Year-round outdoor activities and delicious local cuisine await visitors to Teton Valley, Idaho.

By Anne Braly
Senior Writer

Wyoming’s Jackson Hole needs little introduction for those who prefer mixing some high-priced glitz with their outdoor escapes. But just across the Teton Mountains along the  Idaho/Wyoming border, the Teton Valley opens up to a wide spread of jaw-dropping beauty mixed with excitement and adventure rivaling Jackson Hole with a more casual attitude and somewhat less-expensive options.

“Many refer to Teton Valley as being the ‘quiet side of the Tetons,’ which I think is more about the easygoing and friendly demeanor of the people who live here,” says Kristi Baughman, president of Free Range Consulting, a marketing agency for Eastern Idaho. 

“It just also happens to be less crowded and, yes, more affordable than Jackson Hole.”

One example Baughman gives is the price of skiing, a popular activity in the Teton region. In Jackson Hole, lift ticket prices average $191, while on the other side of the mountains at, for example, Grand Targhee Resort, the cost hovers around $150 for the same thrills of racing down the side of the Teton Mountains.

“But that is almost secondary,” she says. “The residents are very welcoming and accommodating, but also very authentic. There is still a strong sense of agriculture here, which pairs nicely with those who appreciate the outdoors.

You can hike to Table Rock for some of the best views of the Tetons you’ll ever see or throw a paddleboard on the Teton River, where there is a good chance to see more moose than you thought possible in a three-mile stretch of river.”

An adage used in the former ad campaign boasts, “Teton Valley rewards the curious.”

So if your nature runs to the curious side, here is how to experience Idaho’s Teton Valley charming small towns of Driggs, Victor and Tetonia.

Getting There

If you’re not within driving distance, the quickest way to get to the Teton Valley is to fly into either Idaho Falls, Idaho, a little over an hour’s drive, or Jackson Hole, about an hour away, and rent a car at the airport. If you fly into Jackson Hole, you can take the Teton Pass into Driggs. A mudslide in June wiped out a portion of the Pass, but a temporary detour has opened. 

However, if time allows, drive north through Teton National Park, just a stone’s throw from Jackson Hole and home to several incredible lakes, wildlife, and history. Once through the park, it’s a very short drive to Yellowstone’s southern entrance where you’ll pass right by  Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic. Exit through the western entrance into the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, and about 90 minutes later, enter the Teton Valley into Tetonia, then Driggs and Victor.

There’s also a southern route into the Teton Valley south of Jackson through scenic Snake River Canyon leading into the valley from the south.

All three roads reveal some of Mother Nature’s spectacular work, leading to a valley in the shadow of the Three Sisters of the Teton Mountains: Grand Teton, Middle Teton, and South Teton defining the western border of Wyoming and the eastern border of Idaho.

Excitement Abounds

The Teton Valley is an outdoor lover’s dream come true. There’s no off-season. Winter brings on well-groomed slopes ready for skiers and

snowboarders. Fall, spring, and summer open up trails for horseback riding and mountain biking, and rivers are teeming with salmon and trout for fly fishing.

Secure a guide for fly fishing at places such as Three Rivers Ranch, a resort with a fly shop and lodging for fisherfolk.

The ranch, now in its 38th year, takes guests to three nearby rivers: Henry’s Fork, which is the north fork of the Snake River; and the north and south forks of the Teton River. Bring your own gear or be outfitted when you get there. A fishing license is required.

Ride the Trails

The Tetons make for a great day of trail riding, and finding a stable, such as Linn Canyon Ranch, isn’t hard to do. You’ll find signs advertising such adventures throughout the valley. But Linn Canyon offers something different – lunch rides with beautiful box lunches to enjoy while taking a break along the mountain trail. The ranch will customize your ride, too, so you might enjoy your midday meal on the porch at the lodge.

Eat Your Fill

Tetonia is one of those blink-twice-and-you’ll-miss-it towns, but keep your eyes open and your tastebuds ready for Badger Creek Café for breakfast or lunch.

It’s only open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Monday serving made-from-scratch breakfast and, in the lunch hour, sandwiches, burgers, wings, and more.

Tetonia Club is another option. It’s that kind of place where you’ll find the locals hanging out, listening to live music and feasting on different menus on weekend nights.

It’s the first bar in the area, opened in 1912. The atmosphere is lively and the drinks and food are amazing. Advance tickets can be purchased online and are advised as this is a popular destination for locals and visitors to the Teton Valley.

Continuing the culinary journey to Driggs and Victor, you’ll find some unexpected flavors for this part of the world where beef and potatoes rule supreme.

In Driggs, Forage, open for lunch and dinner, offers elk, lamb, duck, and other proteins in varying incarnations. But it’s the Asian-inspired Reuben with tender brisket and kimchi served with Kewpie mayo that knocks other Reubens out of the ballpark.

Forage is located next to the Warbirds Museum at Driggs Airport, so after lunch or dinner, walk through the adjacent door to see its collections of airplanes from World War II or sign up for a flight that takes you up in the air to see the Tetons from a different perspective.

Other top food digs in Driggs are The Royal Wolf, Royal Thai, and The Provision Kitchen.

Victor has a few culinary gems, such as the Butter Cafe, The Brakeman American Grill, and Refuge Tap House. But drive another 10 minutes outside Victor to The Grille at Bronze Buffalo Ranch, open breakfast through dinner and overlooking the golf course and beyond to the mountains. Dining al fresco on a pleasant Idaho evening is a gift, particularly when paired with a nice cabernet and made-from-scratch ravioli.

Drink Your Potatoes

Potatoes are a cash crop for the Gem State, so it’s not a big surprise that enterprising entrepreneurs Bob and Linda Beckett opened Grand Teton Distillery in Driggs to turn Idaho potatoes into vodka.

Since opening in 2012, its Grand Teton Potato Vodka, made with Idaho spuds and water from the surrounding mountains and glaciers, has won numerous awards, including Double Gold at the World Spirits Competition in San Francisco. Tastings and distillery tours are offered on the hour for $5.

Be Your Huckleberry

Huckleberries grow wild throughout the Teton Valley and are ripe for the picking in late summer.

Their sweet-sour flavor works perfectly in drinks and dishes, such as the huckleberry milkshakes you’ll find at the ice cream counter at Victor Emporium in Driggs – not Victor. It’s a creamy confection that will quench your thirst on a warm summer day.

Or, pick up a bottle of huckleberry vodka at Grand Teton Distillery. It makes a sweet-tart cocktail when mixed with lemonade.

Rooms With a View

There are many campgrounds, short-term rentals, and roadside motels along the main drag – Highway 33 – through the Teton Valley. For a little more luxury, Grand Targhee Resort, high up in the mountains with close-up views of the Three Sisters, offers traditional hotel rooms and multi-room suites. 

Bronze Buffalo Ranch at Teton Springs offers luxurious accommodations in suites and cottages along a championship golf course designed by Master Course Architect Gary Stephenson, U.S. Open Champion Steve Jones and golf legend, Byron Nelson.

Bronze Buffalo also has a full-service restaurant, cafe, pro shop and fitness center. Ponds are stocked for reeling in a prize rainbow trout, and don’t be surprised to see a moose grazing on the back nine as you walk along well-groomed hiking paths.

The Teton Takeaway

Give me the peace and tranquility of the Teton Valley any day over the busyness in Jackson Hole.

Jackson Hole has its merits, but it’s much like many tourist

 towns with a Starbucks, high-priced retail shops and some chain hotels, albeit disguised as mountain lodges.

But if you’re looking for a getaway, that’s truly a chance to get away, the drive over the border into Idaho, whether you go north, south or straight over the Tetons on the Teton Pass, set your sights on a vacation filled with memories.