Jackson Hole Maps And Geography
The Rich Geography Of Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole is the commonly used name for the broad-based valley that lies at 6,200 feet between two mountain ranges: the Tetons to the west and the Gros Ventres to the east. Bisected by the Snake River, the valley ascends gently to the north until at Jackson Lake’s northern end, the volcanic uplift of Yellowstone National Park intrudes. About 10 miles south of the town of Jackson, the Jackson Hole valley ends abruptly at the Snake River Canyon, through which the Snake River flows to the Pacific Ocean, 840 miles distant.
The town of Jackson (not Jackson Hole) is situated on the eastern edge of the valley near its southern end. The first homesteaders lived on the western side the valley below the pass to Idaho, but some of them soon moved across the valley’s floor when they noticed that there was less snowfall and milder winter temperatures on the site of today’s town.
Travelers are often surprised by the size and flat terrain of Jackson Hole because the four highways that approach the valley traverse mountain passes or push through steep-sided canyons. The valley’s pastoral tranquility is deceptive, however, because the growing season is short, and the soils are thin, rocky and generally poor. Yet in other respects, Jackson Hole is a place of abundance.
North Of Jackson
To the north of Jackson are Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks as well as Togwotee Pass. Highway 89, the only major road to the north, leaves Jackson abruptly at the southern edge of the National Elk Refuge, a 25,000 acre reserve created in 1912 that is home to the world’s largest elk herd during the winter months. Four miles to the north, the road climbs 300 feet to the Grand Teton National Park boundary and the first close-up views of the range.
Ten miles from Jackson is the turnoff to the Jackson Hole Airport. At 12 miles, in a town aptly named Moose, the motorist comes to the park entrance gates and visitor center for Grand Teton National Park. The highway north then parallels the Snake River on benches of alluvial deposits that were laid down and smoothed by glaciers. At a junction in Moran, 30 miles north of Jackson, is a small community for park employees. There Hwy. 89 heads north and soon comes to Jackson Lake near its outlet into the Snake River. Jackson Lake Lodge, built by the Rockefellers in 1951, and Colter Bay marina and campground are the two largest lakeside facilities within the park. At Flagg Ranch Resort, exactly 55 miles from town, the highway begins its long and gradual ascent into Yellowstone National Park.
To learn more about north of Jackson and Jackson Hole real estate opportunities in the area, visit the north of Jackson locality.
West Of Jackson
To the west of Jackson are the southernmost peaks of the Teton Mountain range. Highway 22 crosses the Snake River five miles from town, just before one reaches a traffic light which marks the turnoff to Teton Village. Located seven miles to the north on Highway 392, Teton Village is a community of shops and residences at the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Highway 22 continues west through the small town of Wilson at the western edge of the valley and then climbs steeply over Teton Pass (8,431 feet) on its way to the small agricultural and bedroom communities of eastern Idaho. Teton Pass marks the division point between the Tetons to the north and the Snake River Mountains, a lower, heavily-forested, much-less-visited mountain range to the south. To the western side of the valley lies several of the area’s largest working ranches and exclusive subdivisions, for which the valley is increasingly famous.
Nearly all commercial development on the west side of the Snake River is restricted to three areas: Teton Village; the Aspens area on the Village Road about three miles north of the turnoff at Highway 22; and the hamlet of Wilson (pop. 200) where gas, groceries, restaurants and a smattering of other essentials are offered before the road heads over the pass to Victor, Idaho, 21 miles away.
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west of Jackson locality.
East Of Jackson
To the east of Jackson are the Gros Ventre Mountains and the huge expanses of wilderness for which the area is justly famous.
If one took a bearing toward the southeast, it would be possible to travel about 80 air miles before coming to a paved road. About halfway there, the backcountry traveler might traverse the alpine meadows where the Colorado, Columbia and Mississippi River drainages come together in a point.
South Of Jackson
To the south of Jackson is the Snake River Canyon, a.k.a. the Grand Canyon of the Snake, where most of the valley’s whitewater rafting activity is concentrated. At Hoback Junction, a small town offering gas, food and a little lodging 13 miles south of Jackson, Highway 89 heads away downstream along the Snake River to the southwest toward Salt Lake City, while Highway. 191 heads upstream along the Hoback River southeast toward Pinedale, the Wind River Mountains and the middle of Wyoming.
Directly south of Hoback Junction are several parallel mountain ranges around which the highways to the east and west are diverted. Between these lines of mountains is found a 110-mile-long gravel road that is said to traverse the largest and longest drainage in the lower 48 states. Beginning at Alpine, a town 23 miles southwest of Hoback Junction and at the downstream end of the Snake River Canyon, this road winds between the Wyoming and Salt River Mountain Ranges.
To learn more about south of Jackson and Jackson Hole real estate opportunities in the area, visit the south of Jackson locality.
Jackson Hole Area Maps
View and download Jackson Hole maps to learn more about the Jackson Hole area and real estate options. Choose from either a regional view of Jackson Hole or the Town of Jackson.
For additional Jackson Hole maps, visit Jackson Hole Traveler's wepage on Jackson Hole maps. //
