Jackson Hole, sometimes called “The Last of the Old West,” is a picturesque valley encircled by mountains and stunning public lands. Spanning 48 miles, it sits at about 6,500 feet above sea level.

Jackson, Wyoming, is a modern Western town in the valley and is where the Jackson Hole Birding Festival will be based. It has a charming array of lodging, shops, restaurants, museums, and other amenities. Artists, conservationists, and adventure athletes mix with celebrities, shop owners, teachers, families, and everyone else who lives here because they love the natural beauty and want to protect it. Living in harmony with wildlife is very important to many people in Jackson.

Grand Teton National Park, part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, dominates the northwestern part of Jackson Hole, while the Town of Jackson lies at the southern end. The Snake River meanders through the entire valley, originating from its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park.

With over 340 bird species found in and around the valley and millions of acres of surrounding public lands, Jackson Hole provides many opportunities to birdwatch in ecosystems containing iconic species such as grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and moose.

Photo credits: Visit Jackson Hole

Festival Home Base
The Festival’s headquarters is the beautiful Center for the Arts. Convenient and walkable, it’s close to numerous hotels and restaurants.

Lodging
From rustic cabins to elegant boutique hotels, Jackson has it all. You’re sure to find a place that fits your style and your budget.

Visit Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce

Flying In:
https://visitjacksonhole.com/plan/flights

Driving In:
https://visitjacksonhole.com/plan/driving-here

Maps:
https://www.jacksonholechamber.com/plan-your-visit/about-jackson-hole/maps/

Do I need a car?
The festival is based at the centrally located Center for the Arts, within easy walking distance to hotels and restaurants. Some of the birding trips — like the Grand Teton National Park tours and the National Elk Refuge trips — include transportation in vans. Others are walkable, like the Birding by Gondola trip, which is a short distance from the Center for the Arts.

Most other trips and classes are “drive to” adventures, which will be indicated in the description. For these, you can use Uber, Lyft, or taxis, or even carpool with a friend if you don’t have a car.

Jackson itself is very walkable, but if you want to explore the park or other birding hotspots on your own before or after the festival, you’ll need a car.

It’s never a bad idea to carry bear spray, but if you plan to only bird in organized outings at the Festival, it’s unlikely you’ll need it, as tour leaders will be carrying it.

However, if you plan to go off on your own into wild areas, please be sure to carry bear spray and explore in groups of four people or more.

Bear spray can be rented and is also commonly available at grocery stores, sporting good stores, etc.

Bear Spray Rental Locations (Bear spray cannot be taken on an airplane.)

About Bear Spray and Recreating in Bear Country

Recreate Sustainably

https://visitjacksonhole.com/plan/sustainability

The American Birding Association Code of Birding Ethics