Yellowstone + Tetons

Mormon Row, Wyoming

How to do 4 Days in Jackson Hole

I’ve said it thrice and I’ll say it again. Jackson Hole is God’s favorite child. It’s a magical place where not one but two National Parks meet a swanky cowboy town with 5 star food and buffalo causing the rush hour traffic. I’m not sure how all of these things work in harmony to create the pot of gold of the Wild West, but it sure has stolen this cowgirl’s heart. Here is your perfectly perfected itinerary for 4 days in Jackson Hole.

Meet my girl Hanna. We go way back of about 3 months, but when it comes to a travel buddy, when you know you know. I plan the trips and she says hell yes and that, my friends, is the formula for a solid girls trip.

Yellowstone National Park

Day 1

Travel + Yellowstone

Hanna and I took the early 6am flight going from CLT-DFW-BZN in order to land in Bozeman for an early start to our day. Truth #1: The “travel day” is for more than just getting to your destination. This is a travel day, a walk around downtown day, a National Park day, a see all you can in 24 hours day! Book an early flight to use the day to its greatest potential. We landed in Bozeman in time for a delish brunch at Jam!. I’m still dreaming about the roasted vegetable omelet made with egg whites with gluten free toast and house-made jam.

After fueling up for your adventure, head south to Yellowstone National Park! This park is wack. A perfect way to describe it - a science experience gone wrong and a beautiful masterpiece all at once. Yellowstone is essentially a supervolcano. Will it erupt one day? Who knows. Until then, it creates miles of the most insane hot springs and geysers that look like they are from a Doctor Seuss book. The drive through the park is beautifully filled with all kinds of wildlife - buffalo, moose, etc. We drove up to the visitor center and a MOOSE was laying in the grass with everyone having a picnic. Not unusual at all for Yellowstone.

First stop - Mammoth Hot Springs! This is the strangest looking attraction in Yellowstone. Limestone mixed with hot springs continuously evolves and changes into what looks like the inside of a cave. Pools of boiling mud, is exactly what it looks like, with a strong smell of sulfur.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Next stop – Grand Prismatic Spring, and baby was it grand! This bright blue and orange beauty is a massive hot spring. Walk around the boardwalk for the up close and personal view, or hike the Fairy Falls trail to get the birds eye view. It is illegal to step off the boardwalk to touch the water, and extremely dangerous, but bison are known to visit the spring to warm up in the colder months. What a sight that would have been! There are other geysers and pools along the boardwalk that are just as beautiful, especially at sunset.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Excelsior Geyser at Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring at sunset

The final stop of the day is the most famous attraction in Yellowstone, Old Faithful. Many people gathered around on the boardwalk benches waiting on the eruption. You can visit the website to see when exactly it is predicted to erupt. We left before the eruption due to a buffalo coming our way (see future Badlands post for our feelings on this). What I recommend – grabbing dinner to-go at the Old Faithful Lodge and having a picnic on the benches while you wait. This was our last stop for the day and we were exhausted. We left and headed down the road to Jackson Hole to our lodge. How ironic is it to go to Yellowstone and see everything but the eruption? You can’t do it all in four days, but we sure try!

Day 2

Kick start the best day of the trip with a delicious meal from the cutest cafe in the heart of Jackson Hole, Cafe Genevieve. The drip coffee with huevos con chile verde will keep you fueled and full. After breakfast, take some time to soak in charm of Jackson. The town square is filled with so many cute western wear boutiques, cowboy bars and coffee shops. You have to get a photo with the antler arches, located on every corner.

Jackson Hole

Antler Arches at Jackson Hole Town Square

Next stop: Jackson Hole Winery. If you know me, you know there is nothing in this world better than good wine with a view. No place on earth could ever top that of Jackson Hole Winery. Grab a bottle of chardonnay and relax by the river flowing from the Tetons. The wine was amazing and relatively cheaply priced. My only regret is not taking a few bottles home. *You must make an appointment during covid restrictions.

The view from our table at Jackson Hole Winery

Once you’re feeling good and living better, head on over to Spring Creek Ranch for our favorite adventure of the trip, horseback riding! Truth#2: Splurge on one really amazing experience, something that will possibly be the highlight of the trip. This was horseback riding at the ranch for us. At about $70 for a two hour ride, we thought this was a great deal, especially for the location and views this trail ride had to offer. If you are not an experienced horseback rider, no worries. The trail horses know exactly what to do. All experience levels are welcome. The views from my horse were quite stellar. From the Teton peaks to the valley of Jackson Hole, you could see for miles. A fire cowgirl outfit is required. Grab your hat, flare jeans and Lucchese cowgirl boots and saddle up. You’ll be singing I wanna be a c o w b o y b a b y for days.

Spring Creek Ranch, Jackson Hole

Hop on over to the Local for a savory dinner con vino. I discovered on this trip that fresh trout is actually pink. PINK. I highly recommend the blackened trout on white cheddar grits, with a side of crispy brussels sprouts and local fries to share. Let me pause for a minute to explain the Idaho pure gold potato. Fries in Wyoming are not like any fry you’ve eaten on the east coast. I’m not sure what happens on the potato’s journey east or if we grow our own, but the potatoes out west do not compare. The flavor in a simple fry is ridiculous.

The last stop of my favorite day of the trip was Mormon Row Historic District. Located in the Grand Teton National Park, the area is a popular tourist destination for the antique buildings, Teton peaks, buffalo herds and stunning sunset views. Give yourself time to get there before sunset. Rush hour traffic of the buffalo is no joke! It almost made us miss the most beautiful sunset at the barn. Soak it all in and snap a few photos; the sun sets too quick!

Mormon Row

Rush hour traffic at Mormon Row

Mormon Row at sunset

Truth #3: You do not need to spend $$$$$ on a hotel. I live by the idea that on these adventure trips, you are only in the room to shower and sleep. As long as the room is clean, no bugs and feels safe, it’s a winner! Of course if you are planning a vacation of relaxing with a drink by the pool, you absolutely should splurge on a resort. That, however, is not the type of trips I’m here to talk about. My girl Han and I found The Virginian Lodge to be such a homey, quaint little hotel in Jackson. The front lobby looked more like a taxidermist studio than a hotel check in. But hey, it’s all about the experience. And I would hope for nothing less in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

DAY 3

Adventure Day!

Truth #4: Nature is free (after you buy an Annual National Park Pass for $70ish dollars). Our plan was to hike around Jenny Lake in the Teton National Park, but a local said, “no no, too many tourists. Do a harder hike.” So we did just that. The Delta Lake Trail is one that isn’t on the park map. Take the Amphitheater Lake Trail until you come to a fork in the road, take the path less traveled by to the right. It’s an 8 mile round trip hike that leads to a gorgeous glacier lake at the top of the Tetons. This hike is not for everyone. The last mile is uphill rock climbing. We were exhausted by the end, but the view was worth it! We packed a lunch and had a picnic at the top before hiking back down.

UNWELL at Delta Lake Hiking Trail - the last mile before the top

Delta Lake

Look Ma I made it

You better believe after a killer hike like this, we treated ourselves for dinner. Bin22 was recommended to us by a local as “Sandra Bullock’s favorite place.” I’m not sure if that’s true, but I would absolutely agree with her. We hit the dusty trail and made it there in time for happy hour deals and tapas and just had ourselves a day.

Day 4

JAC-DFW-CLT

And that, my friends, is how you do Yellowstone and the Tetons in four days. I’ve been a lot of places in my lifetime. Jackson Hole makes the favorites list at number 2. THE FOOD, the people, the boujee cowgirl charm, and not one but TWO national parks with the most insane landscapes… it’s a destination that will be hard to beat. Cowgirl Emdub and Han will be back.

xx emdub