Skiing in Grand Targhee
Grand Targhee Ski Area
Grand Targhee ski resort has some of the best snow in North America. Located just across the Idaho-Wyoming border in a picturesque corner of the Tetons known as “Wydaho,” Grand Targhee is truly a hidden gem.
Grand Targhee Ski Area
When storms roar in from the Pacific Northwest they race across Idaho before crashing headlong into the Teton Mountains in a picturesque corner of Wyoming known as “Wydaho.” There at Grand Targhee, just east of the Idaho border, the jagged peaks squeeze out some of the best snow in North America before leaving the remnants to Wyoming resort’s more famous and more crowded neighbor – Jackson Hole.
With over 500 inches (1,250cm) of snow “from heaven, not hoses” each winter (as their PR slogan states), Grand Targhee is America’s forgotten powder capital. World-renowned snow, 2,602 acres of terrain and 2,000+ feet of vertical combine to make this hidden gem a resort which should top any skier’s list. Throw in stunning views of Grand Teton National Park and you’ll wonder why you didn’t find Grand Targhee sooner.
The ski terrain is spread across a long ridge and three main uphill lifts service wide faces sprinkled with tall pines. A large cat-skiing area lies adjacent to the lift-serviced terrain. The majority of the resort’s terrain is generally suitable for advanced intermediates. Truly advanced skiers may be happier on the other side of Teton Pass, at Jackson Hole, and the locals are just fine with that. They’ll be more than happy to enjoy that extra 100” of untouched fluff by themselves.
One thing to keep in mind is that all that snow can lead to some heavy cloudcover, earning the resort the nickname “Grand Foggee.”
Grand Targhee Ski Lifts
Grand Targhee’s main mountain is served by just a few ski lifts, but the resort’s uphill capacity far outpaces demand. Lift lines are not a problem and navigating your way around the ski area is easy.
Three main lifts, two express quad chairlifts and an old double chairlift, serve the main mountain, while a dedicated fixed grip chairlift provides access to the novice and learning terrain. Traversing between the lifts is easy and most skiers can master the resort layout in a morning.
The best part about Grand Targhee is that it’s relatively remote location ensures that lift lines are never an issue. Even when nearby BYU-Idaho students take to the slopes en masse, Grand Targhee’s uphill lift capacity far outpaces demand. On a busy day you might even catch a glimpse of another skier or two on the slopes, but one thing you certainly won’t see even on the busiest of days is a liftline.
Grand Targhee Lift Tickets
Lift tickets prices are generally around $75 for a one-day adult ticket, but numerous discounts mean that hardly anyone pays the retail price at the ticket window. Prices for multi-day passes are significantly less and lodging packages in the village also offer substantial discounts. Also of note for the younger crowd, college season passes are available for only $249 and have no blackout dates.
Those staying in Jackson or Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s Teton Village should not miss hopping on the Targhee Express. For less than the price of a one-day lift ticket to Jackson Hole, skiers get a round trip bus trip directly to Grand Targhee and an all day lift ticket. Contact Jackson Hole AllTrans for details.
Updated: David Cronheim – August 2014
Grand Targhee Beginners
Grand Targhee’s beginner skiing is concentrated around the Shoshone Quad near the base village. Facilities for beginners are adequate, but the village is so small and other activities so limited that beginners can have much more fun in a bigger mainstream resort.
For absolute novices, a magic carpet services a learn-to-ski slope and children will love the Kids Fun Zone area located off the Shoshone lift. Whimsical trails and signage lead the way to fun little hollows and knolls like “Gremlin Gulch,” the “Bat Cave” and “Eyeball Forest.” This area is tremendously popular with children, but an adult or two has been known to sneak in too..
There is only one green run from the summit – Teton Vista Traverse. To access it, take the Dreamcatcher Quad express chairlift from the village. The stunning views of Grand Teton from the peak are well worth it. There’s not much than can be said about one main green run except that it’s enjoyable. Confident beginners would be well-advised to try scout out some of the less difficult intermediate terrain, which is generally easier in nature than at many comparable resorts because snow conditions tend to be so good.
On the whole, beginners will find Grand Targhee to be quite approachable, particularly in comparison with nearby Jackson Hole. It is an excellent day trip alternative from Jackson Hole, but also a first rate beginner resort in its own right if one is looking to prioritize snow conditions over variety of runs.
Grand Targhee Intermediate Skiing
Grand Targhee’s intermediate skiing is amongst the best in North America. Intermediate skiers will find Grand Targhee offers exciting trails, bowls, and groomers from boundary to boundary.
At many resorts, powder skiing for intermediates can be quite limited. It seems like when it comes to off-piste fun, expert skiers seem to have the lion’s share of the terrain. Not so at Grand Targhee. The resort offers the best powder skiing for blue skiers anywhere in North America.
Beyond just world class powder, intermediate skiers will find Targhee offers exciting trails, bowls, and groomers from boundary to boundary. The resort grooms a significant portion of its blue runs each evening, while leaving the areas between the trails ungroomed for powder lovers.
Intermediates should not miss the pod of terrain off the Sacajawea Quad, where rollercoaster groomed runs dive and bank into a narrow valley before spitting weary skiers back out and onto the chairlift. Skilled carvers will enjoy ripping high-speed runs and will be challenged to stay on their edges through numerous curves, knobs, dips and rolls.
Grand Targhee Expert Skiing
Grand Targhee’s expert skiing often goes almost entirely unappreciated. Despite its reputation as an intermediate mountain, adrenaline junkies will find Grand Targhee has some surprisingly fun advanced terrain. While certainly not in a class with nearby Jackson Hole, experts will enjoy that a vast majority of the terrain is not groomed.
Easier single black diamonds such as “The Good,” “The Bad,” “The Ugly,” and the wide open bowls off the Blackfoot Double (Powder Cache, Lost Warrior and Raven Wood) will entertain advanced skiers, while experts looking for more difficulty will enjoy a set of steep chutes clustered around Patrol Chute.
Looking for some double blacks? Targhee’s steepest terrain requires a 30-45 minute hike up the saddle from the Dreamcatcher Quad, but Toilet Bowl and Das Boat are well worth the trek on a powder day.
Grand Targhee Backcountry & Off Piste
Grand Targhee is one of a handful of resorts in the United States which offers an in-bounds powder cat experience. After a snowfall, it’s an experience which is not to be missed.
No visit to Grand Targhee would be complete without powder cat skiing. The resort offers full and half-day packages on Peaked Mountain. Participants have access to over 600 acres of in-bounds backcountry terrain which is roped off from the rest of the resort, ensuring plenty of fresh Teton powder even days after a storm. The cat runs several days a week but call ahead to check the operating schedule. Reservations are required but may be made any day before the day of the tour.
The resort calls the cat skiing a “powder reserve” and with good reason. The cat skiing area is roped off from the rest of the resort and accessible only to the day’s cat skiers. Guests can expect to log between 14,000 and 20,000 vertical feet per day. At around 2,000’ per run that translates to roughly 7 to 10 runs. The terrain is generally suitable for strong intermediate and advanced skiers.
A full day’s adventure will set you back about $350 and includes hot beverages, snacks and lunch. A half day costs about $200 and includes a snack and beverages. The price tag may seem steep compared to a one-day lift ticket, but Grand Targhee often offers surprisingly affordable lodging specials which pair a day of cat skiing with lodging and a few days of lift-serviced skiing. Moreover, compared to heli-skiing, which often costs $1,000 per day or more, Grand Targhee’s cat skiing is a downright bargain.
Grand Targhee Mountain Restaurants
Grand Targhee’s mountain restaurants are located in the base village.
The Branding Iron is one of the best value ski resort mountain restaurants in skiing. Located just steps from the Dreamcatcher Quad in the center of Grand Targhee village, the Branding Iron excels at hearty food without the resort pricetag. Large picture windows and an adobe fireplace create a light and welcoming atmosphere. We highly recommend the Buffalo Meatloaf sandwich and adding the salad bar (complete with soup du jour and chili) to any meal.
The Trap Bar and Grille is a popular lunch spot. It serves up traditional pub grub in a relaxed setting. Seven new flat screen TV’s ensure you won’t miss a snap during the playoffs or a buzzer-beater during March Madness.
Snorkel’s Café serves light breakfast and espresso during the morning and shifts to sandwiches and burritos at lunch.
Wild Bill’s Grill offers traditional ski area cafeteria food in the main lodge. Bag lunches are permitted in designated areas.