Jackson Hole Aerial Tram

Nine minutes to 10,450 feet and the Tetons at eye level

⏱ 2-3 hours👤 All ages$$$

The tram is also a piece of engineering history. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort opened in the mid-1960s around the original tram, and retiring it in 2006 forced the resort to choose between a cheaper replacement and a true successor; the 2008 cabin nearly doubled capacity and sped up the ride, but kept the single-span drama of a car swinging over cliff bands and gullies on its way to the peak. The cable runs close to five miles of rope across the line, and the operators run a remarkably tight schedule in good weather, but wind is the governing force at 10,000 feet: holds and closures happen, especially during winter storms, so build flexibility into the day and check the resort's lift status before driving out to Teton Village.

How to do it well: go early on a clear day (the light is crisper and the cabins are less crowded), stand near the downhill-facing windows on the ride up for the widening valley view, and budget at least an hour at the top. Corbet's Cabin is the obvious first stop for waffles; then walk a little away from the dock for photographs of the Teton crest and, in winter, for the skier's-eye view down into Corbet's Couloir. In summer, the summit is a trailhead for alpine hikes, and many visitors ride up and hike part of the way down; in winter, non-skiers should stay in the summit area, which is managed terrain, and leave the backcountry gates to experienced, equipped skiers.

Practicals and fit: Teton Village is about 12 miles from the town of Jackson, with paid parking and the START bus for those who prefer not to drive. Sightseeing tickets are sold by the resort; prices vary by season and are higher than a typical gondola, so treat it as the trip's splurge. Pair it with a Grand Teton morning along the highway turnouts or the Moose area, or with an afternoon at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson. Fit: first-timers, families, and winter travelers who want the most vertical drama in the region in a single ride.