What to Wear in Jackson Hole in December 2026
Jackson Hole in December is Cowboy Christmas + JHMR holiday ski — -14°C / 7°F nights, -3°C / 26°F afternoons, 90+ inches monthly snowfall on JHMR + Snow King + Grand Targhee.
- Stio Environ XT shell + Smartwool 250 + R1 mid + Down Sweater
- Sorel Caribou + Jackson Hole Hat Co. felt — après
- Mountain Khakis Original + Filson Mackinaw flannel — town
- R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman — Cowboy Bar evening
- Hestra heated three-finger glove — JHMR Tram exposure
- Stio Hometown Down hooded — Snake River Brewing dinner
- Flat-soled urban boots — Cache Street ice + grit + brine
- White denim — gravel + brine + slush
- Single-layer cotton — wind-chill -30°C / -22°F
Jackson Hole in December runs Greater Yellowstone Cowboy-Christmas-into-holiday-peak. NOAA Jackson WY station (~6,200 ft / 1,890 m) data put afternoon highs at -3°C / 26°F and overnight lows at -14°C / 7°F with 14 precipitation days; December averages 50+ inches at the town base and 90-150 inches on Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (Teton Village, the heritage 1965 Paul McCollister founding-resort). Wind-chill on Rendezvous Bowl + Corbet's Couloir hits -30°C / -22°F; Bridger Gondola mid-mountain reads -15°C / 5°F afternoons. The dressing register reads three-plus layers on the slope: a Stio Environ XT or Patagonia PowSlayer shell over Smartwool Intraknit 250 merino base + Patagonia R1 mid + Patagonia Down Sweater under-shell. Town reads cowboy-mountain register: Stio (East Broadway — Stephen Sullivan's heritage Jackson-engineered alternative), Mountain Khakis (Glenwood Street since 2003 — the heritage cotton-canvas register), Jackson Hole Hat Company (Cache Street — Stetson 100X open-crown beaver), and the heritage Cowboy Bar (1937). The heritage Wort Hotel (Glenwood Street, the heritage 1941 hotel — the recognized 'Silver Dollar inlaid bar' register on the heritage Silver Dollar Bar) and the heritage Snake River Brewing (East Broadway since 1994) define the recognized evening register. The heritage Cowboy Christmas program: the heritage Town Square holiday-tree-lighting (first Friday of December — the four-elk-antler arches lit with white twinkle lights through January), the heritage Wort Hotel holiday-live-music in the Silver Dollar Showroom, the heritage Jackson Hole Mountain Resort holiday-week torchlight descents (Christmas Eve + New Year's Eve), the heritage National Elk Refuge sleigh-rides (mid-December onward, the heritage US Fish and Wildlife Service open-horse-drawn-sleigh tours through April). Skip flat-soled urban boots — Cache Street runs ice + grit + brine November through April.
Jackson Hole December is JHMR Tram queue at 8:30, Cowboy Bar saddle-stool by 17, Wort Hotel Silver Dollar Bar by 21, Snake River Brewing fireside by 23. Stio Environ XT shell + Mountain Khakis canvas + Jackson Hole Hat Co. felt + R.M. Williams boot.
The capsule
- Stio Environ XT shell + Stio Doublecharge insulated bib — Stio (the heritage 2012 Jackson-founded technical-mountain-and-town outerwear, on East Broadway) makes the recognized Jackson-mountain shell. The Stio Environ XT 3L Pertex shell + Doublecharge insulated bib match the recognized JHMR Tram + Rendezvous Bowl + Corbet's Couloir exposure. Skip non-Pertex shells — December powder days dump 24+ inches in 12 hours and saturate consumer-grade fabric.
- Smartwool Intraknit 250 base + Patagonia R1 mid + Patagonia Down Sweater under-shell — Wind-chill on Rendezvous Bowl + Corbet's Couloir hits -30°C / -22°F; the heritage JHMR Tram exposure (the recognized 12-minute uphill tram ride to 10,450 ft Rendezvous Peak) reads -25°C / -13°F at the top with no warming-hut access. Smartwool 250 (Steamboat Springs CO 1994) merino base + Patagonia R1 (Ventura CA 1993) mid + Patagonia Down Sweater (the recognized 800-fill HyperDRY down) under-shell maintains body heat for the chairlift sit-cold-stationary terms.
- Sorel Caribou or Pajar Banff Vibram-lugged snow boot — Cache Street + Town Square + the heritage Cowboy Bar entrance ice over by 16:00 every December afternoon. Sorel Caribou (Kitchener Ontario 1962, 200g Thinsulate, -40°C / -40°F rated) or Pajar Banff (Montreal 1963, Italian-leather-uppered, Vibram-lugged) holds packed-snow-and-grit traction the urban boot fails on. The Jackson Hole News & Guide annually warns about ankle-injury rates in town.
- Jackson Hole Hat Company Stetson 100X felt cowboy hat + shearling trapper alternative — Jackson Hole Hat Company (the heritage Cache Street custom-cowboy hatter since 2002) custom-shapes a Stetson 100X open-crown beaver felt — the recognized Jackson-après crown at the heritage Cowboy Bar saddle-stool register. Shearling trapper alternative for the heritage JHMR base + Snow King base lift-line — covers ears at -25°C / -13°F. The heritage Wort Hotel Silver Dollar Bar holiday-week and the heritage Cowboy Christmas Town Square tree-lighting both read Stetson 100X felt.
- Mountain Khakis Original Mountain pant + Filson Mackinaw cotton-flannel + Pendleton wool shirt — Mountain Khakis (the heritage Jackson-founded heavyweight-canvas pants since 2003) Original Mountain pant in walnut, sand, or oxblood is the recognized Jackson town-trouser. Filson Mackinaw cotton-flannel button-down (Seattle 1897 — the heritage Mackinaw flannel register) over a Smartwool 250 merino tee + the Mountain Khakis canvas + a Pendleton Board Shirt wool-flannel layer reads correct at the heritage Cowboy Bar + Snake River Brewing + Wort Hotel Silver Dollar Bar.
- R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman or Lucchese 2000 cowboy boot — The heritage Jackson-evening boot register reads R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman (Adelaide 1932, the heritage one-piece-leather Australian-stockman's boot) in chestnut or oxblood, or Lucchese 2000 (San Antonio 1883, the heritage 5th-generation Texas-bootmaker) in cocoa or oxblood. The heritage Cowboy Bar saddle-stool register and the heritage Wort Hotel Silver Dollar Bar holiday-week both read R.M. Williams or Lucchese over Mountain Khakis canvas.
- Hestra heated three-finger glove + Smith I/O MAG goggle + helmet — Wind-chill on Corbet's Couloir + Rendezvous Bowl + the heritage Headwall hits -30°C / -22°F; the heritage JHMR Tram exposure leaves no warming-hut access at the top. Hestra heated three-finger glove (Hestra family of Sweden 1936) maintains finger temperature on the heritage 12-minute Tram ride. Smith I/O MAG goggle (Sun Valley ID 1965) + a POC, Smith, or Sweet Protection helmet over a Smartwool merino skull-cap.
- Stio Hometown Down Hooded jacket + cashmere knit + dark denim — for evening — Stio Hometown Down Hooded jacket (Stio's heritage 700-fill responsibly-sourced down) over a tonal cashmere turtleneck (Brunello Cucinelli or Naadam Mongolian-cashmere) + dark Citizens of Humanity denim + R.M. Williams boot reads correct at the heritage Snake River Brewing + Wort Hotel Silver Dollar Bar + Hand Fire Pizza evening register. Skip light wash — gravel + brine + slush stains light denim within 4 days.
Day to night
Stio Environ XT shell + Stio Doublecharge bib · Smartwool 250 base + R1 mid + Patagonia Down Sweater · Sorel Caribou after-ski to lift line · shearling trapper hat · Smith I/O MAG goggle · helmet · Hestra heated three-finger glove. Tram queue at JHMR Teton Village 8:30am, Corbet's Couloir 11:00, Mangy Moose lunch 12:30, Rendezvous Bowl afternoon laps 14:00.
Mountain Khakis Original Mountain pant + Filson Mackinaw flannel + Pendleton wool shirt · cashmere turtleneck · Stio Hometown Down jacket · R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman boot · Jackson Hole Hat Co. Stetson felt. Cowboy Bar saddle-stool 17:00, Wort Hotel Silver Dollar Bar 19:00, Snake River Brewing dinner 20:30, Hand Fire Pizza 22:00.
What to avoid
- Flat-soled urban boots — Cache Street ice + grit + brine
- White denim — gravel + brine + slush stains
- Single-layer cotton on JHMR Tram — wind-chill -25°C / -13°F
- Generic newsboy or beanie at Cowboy Bar / Wort — un-Jackson
- City stilettos at Cowboy Bar — saddle-stool + ice + grit
- JAC arrival in west-wind storm — flights divert IDA or SLC
Frequently asked questions
Per NOAA Jackson WY station (~6,200 ft / 1,890 m): average daily high -3°C (26°F), low -14°C (7°F), 14 precipitation days totalling about 35 inches at the town base. December averages 90-150 inches monthly snowfall on Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (Teton Village). Wind-chill on Rendezvous Bowl + Corbet's Couloir + the heritage Headwall hits -30°C / -22°F; Bridger Gondola mid-mountain reads -15°C / 5°F afternoons. UV index 3 by midday, doubled via snowfield reflectance. Daylight 8h 50m (winter solstice December 21 reads 8h 49m — the shortest day at this 43.48°N latitude). The 11°C / 19°F diurnal swing means morning cold-start tram line + afternoon-thaw sidewalk slush + 16:00 re-freeze.
Cowboy Christmas is the heritage Jackson Hole holiday-week program — the recognized Wyoming-Western holiday register. Anchors: the heritage Town Square holiday-tree-lighting (first Friday of December — the four-elk-antler arches lit with white twinkle lights through January), the heritage Wort Hotel holiday-live-music in the Silver Dollar Showroom, the heritage Jackson Hole Mountain Resort holiday-week torchlight descents (the heritage Christmas Eve + New Year's Eve descents from JHMR Tram with red-flare ski-patrol-led parade), the heritage National Elk Refuge sleigh-rides (mid-December onward through April), the heritage Snow King Mountain Cowboy Coaster + Snow King ice-skating rink, the heritage Teton County Fair-and-Rodeo Junior Rodeo (the heritage Western-Christmas-rodeo register at the Teton County Fairgrounds). The heritage Jackson Hole Mountain Resort opens for the season the first weekend of December typically; Snow King opens late November-early December; Grand Targhee opens late November.
Yes — the heritage National Elk Refuge sleigh-rides open mid-December and run through early April per the heritage US Fish and Wildlife Service program. The recognized 24,700-acre National Elk Refuge winters 7,000-10,000 elk migrating from Grand Teton + Yellowstone summer ranges. The heritage open-horse-drawn-sleigh tour (operated by Double H Bar Inc. concessionaire — 60 minutes total, $35 adult / $25 child as of 2026) departs from the National Museum of Wildlife Art (the heritage 1991 museum overlooking the Refuge on Highway 191). Tours run 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 daily through season. Pack: Stio Hometown Down jacket + Mountain Khakis canvas + Sorel Caribou + Jackson Hole Hat Co. felt cowboy hat + Smartwool merino base + Hestra heated mitten + a wool blanket layer (the heritage 'Pendleton sleigh blanket' rented at the dock, $5). Sleighs run 11:00-15:00 at -10°C / 14°F afternoon temps. The heritage Refuge Road self-drive (no fee, no permit) is the alternative for visitors not on the sleigh tour.
Cowboy-mountain uniform: Mountain Khakis Original Mountain pant (walnut, sand, oxblood) + Filson Mackinaw cotton-flannel button-down + Pendleton wool shirt-jacket layer + Stio Hometown Down hooded jacket + R.M. Williams Comfort Craftsman or Lucchese 2000 cowboy boot + Jackson Hole Hat Co. Stetson 100X felt cowboy hat. The heritage Cowboy Bar saddle-stool register (1937 — the recognized 'Million Dollar Cowboy Bar' silver-dollar inlay register on Cache Street) requires R.M. Williams or Lucchese over canvas pant absolutely. The heritage Wort Hotel Silver Dollar Bar (Glenwood Street, the heritage 1941 hotel — the recognized 'Silver Dollar inlaid bar' register) accepts the same. The heritage Snake River Brewing + Hand Fire Pizza + the heritage Roadhouse Brewing register accept Mountain Khakis canvas + flannel + Stio jacket + after-ski boot. Skip black-tie expectations entirely — Jackson register reads 'smart-Western' (R.M. Williams + Mountain Khakis + cashmere knit + Stetson felt), not formal evening dress.
The heritage Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (Cache Street since 1937 — the heritage 'Million Dollar Cowboy Bar' silver-dollar-inlay register, the heritage live-Western-music Thursday-Saturday). The heritage Snake River Brewing (East Broadway since 1994 — the recognized Pako's IPA + Zonker Stout + Snake River Lager). The heritage Hand Fire Pizza (Glenwood Street wood-fired pizza). The heritage Wort Hotel Silver Dollar Bar (Glenwood Street, the heritage 1941 Wort Hotel — the recognized 'Silver Dollar inlaid bar' register, the heritage Wort Hotel Silver Dollar Showroom live-music). The heritage Mangy Moose (Teton Village base since 1967 — the recognized Teton Village après-ski anchor). The heritage Calico (Teton Village Italian since 1973). The heritage Glorietta (East Broadway contemporary-Italian, since 2018). The heritage Persephone Bakery (East Broadway French-bakery + breakfast). The heritage The Kitchen (East Broadway contemporary American). The heritage Local Restaurant + Bar (East Broadway Wyoming-farm-to-table). The heritage Bin 22 (East Broadway wine-bar + small-plates). Pack: Mountain Khakis canvas + Filson Mackinaw flannel + R.M. Williams or Lucchese boot + Stetson felt + Stio Hometown Down jacket for evening; Stio Environ XT shell + Smartwool base + Sorel Caribou for daytime walk + Tram-line.
