A 'Hole' Lotta Summer Fun in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

A 'Hole' Lotta Summer Fun in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

The epic landscapes of western Wyoming, surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges, represent some of America’s most iconic scenery. Jackson Hole has been called “the last and best of the Old West” and refers to the entire valley in which the town of Jackson is located.  One of the alluring aspects of this valley is its close proximity to Grand Teton National Park and the vast Teton Wilderness – which is comprised of nearly 600,000 acres and is only a mile from the town of Jackson.  Blessed with pristine forests, sparkling lakes, and expansive meadows, the area is an absolute haven for outdoor recreation and adventure.

Moose Head Ranch

I spent an idyllic few days here when I attended the Targhee Music Fest held at the Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, Wyoming, 47 miles outside of Jackson. What a long, strange trip it was….and it was all good!  Shades of the ‘70s, the fest was a genuine love-in with a vast expanse of lawn stretching out from the stage strewn with tie-dyed revelers, hoola-hoop twirlers, frisbee throwers, all of us grooving in unison to music from psychedelic and Chicano rock to Americana, reggae and hip-hop. The vibe was warm and Grateful-Dead-y, the music top-notch, including the blues/rock based Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, a driving band from Waitsfield, VT.  The festival was picked by the New York Post as one of the top ten summer concert events because it’s laid-back, intimate and offers nearby mountain biking and hiking, not to mention the stunning setting in the shadow of the Tetons.

There are a number of fun festivals happening this summer in addition to Targhee:

There’s the Grand Teton Music Festival, July 3-17, the rousing Jackson Hole Rodeo on July 15, and the celebratory Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, September 7-18 commemorating art in the Tetons.  Jackson Hole was recently named “Best Western Arts Destination” for 2022.

From rockin’ at the Festival, I went to rockin’ on my very own horse at the Moose Head Ranch in Jackson Hole, located at an altitude of 6,870 feet and only 32 miles from Yellowstone.  In 1925, the year Moose Head Ranch was homesteaded, Jackson Hole was a land of pioneers and ranch families who worked hard to live in such a beautiful, pristine setting.  The Ranch was purchased in 1967 by John Mettler and is now in the capable third generation hands of Chris and Lindsay Davenport who grew up on the ranch. Moose Head is a small guest ranch which accommodates 40-45 guests in 13 cabins scattered among cottonwood, aspen, spruce, and pine.  Each rustic log cabin has its own deck or porch offering views of the Teton Range, a private stream or a crystal clear pond.

moose in water

One of the big draws of this ranch is the chance to have a morning and afternoon ride; in fact, you can ride all day if you like.  The horses are hand-picked to carefully match one’s riding ability and the trails are in the spectacular Grand Teton National Park.  One of our morning rides took us up a steep hill to the very crest where my horse, aptly named “Dude,” paused, panting after the stiff climb.  Our group gazed at the panoramic vista of the purple and white sawtooth Teton Range, struck dumb by its majesty. Another time we rode through fields of brilliantly colored wild flowers and then, entering a huge, flat meadow, before us was a group of perhaps 100 or more elk, females all, with the exception of one stately male, its antlers spreading 6 feet across. Our wrangler motioned for us to be as quiet as possible.  In that silent and tranquil space, the elk continued to graze unperturbed, allowing us to get some great photos.  As the golden afternoon took on a purple haze and we headed back to the barn, a lone eagle swept low overhead as if biding us adieu.  At that very moment I believe each of us knew that - as horseback riding goes - it doesn’t get better than this.

Some wise soul once said: “Take a girl and a boy to the beach and ask them ten years later the name of it; they will have forgotten.  Take them to a ranch and they will remember its name and the name of their horse for the rest of their lives.”  Moose Head Ranch and “Dude” -  I’ll remember you.

IF YOU GO

Jackson WY https://www.visitjacksonhole.com/

Images Courtesy of Sloane Travel Photography