DURATION
14 days
13 overnights
DISTANCE
2,650 km
1,650 miles
ENTRY/EXIT
Denver (DEN)
Salt Lake City (SLC)
Embrace the winter magic of the Great America West with a route that highlights the best of Idaho and Wyoming. Start in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with fat-tire biking, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing at Happy Jack Recreation Area, then soak in the steam of natural hot springs in Thermopolis. Continue your Wyoming journey in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks to witness geysers erupting in crystalline air and herds of bison trekking through snow-covered valleys. Cross into Idaho, where Island Park, Sun Valley and Ketchum offer bucket-list skiing, all-day snowmobiling adventures and the quintessentially Western winter sport of skijoring. Along with traditional winter activities, Idaho boasts some unique treats – dining under the stars at the Sawtooth Botanical Gardens, snow sculptures at the McCall Winter Carnival and up-close wildlife viewing on an elk sleigh ride. Whether you choose to brave the cold or cozy up indoors, this Western winter adventure will leave your heart warm.
Routing Overview
Arrival: Denver International Airport (DEN)
Day 1: Wyoming (Cheyenne)
Day 2: Wyoming (Thermopolis)
Days 3 & 4: Wyoming (Jackson / Grand Teton National Park)
Days 5 & 6: Wyoming (Yellowstone National Park)
Day 7: Wyoming (Jackson)
Day 8: Idaho (Island Park)
Day 9: Idaho (Sun Valley / Ketchum)
Day 10: Idaho (Stanley / Ketchum)
Day 11: Idaho (Brundage / McCall)
Day 12: Idaho (Tamarack / McCall)
Day 13: Idaho (Boise)
Day 14: Idaho (Lava Hot Springs)
Departure: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Winter in Idaho and Wyoming Inspirational Itinerary
DAY 1: Wyoming (Cheyenne)
Wyoming State Capitol CREDIT Wyoming Office of Tourism
Build your day from the following activities:
– Take a self-guided tour of Wyoming’s State Capitol.
– Visit the Wyoming State Museum and Cheyenne Depot Museum.
– Take a ride on the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley.
– Enjoy ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Curt Gowdy State Park.
– Go fat-tire biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Happy Jack Recreation Area & Pole Mountain Open Space.
– Enjoy a scenic train ride through roaming bison, complete with hands-on feeding, at the Terry Bison Ranch.
Overnight: Cheyenne
Distance: 0 km/0 miles, no driving time
DAY 2: Wyoming (Thermopolis)
Hot Springs State Park Thermopolis CREDIT Hot Springs Travel & Tourism
Build your day from the following activities:
–Soak in a natural hot spring, view bison up close, or stroll the boardwalks at Hot Springs State Park.
–Tour the Wyoming Dinosaur Center.
–Tour the Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center, where you can sit at the original bar once visited by outlaws from the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, including the infamous Butch Cassidy.
–Take a scenic drive along the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway.
–Warm up at One-Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company.
Distance: 500 km/310 miles, 4.5 hours driving time
Overnight: Thermopolis
DAYS 3 & 4: Wyoming (Jackson / Grand Teton National Park)
Jackson Hole Antlers CREDIT Wyoming Office of Tourism
Build your day from the following activities:
–Go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in Grand Teton National Park.
–Take a sleigh ride at the National Elk Refuge, home to thousands of elk in the winter.
–Explore the area by dog sled. Tours offer rides to open meadows near Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Granite Hot Springs and the Gros Ventre Mountains, or a trip to the top of Togwotee Pass with Teton views.
–Soak in a natural hot spring at Astoria Hot Springs and Park.
–Enjoy winter wildlife tours, where you can spot moose, bison, elk, bald eagles, trumpeter swans and maybe even wolves.
–Ice skate at the Village Rink on the Commons.
Distance: 330 km/205 miles, 3.5 hours driving
Overnight: Jackson or Grand Teton National Park
DAYS 5 & 6: Wyoming (Yellowstone National Park)
Snowmobiling Togwotee CREDIT Wyoming Office of Tourism
Build your day from the following activities:
–Ice skate in the park at Old Faithful Snow Lodge or Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.
–Experience Yellowstone’s backcountry in the winter with snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
–Enjoy one of the many winter tours Yellowstone has to offer.
–Learn about wolves in Yellowstone with the Winter Wolf Discovery Package.
–Take a winter walk on the boardwalks of Yellowstone. Winter offers a unique opportunity to see thermal features, wildlife and dramatic snow-covered landscapes.
Distance: 215 km/135 miles, 2.5 hours driving
Overnight: Yellowstone National Park
DAY 7: Wyoming (Jackson)
Jackson Hole ski lift CREDIT Jackson Hole Tourism and Tax Board
Build your day from the following activities:
–Warm up at Piste Mountain Bistro at the top of the Bridger Gondola or at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.
–Hit the slopes at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Resort or Grand Targhee Resort.
–Visit Snow King Mountain Resort to enjoy the only mountaintop observatory and planetarium in the United States, snow tubing, scenic gondola rides, skiing and snowboarding, and the winter mountain roller-coaster.
–Tour the National Museum of Wildlife Art.
–Experience an exciting skiing adventure by air or land with a heli skiing or cat skiing tour.
Distance: 80 km/50 miles, 1 hour driving time
Overnight: Jackson
DAY 8: Idaho (Island Park)
Frozen Mesa Falls CREDIT Visit Idaho
Build your day from the following activities:
–Ski at Grand Targhee or Kelly Canyon.
–Snowmobile into Mesa Falls to view a frozen waterfall (*this is an all-day experience).
–Nordic ski or snowshoe through Harriman State Park.
–Enjoy watching skijoring in Teton Valley if visiting in February.
Distance: 180 km/110 miles, 2.5 hours driving time
Overnight: Island Park or Idaho Falls
DAY 9: Idaho (Sun Valley / Ketchum)
Sun Valley Sleigh Ride CREDIT Visit Idaho
Build your day from the following activities:
–Ski Sun Valley (Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain).
–Go backcountry skiing on a CAT or TRAX at Soldier Mountain.
–Ice skate at Sun Valley’s outdoor ice rink.
–Take a horse-drawn sleigh to dinner in a cozy log cabin at Trail Creek Cabin.
–Enjoy watching skijoring in Hailey (if visiting in February).
Distance: 370 km/230 miles, 4 hours driving time
Overnight: Ketchum or Sun Valley Resort
DAY 10: Idaho (Stanley / Ketchum)
Snowy Sawtooth Mountains CREDIT Visit Idaho
Build your day from the following activities:
–Nordic ski or snowshoe at Galena Lodge overlooking the Sawtooth Mountains.
–Snowmobile into Redfish Lake.
–Soak in a hot spring by the river at Mountain Village Resort or Sunbeam Hot Springs.
–During a new moon, have dinner under the stars at a Dark Sky Dinner at the Sawtooth Botanical Gardens.
Distance: 8 km/5 miles, 10 minutes driving time
Overnight: Ketchum or Sun Valley Resort
DAY 11: Idaho (Brundage / McCall)
Brundage skiier CREDIT Visit Idaho
Build your day from the following activities:
–Ski Brundage (there are options for traditional skiing as well as backcountry skiing via a sno-cat) .
–Go sledding at the Activity Barn.
–Snowshoe into the cozy Blue Moon Yurt for dinner at Jug Mountain Ranch.
–Enjoy snow sculptures at the McCall Winter Carnival (if visiting in January).
Distance: 355 km/202 miles, 4.5 hours driving time
Overnight: McCall
DAY 12: Idaho (Tamarack / McCall)
Brundage snowmobile CREDIT Visit Idaho
Build your day from the following activities:
–Ski Tamarack, located in Donnelly.
–Ice fish on the frozen Lake Cascade.
–See wildlife up close on an elk sleigh ride.
–Nordic ski or snowshoe among the towering trees of Ponderosa State Park.
–Snowmobile into secluded hot springs at Burgdorf (an all-day experience) or soak in Gold Fork Hot Springs.
Distance: 0 km/0 miles, no driving time
Overnight: McCall
DAY 13: Idaho (Boise)
Bogus Basin Mountain Coaster CREDIT Visit Idaho
Build your day from the following activities:
–Ice skate on the Ice Ribbon at Indian Creek Plaza in Nampa.
–Enjoy a wine tour at Sunnyslope in Caldwell or in downtown Boise.
–Try night skiing, sledding or the Mountain Coaster at Bogus Basin.
Distance: 175 km/108 miles, 2.5 hours driving time
Overnight: Boise
DAY 14: Idaho (Lava Hot Springs)
Pebble Creek skier CREDIT CREDIT Visit Idaho
Build your day from the following activities:
–Ski Pebble Creek.
–Snowshoe through the Silent City of City of Rocks National Reserve and Castle Rocks State Park.
–Soak in Lava Hot Springs’ hot pools.
–Enjoy the Fire and Ice Festival if you are visiting in February.
Distance: 435 km/270 miles, 4 hours driving time
Overnight: Lava Hot Springs
