A number of spas and lodges offer relaxing retreats for visitors throughout the year. Rated as the second best resort in the United States and Canada by Travel+Leisure readers in 2010, the Four Seasons Resort (fourseasons.com) offers a full-service alpine spa with massages and day spa treatments. The facility features 16 treatment rooms, including separate men's and women's tranquility lounges with fireplaces. The Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa (tetonlodge.com) provides a complimentary 16,000-square foot spa for guests. It includes indoor and outdoor pools, five hot tubs, steam rooms, a tranquility lounge and a fitness center.
Jackson Hole is a short drive from several national parks and forests (nps.gov). Grand Teton National Park features peaks rising over 7,000 vertical feet, including the Grand Teton at an imposing 13,770 feet. Visitors can enjoy scenic drives and hikes with lake and mountain views throughout the park. The National Elk Refuge is home to approximately 10,000 elk who winter in the park. The migration into the refuge generally occurs after the first snow fall. North of the Jackson Hole is Yellowstone National Park, America's first national park and home to Old Faithful and other geysers and hot springs. Visitors can hike in the backcountry to view wildlife and the park's stunning mountain scenery.
Fall colors around Jackson Hole peak in late September and early October. Hiking is an excellent way to view the vibrant colors and explore the region's natural beauty. The Hole Hiking Experience (holehike.com) organizes guided hikes during the fall months for visitors to view wildlife and the scenic landscapes around Jackson Hole. Although weather can be wet, independent hikes are also possible along trails in Grand Teton National Park. Permits are required to hike in the park's backcountry and for overnight camping. Signal Mountain, Gros Ventre and Jenny Lake campgrounds are open through early and mid October.
Fishing season extends into October in and around Jackson Hole. Fishing is permitted in Yellowstone National Park and the National Elk Refuge (fws.gov). Visitors can access Gros Ventre River in the refuge from Gros Ventre Road within the Grand Teton National Park. Fishing in the refuge is also permitted on sections of Upper Flat Creek, Lower Flat Creek and Nowlin Creek. Permits are not required for anglers in the refuge, although a fishing license and conservation stamp are required. Firearm hunting of elk with a permit is also allowed in the refuge from early October to mid-December, and archery hunting is permitted in the south of the refuge.
