A local parent’s guide to winter outings with very young kids

Winter outings in Jackson, WY with young kids

Winter in Jackson Hole is magical, but when you have a baby or toddler (hi, it’s me!), the classic Jackson activities like long ski days, backcountry touring, and full-day mountain adventures just aren’t realistic.

The good news is that there are actually lots of simple winter activities that work well with very young kids. Many of them revolve around short outings, cozy indoor spaces, and small snow adventures that toddlers love. Here are some of the activities we keep coming back to during winter in Jackson.

Indoor Play at JH Indoor

If you have a child that just needs to run out their energy, JH Indoor is a godsend. This is an indoor turf facility located in the South Valley (near Rafter J) that’s used for childrens’ sports and open play. While many programs are designed for older kids, the open gym times are perfect for toddlers who need space to run around, kick a ball, or burn off energy when it's too cold to stay outside. On weekends, you can expect a big bouncy house and a gaggle of kids running wild - just be sure to call in advance to confirm that there isn’t a birthday party owning the space (a quite common occurence!).

Jackson Hole Children’s Museum

The Jackson Hole Children's Museum is one of the best indoor activities in the valley for little kids. The museum is interactive, creative, and perfect for toddlers who want to explore and touch everything. On cold winter days or during storms, it’s an easy way to spend a few hours indoors while still giving kids something engaging to do. Excitingly, the museum’s been undergoing a major renovation and is set to re-open Spring 2026. FYI if you’re a member of the Library, you should be able to score ticket for free through your membership portal!

Storytime at the Library

The Teton County Library hosts regular storytime for babies and toddlers throughout the winter. Even outside scheduled programs, the children’s section is a wonderful place for little kids to wander through books, play quietly, and warm up after time outside. For families like ours, the library has become a weekly winter routine. I can grab a coffee at the Snake River Roasting coffee stand while my kids benefit from some social stimulation outside of the house. Bonus points for picking up a book or two in anticipation of afternoon nap!

Park Snow Time / Sledding

Toddlers don’t really need a major hill to have fun on a sled, or in a snow tube! We tend to keep a sled in the car and stop at small hills around town after errands or school pickup. Even a few runs can turn an ordinary winter afternoon into a memorable outing and help to tire out my kiddoes. I’d recommend heading to neighborhood parks. The ones with small hills / open snow areas I prefer are: Phil Baux Park (near Snow King), May Park (East Jackson) and the Sledding Hill (near Munger View Park) in Melody Ranch.

Snow King Tubing

The base area around Snow King is a fun place for playing in the snow with little kids. There’s snow tubing if you want to really lean in (note: kids must be 42” tall to ride!), or you can simply pull off and let your kiddos play and watch skiers come down the mountain. We’ve put our 2 year old daughter on skis a few times, and I’d highly recommend Snow King as a low-lift starting point vs. trying to navigate JHMR when you’re likely to encounter a melt-down after 30 minutes or so (to be a realist!).

The Rec Center Pool

The pool at the Teton County Recreation Center is a great way to break up the winter routine if you’re looking for a warmer, active outing to swap things up after spending the week bundled-up outdoors. The pool has a wonderful shallow section for younger kids with a mushroom fountain that my daughter cannot get enough of. Of course, willing myself to get into a bathing in mid-winter is a whole different story. Godspeed!

Elk Refuge Sleigh Ride

The sleigh rides at the National Elk Refuge are one of Jackson’s most iconic winter experiences, albeit likely a one-off event or something to reserve for when you have guests in town! While toddlers may not care about the refuge itself, they usually love the horses and the magic of the sleigh ride experience. Just be sure to bundle up! I love this idea for pre-holidays or for filling time during the Christmas and NYE stretch when you’re looking for something festive and low-lift.

Town Walk

Nothing too crazy, but a simple walk around Town Square can feel surprisingly magical with young kids, particularly during the holiday season when the area is beautifully lit up! . The antler arches, snowy streets, and cozy winter atmosphere make it a fun outing and there are tons of opportunities to stop into a shop and warm up or plop down at a café for a longer hang out with a hot chocolate. If your child is spectacularly well-behaved, consider a fun little treat at my favorite candy shop Mursell’s or the amazing Teton Toys, recently relocated to a much larger and superior (in my opinion) location on N. Cache.

Cozy Café Stops

One of the easiest winter outings is simply heading into town for a cozy break. We’re a big late breakfast / early lunch family and have found the below spots to be the most accommodating to young children. There are other places (like Persephone) that I love for warmer months when kids can run about the patio and outdoor spaces, but during the winter expect to be cramped inside and look for a destination where service is fast, environment is casual, and no one will balk at a tantrum! Those are:

The Virginian (Town of Jackson / South of Town a bit) - diner food
Café Genevieve (Town of Jackson) - casual breakfast / lunch fare
The Bunnery (Town of Jackson) - casual breakfast / lunch fare
Nora’s Fish Creek Inn (Wilson) - casual breakfast / lunch fare

Music Together at The Center

Another great (and more structured) winter activity for babies and toddlers is Music Together classes at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts. Note: the program typically runs in multi-week sessions that require advance enrollment rather than drop-ins, so it works best if you’re planning to be in the area for a longer stretch of the winter season.

These music classes are designed for young children (from infancy through early childhood), with group singing and movement in a laid-back setting. It’s a fun way for toddlers to engage with music while getting out of the house and meeting other families.