6 Free And Cheap Things To Do In Jackson, Wyoming
The city of Jackson has approximately 11,000 residents and is located in Teton County, Wyoming. It is the largest town in the county as well as its county seat.
Jackson is a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to multiple ski resorts, Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone National Park.
The town is often mistakenly referred to as Jackson Hole. Jackson Hole actually refers to the entire valley, not the city itself.
The town was originally named after Davey Jackson in 1894 and incorporated in 1914.
Below are some free and cheap things to do during your visit to the city.
Elk Antler Arch: Snap some photos standing under the iconic elk antler arches in the town square. Each arch displays between 10,000 to 14,000 pounds of elk antlers, totaling over 2,000 antlers per arch.
Jackson National Fish Hatchery: This hatchery was established in 1950 and visitors can tour the facility for free and get the opportunity for a close-up view of the fish production process. The hatchery produces nearly 40,000 native cutthroat trout each year
National Elk Refuge: This is a wildlife refuge located just outside the town of Jackson. It was created on August 10, 1912, and covers 25,000 acres of grasslands, wetlands, and forests. It provides winter habitat and feeding grounds for one of the largest elk herds in North America.
The National Elk Refuge and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center is located adjacent to the refuge inside the town of Jackson and is free to visit. It’s a great starting point for visitors looking to explore the refuge with multiple exhibits and volunteers on hand to answer any questions you may have.
National Museum of Wildlife Art: This 51,000-square-foot museum founded in 1987 preserves and exhibits wildlife art. More than 5,000 pieces of art reside in the building including works from Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Robert Kuhn, John James Audubon, and Carl Rungius.
Admission is $18 for adults, $10 for first child and $5 for each additional child.
Astoria Hot Springs: Located just south of the city of Jackson you can find the Astoria Hot Springs. The hot springs feature six different man-made soaking pools filled with natural thermal waters of different temperatures.
Tickets are around $20.
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar: This is the city’s landmark watering hole located in the town square. Established in 1937 it features American chow and drinks, live entertainment, and a large collection of Western memorabilia.
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Jackson Town Square is full of unique shops, restaurants, and businesses catering to all the visitors the town receives each year.
We spent some time walking around but only bought a couple of items. The prices were high in my opinion, but that is typical of these tourist towns.
Grand Teton National Park is less than twenty miles north of Jackson. Travel another thirty miles north and you’ll stumble into Yellowstone National Park. We spent a total of a week in each park and can’t wait to go back.
Both of these national parks are amazing and should be added to your list of future places to visit.
