Take advantage of these great off season activities in Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Jackson Hole.
“Help, I’ve booked my trip to Jackson Hole in April and everything is closed!” Imagine you’re planning your dream vacation to Jackson Hole. When you research prices, April stands out as a great deal! Airfare and hotel prices are the lowest they will be all year. Restaurants are advertising two-for-one specials, allowing you to splurge on the best that Jackson’s exciting food culture has to offer. Sounds good! So you book the trip, and on the airplane you notice many seats are empty. Must mean that the traffic and crowds, challenging in summer, will be minimal. You enjoy fantastic views of the Tetons on a sunny April day as you touch down, pick up your rental, and look forward to enjoying a long weekend in Jackson Hole…only to find half the town is shut down and locals are on vacation themselves. Winter activities such as skiing and snowmobiling have ended while summer activities like rafting and horseback riding have yet to begin. So, what do you do to fill that long weekend in Jackson Hole in mud season?
Spring Means Prime Wildlife Watching Opportunities!
Here at Ecotour Adventures, we love April for wildlife watching! Moose come out into the open to feed on one of their favorite browse plants - antelope bitterbrush. It’s not unusual for us to encounter two dozen moose over the course of a full day wildlife tour. Elk begin migrating out of the National Elk Refuge into Grand Teton National Park and private lands in the southern half of Jackson Hole, and can be seen in closer proximity than they have all winter. Meanwhile, bighorn sheep remain visible through the whole month on the National Elk Refuge. Wolves are still sometimes seen before denning while grizzlies and black bears put in an occasional appearance looking for winter carcasses or early spring grazing.
The first bison calves of spring are seen in April, and are full of charm as they bounce around and bring new hope to a bleak landscape. Birds of prey sightings increase dramatically as migratory species return to hunt the abundant Uinta Ground Squirrel, which emerge from their 8 month hibernation in April. Early spring wildflowers, butterflies, and migratory songbirds also appear one by one throughout the month, giving every naturalist in the valley a fun scavenger hunt as they try to “check off” the first sightings of the season.
One of our favorite benefits of watching wildlife in April is the lack of crowds, especially in Yellowstone. While the south entrance is closed until mid-May, the West Entrance to Yellowstone opens for wheeled vehicles around mid-April. Many hikes remain closed, but enough are open to allow for plenty of exploration. An overnight trip to West Yellowstone is a great way to enjoy the wildlife and boardwalks of Yellowstone with few other people around. Photography opportunities abound with moody steam from the geothermal features on crisp days. A day trip to Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is possible - though with a three hour drive from Jackson to West Yellowstone, get an early start and expect a long day.
photo: VisitJH
Spring Cycling, Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, and Hiking Beneath the Tetons!
After you’ve filled your camera’s memory card with wildlife and landscape shots, it’s time to get some exercise. Cycling is a great way to enjoy a beautiful April day in Jackson Hole. The classic spring bike ride most cherished by locals is the easy, flat cycle on the Inner Park Road from the Bradley-Taggert trailhead to Jenny Lake and back. This section of road is typically plowed in early April and opens to vehicles on May 1 - leaving it the domain of cyclists, rollerbladers, and walkers during the entire month. Avid cyclists can continue to Signal Mountain and beyond. Bike trails lace much of southern Jackson Hole, and several quiet roads such as Fall Creek Road make for excellent spring cycling. Rental bikes are available in town and e-bikes allow everyone, regardless of age or fitness level, to enjoy the ride.
Most of Grand Teton National Park’s hiking trails remain snow-covered throughout the whole month. Depending on weather and snow cover, we often see a cycle of cold nights and warm days that will lead to dramatically different trail conditions. After a freezing night, the packed snow is hard enough to walk on without snowshoes. As the morning progresses, the snow begins to soften in the sunlight. Snowshoes and cross-country skis are a great way to explore the northern and western portions of Grand Teton National Park - at least until the snow begins to soften a little too much in the afternoon!
Be aware of the weather and your timing so you don’t get stuck sinking to your knees through “rotten” warm snow on the way back. Some popular trails such as the hike to Taggart Lake get packed deep enough to hike without snowshoes, but we recommend winter boots over sneakers. Traction devices such as yaktrax or microspikes give you grip going up and down hills. No matter what you’ve got strapped to your feet, remember to hike in a group and bring bear spray as grizzlies will continue to come out of their winter dens throughout April.
In late April, some regional trails within a few hours radius of Jackson Hole begin to dry out enough to hike. Eastern Idaho, Dubois, and the Red Desert can offer nice day-trip hikes from Jackson. Talk to a few locals or explore a hiking app such as Alltrails for ideas. Try to find another option if you find a muddy trail - this will help to keep the track smooth for the summer.
Hotsprings, Museums and other Activities
There are a few other activities connected to the natural world that our guides enjoy in April. A new favorite is a good soak at Astoria Hot Springs. The springs are tucked between the mountains of the Snake River Range and the river itself. Sharp-eyed viewers can often spot bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and waterfowl flying by as they soak. If you get a snowy April Day, sitting in the hot spring pools while snow gently falls around you is an experience to be treasured.
On a less pleasant April day, the world-class National Museum of Wildlife Art is a good indoor choice for wildlife fans. Permanent exhibits cover European and American wildlife art and there are multiple rooms of temporary exhibits. Other activities such as a few rounds at Jackson Hole Bowl, a movie at Jackson Hole Cinemas, and a visit to the gift shops of town can help round out a rainy day.
Fly-fishing season is beginning to open up on the Snake and other area rivers. Some guided trips are available, or get a fishing license and bring your own gear. In early April, the ice on Jackson Lake remains thick enough to safely ice fish. By mid-April, the ice around the edges of the lake can become thin and dangerous. Check in with locals and fly-fishing shops for conditions and recommendations.
Enjoy sparse crowds during April in Jackson Hole
If you enjoy spending time in the natural world and bring a flexible, good-natured approach to the unpredictable weather and trail conditions, you can still find plenty to do on a trip to Jackson Hole in April. Check the forecast as you pack - April weather can range from 20 and snowing, to 35 and raining, to 70 and sunny. There can be as much 50 degree difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures on dry days, so bring plenty of warm layers for the crisp mornings and a day pack to stash them as the sun things up. Sturdy, water-resistant boots are highly recommended. Many restaurants and shops will remain closed, so research options (Jackson Hole News and Guide is a good resource) for finding those good off-season specials in the restaurants that remain open.
Ecotour Adventures Naturalist Sarah Ernst has been leading wildlife tours in Jackson Hole since 2011. Spring is her favorite time of year and every year she loves to geek about about the return of wildflowers, butterflies, and bird species in April.
