Jackson Hole is that rare place where nature meets nurture. Encircled by the Teton Range and dotted with visual reminders of its frontier past, the region is also home to modern LEED-certified spas, elegant organic restaurants, and eco-chic resorts that blend seamlessly into the landscape.
With two of America’s greatest national parks (Grand Teton and Yellowstone) within easy reach, as well as the Rockies’ most notoriously heart-thumping ski trails, the Jackson Hole Valley is a four-season slice of Wyoming heaven where ample food for the soul and an abundance of pampering for the body make for a perfect weekend in the wild. Here's how to make the best of your spa weekend getaway to Jackson Hole, Wyoming:
FRIDAY AFTERNOON:
Check into Spring Creek Ranch (pictured) , which sits high on a butte overlooking the town of Jackson, sharing the hillside with ultra-chic Amangani resort. Amangani has the photo shoot–worthy outdoor pool, but Spring Creek’s rooms make the most of the Teton view.
Head for Spring Creek’s Wilderness Adventure Spa, where local mesquite tree powder, sagebrush, and red clay mud, used in the High Desert Hydration Body Treatment, will slough off the day’s travel and seal in moisture.
Afterward, replenish at Spring Creek’s Granary with a late lunch of what has been called “upscale mountain-man” cuisine, including options such as wild-game chili. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, too — altitude sickness can strike above 4,000 feet if you’re not properly hydrated, and Jackson Hole Valley measures in at over 6,500.
Book a guided sunset hike with Kurt Johnson, the resident naturalist at Spring Creek Ranch, to view the wildlife that has made the Tetons famous. It’s a short but invigorating hike to the top of the butte, and the full-valley view is a breathtaking reward — the National Elk Refuge, a protected range for some 7,000 elk, lies just below.
Next: Saturday and Sunday; experience the Wild West and Jackson Hole spas.
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