Saddle up for a Western adventure in Wyoming’s wild heart.
By Danielle Vilaplana
Cowboycore may be having a nationwide moment right now but Jackson Hole has been authentically Western since the 1800s. The valley was first home to the Shoshonne, Crow, and other Indigenous tribes and was later settled by trappers, homesteaders, and cattle ranchers. The local rodeo has been going continuously since 1911, and the town itself nods to this cowboy heritage at every corner, most notably on the Town Square with its famous elk antler arches. If there’s a place to lean into the moment, it’s Jackson.
A true wild west experience starts with lodgings, and visitors have their pick of heritage-inspired places to stay in Jackson, from rustic to ritzy. The Virginian Lodge aka “The Virg” splits the difference—it’s a classic motor-style property full of character and just a few minutes from the square. At the on-site Virginian Saloon, bighorn battle behind the bar, there’s live music several evenings a week, karaoke every Wednesday night, and the crowd includes both locals and people who are still fresh in their boots.
Here are six ways to do a Wild West weekend that doesn’t feel like a costume.
1. Catch sunrise at the T.A. Moulton Barn
You’ve seen this iconic Teton photo even if you don’t recognize the name. The T.A. Moulton Barn is the weathered wooden barn 15 miles north of town on Mormon Row with the full sweep of the Tetons as backdrop. Thomas Alva Moulton and his brother John homesteaded here in 1908, and T.A. spent more than three decades building the famous barn. It’s a classic Western vestige of a time when grit was enough to get you a home in the Tetons.
Mormon Row is divided into “North” and “South” areas and you’ll find the barn at Mormon Row South. Both the barns and the mountains face east, so if you want that iconic photo opp, plan for a sunrise visit when the first light hits the Tetons. There’s a small parking area at T.A. Moulton with a vault toilet and the John Moulton Barn is a short walk away. The rest of Mormon Row’s outbuildings give you a real sense of what frontier life looked like in the valley and are worth checking out as well. You can also take a sunrise sightseeing tour with Backcountry Safaris, bookable through the Virginian’s Adventure Center, which comes with the added bonus of spotting wildlife like bears and bison at their most active in the early hours. For an extra perk, Outbound guests also get a discount.
If you’re visiting in summer 2026, note that Mormon Row will be under construction and may not be open to visitors. Plan on exploring other historical structures in the area like Cunningham Cabin and the Bar B C Dude Ranch instead.
2. Saddle up for a real trail ride
Looking for outdoorsy things to do in the Jackson Hole area that fit the cowboy angle? Few things feel more truly Western than a horseback ride into mountains full of local wildlife like grizzlies, black bears, moose, and elk. The most authentic option for a half-day or full-day outing is through Mill Iron Ranch, a four-generation family operation about 20 minutes south of town. Their two-hour ride climbs 2,000 vertical feet into the Bridger-Teton National Forest and opens up views of the Snake River Canyon and Teton Range. The dinner ride ends with a T-bone steak and a country band back at the ranch, a perfect way to cap the evening.
For something closer to the park itself, the Grand Teton Lodge Company runs one- and two-hour rides out of Jackson Lake Lodge and Jenny Lake Lodge. The Jenny Lake rides are the most scenic of the bunch, but they also book up earliest, so reserve well in advance. If they’re all full, there’s no shortage of ranches offering horseback rides into the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park.
3. Outfit yourself in real Western gear
Jackson has plenty of experienced local makers to complete your cowboy look—spread out your shopping instead of buying it all at one touristy shop on the square. Sing Hat Company makes custom, heirloom-worthy beaver-felt hats by hand with artisan accessories. Plan to order in advance, because a custom hat takes weeks to build. If you want something to take home that day, JW Bennett does custom fitting and shaping, and Beaver Creek Hat & Leather on the Town Square has a deep selection of ready-to-wear options.
Wyoming has a handful of genuine cowboy boot makers but they’re made to order and you won’t find them in Jackson. But if you just want a pair to get you through your trip, the Jackson shops should serve you fine—check out Boot Barn or Kemo Sabe for new boots, or Perennial West for a vintage pair. Kemo Sabe also has bolo ties to complete the outfit.
For a souvenir that’s a little more unusual, swing by New West Knifeworks, just off the square. The company designs and forges chef’s knives in nearby Victor, Idaho, with American steel, lifetime sharpening, and recognizable color-blocked handles that show up in the New York Times and Bon Appétit.
4. Spend an evening at the Jackson Hole Rodeo
The Jackson Hole Rodeo has been running since the first settlers came over Teton Pass, and the Wilson family still operate it six generations in. This is a working rodeo, not a Vegas production—the grandstand holds fewer than 2,000 people and the arena is close enough to hear the chutes bang open. As the evening wears on and the Tetons go purple behind the arena, it starts to feel less like a tourist activity and more like a local institution that serious riders have used as a career springboard for over a century.
Here you’ll see bareback riding, saddle bronc, bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, and a kids’ mini bull event. The season runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, with shows Wednesday and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM, plus added Fridays in July and August. The whole thing happens at the Teton County Fairgrounds on Snow King Avenue, just a 10-minute walk from the Virginian.
5. Eat local fare
The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar steakhouse is on every Wild West list ever written but you’ll eat better elsewhere. For a Western-leaning dinner with serious food, The Local serves dry-aged beef sourced from regional ranches that pasture-raise without hormones, and the chef’s burger with smoked cheddar and tomato jam is one of the best in town. If you want a bigger night out, Snake River Grill has been a fine-dining mainstay just off the square for over 25 years. The interior is a proper second-floor log cabin done in white tablecloths and warm lighting, and the rotating menu features a variety of local specialities, from morels to steak.
Cowboys and cowgirls also need a hearty breakfast, which can be found at the Virginian Restaurant. Located on-property but run by a local family, it’s a cozy spot for casual diner-style fare to fill you up for a day of Wild West adventures, from omelettes and pancake stacks to scrambles and chicken-fried steak. There’s also Billy’s Burgers, another on-site eatery where you can chow down on a Cowboy Cheesesteak loaded with shaved ribeye, cheese, and grilled onions and poblano peppers or dig into steak tacos, smoked wings, and other classic diner fare.
6. Two-step at the Virginian Saloon
Live music is a staple of Jackson’s cowboy scene and The Virginian Saloon is the place to see it. The Saloon hosts “Live From The Virg” every Thursday with acoustic Americana and folk from 9 to 11 and has rotating live bands and DJs on Fridays and Saturdays.
Be sure to check the calendar for fun events as well like Western-style hoedowns with line dancing and live music.
