The Grand Targhee is a ski resort located in Wyoming but accessed from the Idaho side of the Teton mountain range. The nearest town, Driggs, Idaho, is home to an up and coming restaurant scene with a mix of old buildings being revamped with a modern flair. We love visiting The Grand Targhee in summer for it’s epic mountain biking trails, hiking to views of the Grand Tetons, and relaxing at the resort’s pool and restaurants.
Here are the top 7 reasons we think you too will love to visit The Grand Targhee for your next summer vacation.
Disclosure: Our experience at The Grand Targhee Lodge was compensated to us free of charge in order to create this post however the opinions expressed in this blog are, and always will be, truly our own.
1 | Intimate Resort Feel
I don’t like crowds and so the overall small, quaint feeling of Grand Targhee is unlike anything you get when you visit most ski resorts.
While the Grand Targhee is small for a ski resort, I love that it still has everything you need. There’s a full restaurant serving up delicious burgers. A bar next door serving up more great food and drinks. A pro shop where you can rent bikes, buy cool swag, and get gear. A small convenience store with drinks and snacks.
2 | Views of the Tetons + Teton Valley
The Grand Targhee reminds me of the Alps. The bright lime green meadows broken up by Aspen trees make me so happy.
The Grand Targhee sits on the backside of Grand Teton National Park and from the top of Fred’s Mountain, you can see Grand, Middle, and South Teton as well as broken top,
3 | Hiking Trails
There are many great trails to explore at The Grand Targhee and while you can of course purchase a one time lift ticket to ride to the top of the mountain and take in the view of the Grand Tetons, the hike up Fred’s Mountain is only 3 miles and isn’t too hard. Plus, all downhill rides are free so once you make it to the top and are done soaking in the views of Grand Teton, you can hop on the lift and enjoy views of Teton Valley on your way back to the lodge.
4 | Epic Mountain Biking
This is the best reason to come visit Grand Targhee, the mountain biking.
You can choose from downhill or cross country. On our first visit to Grand Targhee, Gabi and I chose to cross country and took on the challenging route of Action Jackson, Buffalo Soldier, and 38 Special. After a strenuous 2 hour climb, we reached Teton Valley Overlook and were awestruck by the view of the Tetons in front of us. Then we got to spend an hour flowing back down the trail through aspen groves. It was incredible!
This time, we rode the downhill bike park and had even more fun. With the ease of riding the lifts all day up the mountain and bombing the downhill section, it was all crime and no punishment. Be sure to watch our full video of mountain biking in Grand Targhee on YouTube.
We are intermediate mountain bikers at best so even though we did take the Dreamcatcher Lift all the way to the top in order to experience the thrilling ride of Sidewinder, it was the shorter and easier riding off the Shoshone Lift that we enjoyed the most.
From the Shoshone Lift, I highly recommend starting on the only green run, Bring It On Home. It’s smooth and flowy and a great place to hone in your handling skills. Tati, who has never mountain biked, was able to do a few runs here, and honestly, even advanced mountain bikers will have fun flying down this trail.
Once you’ve mastered Bring It On Home, don’t miss our two favorites, Chutes and Ladders and Otter Slide. Chutes and Ladders is a mix of berms and lots of intermediate jumps, while Otter Slide is a sequence of about 20 really wide S turns built in perfect sequence so that get you right into your flow state.
Overall, whether you come for the XC trails or the adrenaline rush of a downhill dash, the mountain biking in Grand Targhee is some of the best we’ve ever done! Avid bikers will never want to leave!
5 | Kid Friendly
The Grand Targhee has a pool and spa that is free for guests and only $15 for adults and $10 for kids for access to 90-minute pool sessions.
There’s also a nice grassy area in front of the restaurant where the kids can run around. We enjoyed this area to chill at in between our downhill rides.
There are also 3 mountain biking skills area where kids can practice their turning and maneuvering across wooden bridges and
6 | Big Suites for Large Families
We stayed in the Sioux Suite. This was perfect for our large family as there were two bedrooms downstairs, one with a queen-size bed and the other with 2 sets of bunk beds.
7 | Affordable Camping
The Grand Targhee also allows RV’s to dry camp in their parking lot and tent camping in the meadows. At only $25 a night, this is a great way to experience all that Grand Targhee has to offer from the epic mountain biking and hiking trails to the delicious restaurants and swimming pool. They do ask that you reserve a campsite ahead of time by clicking here
Summary of The Grand Targhee
The Grand Targhee is a perfect one-stop-shop for your next summer vacation. With all the amenities of a large resort but only a fraction of the crowds, you’ll be able to unwind by the pool and bar after a fun day of exploring the scenic trails surrounding the resort. This is definitely a place for both families as well as couples looking to recreate and rejuvenate their souls.
Reserve The Grand Targhee
The Grand Targhee has three lodges to choose from:
- The Sioux Lodge, which has rooms that sleep from 5 to 10 people
- Targhee Lodge, which has rooms with 2 queen beds
- Teewinot Lodge, which also has rooms with 2 queen beds
Before you go, check out some other nearby adventures:
- Teton to Yellowstone to Glacier National Parks Road Trip
- Idaho Road Trip
- Best Hikes in Idaho
- Best Hikes in the Sawtooths
- Best Hikes in Wyoming (coming soon)
- Best Campgrounds in Wyoming (coming soon)
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