Getting Oriented

Jackson Hole, the valley to the east of the Tetons, is a world-class ski destination, with literally thousands of ways to get down the slopes. The town of Jackson works to maintain its small-town charm while serving as the area’s cultural center. In the Wind River Mountains, the Oregon-California-Mormon trail sites near South Pass merit a visit, and you can learn about Native American traditions on the Wind River Indian Reservation.

You will need a car to tour northwest Wyoming; to reach the really spectacular backcountry, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is best. Major routes through the area are U.S. 191, which runs north–south through Jackson, on the western edge of the state, and U.S. 26/287, which runs east of Grand Teton National Park (also on the western edge of the state, within the Jackson Hole valley) toward Dubois. Much of the driving you do here will take you through the mountains, including the Absaroka and Wind River ranges that dominate the region.