first-ever ultra-luxury property from the iconic group behind Aman Resorts in the entirety of North America. The name of the resort roughly translates to “peaceful home,” and with just 40 impeccable suites and three lavish rentable residences, it feels like the ultimate home away from home experience, somehow feeling both grand and cozy at the same time.
The quietly elegant enclave is perched on top of East Gros Ventre Butte allowing for easy access to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Amangani offers private and group transportation to and from the mountain resort and has its own private ski lounge in the heart of Teton Village just steps from the popular Bridger Gondola. Both the dedicated concierge team at the resort and the lounge staff are experts on planning adrenaline-fueled escapes straight out of a movie. Certainly, they are adept at helping guests determine the best alpine and cross-country skiing trails, but they also oversee heli-skiing tours, dogsledding, fat tire biking, snowshoeing, and sleigh rides for groups as small as one guest to several dozen guests in for a family reunion or wedding.
Beyond the intimate and ultra-curated Jackson Hole Mountain adventures available, the resort itself is a healing retreat of the highest order. Focused on all things regenerative, Amangani takes much of its inspiration from ancient and modern wellness philosophies to work toward integrated holistic wellness for every guest.
This is the most obvious in the spa, where Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine are both used to help guests achieve their wellness goals. The Chinese Medicine offering is especially interesting as it identifies the root cause of a condition by treating the body, addressing nutrition, lifestyle, stress, and more with a licensed professional so an individualized prescription of herbal and botanical support made by created from Chinese herbs.
Even what might seem like a more traditional treatment is anything but at Amangani. Every ritual, in fact, is focused on a primary restorative pathway, offering grounding, purifying, or nourishing of the mind, body, and soul. The Grounding Body Polish & Wrap Ritual, for example, uses amethyst powder to naturally encourage restful sleep and inner peace, while the Purifying Massage concentrates on lymphatic-drainage techniques to manipulate lymph nodes and blood vessels thereby increasing the body’s natural flow. There is even Red-Light Therapy, which is used to treat the deeper tissues in the body to promote muscle recovery, boost skin rejuvenation, and relieve pain, improving general well-being and physical performance. Guests may also book private yoga and Pilates sessions at the resort, and the heated outdoor pool has views for days unlike anywhere else in the world, especially at sunset.
Dining is also an event itself at Amangani, where organic, fresh produce are paired with sustainable ranch meats and fresh seafood in clever and playful ways, pristinely plated so they feel very much like a work of edible art. Every meal comes with a view as well, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows that peer down the Valley or to the nearby Snake River, glistening with ice all season long.
In Jackson Hole and especially at its two poshest outposts, the only limit on one’s visit is his or her imagination.