Jackson Hole’s setting among the mountains of northwest Wyoming seems calculated to impress. Sweeping into the broad Snake River valley by plane gives a grandstand view of the Teton Range to the north. From touchdown at Jackson Hole airport, it’s an easy 9 miles (14 km) to the town of Jackson Hole and a further 20 miles (32 km) to Teton Village resort at the base of the ski area—just thirty minutes by car or shuttle bus. Here the peaks rise dramatically from the high valley plain, from around 6,000 feet (1,829 m) above sea level to a lift-served maximum of over 10,000 feet (3,048 m.) The highest peak in the range, Grand Teton, reaches nearly 14,000 feet (4,267 m.)

There are no direct flights from outside the U.S. but there are connections from most of the major U.S. airports. The nearest international airport with good European connections is Salt Lake City, from where you can drive (about 280 miles/450 km) or fly to Jackson.

Yellowstone National Park’s south entrance is just 55 miles (88 km) north of town and is responsible, along with Grand Teton National Park, for a busy summer season. That also accounts for the winter low season—a strange anomaly for one of the world’s great ski resorts—and ensures there’s always a good range of accommodations to choose from.

An hour and a half by car from Jackson on the other side of the Tetons is the cat-ski and powder mecca Grand Targhee, an easy (and essential) day trip for visitors to Jackson Hole.