Booking a hotel room, or renting a house in the Jackson Hole area is, of course, all well and good. But there are other ways to stay here during your visit and truly experience “the cowboy way” at a sustainable destination. Here are a few options that offer memorable adventures and unique — even luxuriously rugged— accommodations.
Flat Creek Ranch
A top-rated TripAdvisor specialty lodging experience in Jackson Hole, Flat Creek Ranch is a luxury guest ranch tucked miles into the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Gros Ventre Wilderness Area. It has been voted as one of the Top 10 Dude Ranches by USA Today and earned a Business Emerald Sustainability Tier (BEST) level of sustainability performance.
Getting to your own private wilderness is your first adventure—a 15-mile route across the National Elk Refuge and into the mountains over a rigorous Jeep track. At the end of the road, you reach a true, secluded haven away from the hustle and bustle of your life back home.
Other adventures to experience at this sustainable destination—once you are settled into one of the five historic, completely renovated cabins—include hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and even backcountry experiences. Some dude ranches host 50 to 60 guests at a time, but Flat Creek offers an intimate ambiance with a capacity of just 12 to 14 guests; you are never part of a crowd. And while most dude ranches require a minimum stay of one week, the minimum stay here is just three nights.
“Everyone comes to Jackson to be a part of the wild environment, but to be able to surround yourself by thousands of acres of national forest and wilderness is a luxury we don't take for granted,” says Shelby Scharf, manager. “Not to mention, with only 14 guests at a time and the nearest neighbor 10 miles away, you feel like you are part of the family.”
Each guest cabin on the ranch is a suite consisting of a bedroom, a living room with a wood-burning stove, a bathroom with an antique clawfoot bathtub, and a sitting porch. Electric power comes from a state-of-the-art solar system—a symbol of the ranch’s determination to preserve our environment and promote low-impact eco-tourism.
Serving food from traditional to decadent, the ranch kitchen is supplied by local, organic meat and produce whenever possible, including fresh greens from the garden.
While at the ranch you will have use of canoes, kayaks, a drift boat, paddleboards, and hiking and fishing equipment. Trail rides take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Flat Creek Ranch's 2025 operation dates are June 2nd through September 29th. The Ranch is closed for the season after October 2nd. A three-night weekend escape in summer costs $1,477 a night per double occupancy; an additional person costs $475. A four-night wilderness experience package is also $1,477 for two and $475 for each additional person. There is also a seven-night ranch total vacation package which will cost you $1,477 a night per double occupancy; $475 each additional person.
For more information and reservations, visit flatcreekranch.com, or call 307-733-0603.
The Darwin Ranch
Nestled back in the Gros Ventre Wilderness area of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Darwin Ranch offers a true get-away-from-it-all dude ranch experience. In fact, the family-operated guest ranch is the most remote guest ranch in the lower 48 states.
"The Darwin Ranch is like nothing else in the West,” said Oliver Klingenstein, co-owner alongside his mother, Kathy.
In 2023, Darwin topped the list of "America’s Best Dude Ranches," by Travel & Leisure.
Twenty-five miles down a dirt road, you will find a herd of horses dotting a spectacular green river valley amidst a collection of 100-year-old cabins.
The Darwin Ranch has been hosting guests on and off since the 1920s. It was more formally a guest operation in the 1930s, and then it wasn’t again until its revival in 1964—and the Darwin has been operating as such since.
The ranch can accommodate 18 guests in nine spaces. Extra beds and cots take the maximum capacity to 23. There are three private cabins, all free-standing. Each has a screened porch, a bath and a queen bed plus a twin/daybed. There is also one larger cabin split into four separate rooms, each with its own entrance, bath and porch. An additional room is available on one end of the Willow (utility) cabin, plus the Loft in the upstairs of the lodge.
With a background in sustainable farming, conservation and environmental issues, Oliver and Kathy are committed to preserving, protecting and sharing the land.
The majority of the ranch’s meat and vegetables come from its sister ranch outside of Cody, Wyoming, where they raise beef and pork following sustainable, integrated agricultural practices.
In addition to the guest ranch, The Darwin Ranch also offers a Wilderness Camp which is six miles up the Gros Ventre River, across from Upper Falls.
Hunting in autumn at the Darwin is the “quintessential Western hunt,” said Oliver. Running from late September through the end of October, hunts are based from the ranch and guests travel on horseback.
The stays at the Darwin are six nights in duration, from Sunday to Saturday. The summer season for 2025 runs from June 22nd through September 20th.
Visit darwinranch.com for more information and to make reservations. You may also email Kathy at thedarwinranch@gmail.com.
Triangle X Ranch
There are really no unattractive views when you’re out in Jackson Hole, no matter where you choose to stay, but Triangle X Ranch probably provides the most spectacular, iconic vista of them all. Located within Grand Teton National Park it features a jaw-dropping, bang-on view of the Tetons.
Triangle X is an authentic dude ranch — a five generation family-run business — celebrating almost 100 years of operation. It is located 26 miles north of the town of Jackson and 32 miles south of the entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
Horseback riding is the centerpiece of your seven-day vacation on this historic guest ranch.
“Our target crowd is mostly people looking for a Western dude ranch experience,” says manager Lucas Turner. “It’s for people who have never been to a dude ranch before and want to try a new thing when they decide to come out to Jackson Hole."
Guests can choose from a variety of rides led by friendly and knowledgeable wranglers, ranging from scenic “slow” rides to advanced rides covering longer distances. Beginners are given special attention and soon come to feel like “old hands” on the trail. There are also riding programs for kids and teenagers (13 to 19 years old).
Each of the ranch’s 20 distinct, one- to three-bedroom log cabins originated in Jackson Hole and has a story of its own. Your home for the week may have housed an early settler family in the late 1800s, later being moved to the ranch and gazing eternally out at the Tetons. Or your cabin was built with logs cut nearby the ranch and hauled in with teams of horses and constructed by members of the Turner family.
All cabins are attractively furnished and provide all the needed modern amenities. However, the Turners have chosen to not provide television, telephones or WiFi in the cabins as they want you to enjoy the true traditional dude ranch experience.
Fun Fact: In 1950, Congress included much of the valley floor into an expanded Grand Teton National Park, including the acreage of the Triangle X Ranch. Today, the Triangle X continues operation as an authorized concession of the National Park Service – the last dude ranch concession within the nation’s entire National Park’s system.
Evening activities include square dancing, a ranch history presentation, cookouts, and National Park interpretive programs. Guests can also take a day or half a day off from riding to go explore Yellowstone National Park, hike in the Tetons, ride the Aerial Tram up in Teton Village or stroll downtown Jackson.
Triangle X's peak season is from early June to late August with a seven-night minimum stay (Sunday to Sunday). Prices range from $2,240 to $3,115 per person, per week.
For more information and reservations, visit trianglex.com, or call 307-733-2183.
Goosewing Ranch
Goosewing Ranch, located in the Gros Ventre River Valley in Jackson, is another historic guest ranch. Offering intimate authenticity with Teton views, family, friends and strangers have come together on this ranch for more than 100 years to enjoy the company of the mountains.
Originally a site of early homesteaders as far as back as 1911. Located about 40 miles northeast of Jackson, a local Jackson Hole family purchased the Goosewing in 2021 and seeks to honor the history of the Goosewing by keeping the property intact with its homestead neighbor, Gunsight Ranch.
Goosewing welcomes guests of all ages, backgrounds and riding abilities. It can accommodate 35 guests in 11 individual cabins, each featuring a full bathroom, gas fireplace and porch, along with beautiful lodge pole furniture. There are three two-bedroom, one-bath cabins for larger families, which have one queen bed in the parental bedroom, and one double bed, plus a set of bunk beds in the kids’ bedroom. Italian linens and down comforters with updated Tempurpedic and Beauty Rest mattresses complete the comfort. The ranch also boasts three private hot tubs.
"There aren’t enough words to describe how awesome this place is!
Goosewing Ranch surpasses every expectation. If you are on the fence book the trip; you will not regret it. We stayed for 6 nights and I’m so glad we did. In my opinion, 3 would not have been enough — I wasn’t ready to go after 6. The staff here is absolutely amazing. They truly make you feel like family."- TripAdvisor 5-star review
Depending on the time of season, there are opportunities to spot elk, moose, mule deer, antelope, eagles, black bears, wolves, mountain lions, trumpeter swans, cranes, and geese in the area. The Gros Ventre River, home to native cutthroat trout, runs through the meadows of the ranch.
Three- and six-night packages are available that include lodging, meals, horseback rides into the Bridger-Teton National Forest, a personal four-seat UTV, and all ranch activities, such as fly fishing, shooting, kids camp, hiking, and more.
The guest season for 2025 runs from June 4th through September 24th.
For additional information and rates, visit goosewingranch.com, or call 307-733-5251.
Stay in a Hostel
If you want to experience a social atmosphere while traveling, meet new people from diverse backgrounds and save money on accommodation costs (Jackson can be a tad pricey), staying in a hostel is ideal for budget travelers. The Anvil Hotel’s Cache House (pictured above) is the only hostel located steps from Town Square. The elevated hostel features two bunk areas with cozy queen, full, and twin bunk beds and plush linens and bedding. Well-lit bathrooms with private stalls, storage lockers and an open communal space for relaxing complete this offering.
For more information, go to cachehouse.com.
The Hostel in Teton Village, which sits at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, is a Jackson Hole tradition. The New York Times says those looking for a killer deal come here, and The Guardian ranks it as one of the top 5 ski hostels in the world. Comfortable guestrooms have either a king bed or four twin beds, all with private bathrooms.
Visit thehostel.us for more information.
RV Parks
• Snake River Cabins and RV Park: The Snake River Cabins and RV Park is located on the banks of the iconic and mighty Snake River, a scenic 12-mile drive to downtown Jackson. There are full hookups for water, sewer and electric for trailers, motorhomes and RVs up to 30 feet in length. For more information and reservations call 307-733-7078 or visit snakeriverpark.com.
• Alpine Valley RV Resort: Approximately 40 minutes south of Jackson via the incredibly scenic Snake River Canyon, lies the area's luxury RV park in Alpine (pictured above), offering 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and the confluence of the Snake and Greys rivers and the Palisades Reservoir. It offers full hook-up RV sites for rigs up to 75 feet in length and is pet-friendly. Owned by Dave Hansen Whitewater, you can depart and return directly from Alpine for your rafting trip through the Snake River Canyon without having to shuttle to and from Jackson, saving you hours in the car. For more information and reservations, call (307) 241-5707, or visit alpinevalleyresortwy.com.
• Virginian RV Park: This popular in-town RV park is a convenient short walk to Jackson Town Square and a 20-minute drive to the entrance of Grand Teton National Park. There are 103, pet-friendly RV sites at the Virginian RV Park with full hookups, picnic tables, shady trees and convenient access to cable and WiFi services. The park is open from May 1st through October 15th. For more information and reservations, call 307-733-7189, or visit virginianrvpark.com.
• Fireside Resort: Fireside offers two RV parks/resorts in the Jackson/Grand Teton National Park area. Fireside in Jackson Hole, located on Rte. 390 — otherwise known as the Village Road —was established in 1963 and is the longest-running campground in the area. All sites offer electric, water, sewer and cable hook-ups. Other amenities include showers and bathrooms, coin-operated laundry facilities and a campground store among other "perks." For more information and reservations call 307-733-1177 or visit firesidejacksonhole.com.
Fireside Buffalo Valley sits 5 miles east of the Moran entrance of Grand Teton National Park, which leads to Yellowstone's entryway. It features full hookups — water and electric — plus picnic tables, in-ground fire rings and gorgeous Teton Range views. The onsite convenience store carries firewood, ice, last-minute meal items, RV supplies and propane refills. For information and reservations call 307-733-1980 or visit yellowstonerv.com.
Glamping, Anyone?
If pitching a tent isn’t your style, or you don't own an RV, give glamping a go. At Glamping of Jackson Hole, you’ll find yourself in an African safari-style tent complete with a memory foam bed and cozy bedding, real furnishings, solar lighting, and a wood-burning stove to keep you warm on our cool mountain nights.
This all-inclusive glamping 5 Million Star resort includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and of course, s’mores, in addition to hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding with North Fork Trail Rides, and more.
The resort is very secluded and within the boundaries of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and yet is only 10 minutes from Jackson Hole! Overnight stays range from two nights to five nights, with costs ranging from $996 to $2,490, based on adult double occupancy. For additional information and reservations, visit glampingofjacksonhole.com., or call 307-699-4415.
The Last Word
As you can see, there are various ways to stay in Jackson Hole that don't include choosing a hotel or rental home — not that there's anything wrong with that! But if you want to get creative or stay off the beaten path, consider the above options and make some unexpected memories.