Jackson · The Town Hill · Gondola, coaster and summit trail
Snow King Mountain
Jackson’s Town Hill rises right behind downtown: hike the free summit trail or ride the gondola to an observatory, then come down on the Cowboy Coaster.
Opens Snow King’s website for current hours and tickets. Late fall is a between-seasons time, so check what’s running before you go.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Town ski hill
Gondola, coaster, ropes course, skiing
Admission
Trail free
Gondola $35 ages 13–64 · coaster $35 driver (2026)
Hours
Seasonal
Summer 10–8 at peak · winter projected Dec 4
Time needed
2–4 hours
Our estimate: hike or gondola plus an activity
Parking
Base-area lot
No RV parking posted; come in the tow car
Summit
7,808 ft
1,571 ft above the base, five blocks from the square
What you’ll see
The Town Hill above downtown
Snow King opened in 1939 as Wyoming’s first ski area. Today it’s a year-round hill with a gondola, a mountain coaster and an observatory on top.
Photo: ChillyBlanket on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Free option
Hike the Summit Trail
The Summit Trail starts beside the gondola and climbs about 1,550 feet in roughly 1.9 miles to the top, with views over town, the National Elk Refuge and the Tetons. Hiking is free. If your knees would rather not, the eight-passenger Summit Gondola, opened in December 2021, does the climb for you.
RV tip: The trail is steep from the first step. Start early in summer, bring water, and plan to ride the gondola down if the descent worries you.
More to see
- Cowboy CoasterA mountain coaster billed as the only one in Wyoming; Jackson Hole Traveler lists 2026 summer prices of $35 for a driver and $25 for a passenger.
- Observatory and planetariumThe Snow King Observatory & Planetarium at the summit opened in June 2024, with a large telescope and a small planetarium.
- Treetop Adventure and Alpine SlideA ropes course for ages 12 and up, plus the Alpine Slide that has run on the hill for more than 40 years.
- Winter skiingShort, steep runs right above town, with the valley’s only night skiing. The 2026–27 season is projected to open December 4.
Why go
Why Snow King belongs on your Jackson trip
Locals call Snow King the Town Hill. Lift-served skiing started here in 1939, years before the big resorts arrived, and the hill still sits right behind downtown, about five blocks from Town Square.
Because it’s in town, it’s easy to fit in on a tow-car day: hike up in the morning, ride the coaster, then walk to dinner on the square. We couldn’t find any RV or oversize parking posted for the base area, so leave the rig at camp.
Late October is a quiet between-seasons stretch, so check what’s running first; the trail is open on foot. The 2026–27 ski season is projected to open December 4, and summer attractions usually return in late May (May 22 in 2026).
Photo: Ams100272 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Why it made our list
- Free summit hike with big views
- Gondola and observatory on top
- Wyoming’s first ski area
- Walkable from Town Square
- Night skiing in winter
For RVers
Visiting Snow King with an RV
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Bring the tow car
The base area sits on town streets five blocks from Town Square, and no RV or oversize parking is posted. Leave the rig at camp.
Winter street rules
From November 1 to April 15, Jackson bans on-street parking from 3 to 7 am for plowing, so don’t leave a vehicle on the street overnight.
Know the climb
The Summit Trail gains about 1,550 feet in under 2 miles. At over 6,000 feet, take it slowly, or ride the gondola one or both ways.
Check before you go
Prices here come from Jackson Hole Traveler’s 2026 guide, and fall and spring have short closures. Confirm hours and prices with the resort.
What visitors say about Snow King
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 30, 2026.
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Tripadvisor’s review mentions
Alpine slideRopes courseThe coaster
Themes come from the popular mentions Tripadvisor shows on Snow King’s page (for example “alpine slide” and “the coaster”). Tripadvisor doesn’t show counts for them.
Summer 2026 prices
Prices from Jackson Hole Traveler’s 2026 summer guide, checked October 30, 2026; we couldn’t confirm them on the resort’s site. The gondola is $15 for seniors too, and the Summit Trail is free.
Good to know
FreeSummit Trail hike, about 3.9 mi round trip
Gondola$35 ages 13–64; $15 seniors and 6–12
Coaster$35 driver; $25 passenger
WinterDec 4 projected 2026–27 opening
Prices from Jackson Hole Traveler (2026), trail figures from Hiking Project, and the winter date is an OnTheSnow projection, checked October 30, 2026.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Snow King Mountain
- Address402 E Snow King Ave, Jackson, WY 83001
- HoursSeasonal
Summer 10–8 at peak · winter projected Dec 4 - Phone(307) 201-5464
- TicketsTrail free; gondola and rides paid – check current prices
- Getting thereSnow King is at the south end of town on Snow King Avenue, about five blocks from Town Square.
- ParkingBase-area parking; no RV or oversize spaces posted. Come in the tow car.
Check snowkingmountain.com for current hours, especially in the fall and spring shoulder seasons.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Snow King
All three of these RV parks are within about 20 minutes of Snow King in the tow car.
Fireside Resort Jackson Hole
Full-hookup RV sites in Wilson on the road to Teton Village, with showers, a coin laundry and a camp store.
Snake River Cabins & RV Village
Riverside full-hookup sites south of town, best for rigs up to 30 feet, with a pathway toward Jackson.
Gros Ventre Campground
Big Grand Teton campground on the Gros Ventre River, with electric sites and room for rigs up to 45 feet.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Winter projected to open Dec 4, 2026
Ready to climb the Town Hill?
Check what’s running on Snow King’s site, then park the tow car near the base and start up the trail or the gondola.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: ChillyBlanket (gondola; CC BY-SA 4.0), Mlewis2005 (view of Jackson; public domain), ChillyBlanket (observatory; CC BY-SA 4.0), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (view down; CC BY 2.0), Ams100272 (ski runs; public domain), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (elk and Snow King; public domain) and Ams100272 (Snow King from the refuge; CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: The Diabetic Hiker on YouTube (Cowboy Coaster ride). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Snow King Mountain unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including published materials from Snow King Mountain and other publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly at snowkingmountain.com or (307) 201-5464. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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