What time is best for a scenic float? Just ask the wildlife.

A scenic float down the Snake River during the summer in Jackson Hole offers stunning beauty regardless of when you make the trip. But for wildlife watchers, there’s a few tricks to make sure you maximize your haul of charismatic critters. In general, rafters increase their chances of seeing the region’s stunning wildlife at dawn and dusk. Rafting companies like Barker-Ewing whitewater suggest their early morning trips for the best chance of success, especially for birds.

An 8:30 a.m. float from Snake River Ranch to Wilson is almost sure to include sightings of raptors such as bald eagles and osprey, and waterfowl such as Barrows goldeneyes and mallards. Be on the lookout for larger species such as trumpeter swans, Canada geese and American white pelicans too. Mammals also prefer the twilight hours, and the Snake River plays host to scores of moose and elk. Time it just right, and you might even catch these animals wading or swimming across the river as they move about their habitats. Foxes, beavers, otters and muskrats are also common. Even grizzly bears and wolves make an appearance by the riverside on occasion. In the northernmost reaches of Grand Teton National Park, rafters might even catch a herd of bison grazing near the water.

Time of year is also a factor. Many species migrate in the spring and fall, and its easier to spot these animals as they’re moving from their winter range to their summer range or vice versa. Entire herds of elk and deer may stage along the banks before a river crossing to greener pastures during the shoulder seasons. And, where these ungulates go, predators are sure to follow.  

Still, even at the height of summer under the mid-afternoon sun, a spectacular wildlife spotting on a Snake River scenic float trip is practically a forgone conclusion. The Snake River corridor—the river and the riparian lands around it—offer some of the best habitat in a region known for its top-notch wildlife. Bring your binoculars and waterproof camera and prepare for some serious bragging rights.

Hang with the locals during Jackson Hole’s summer community events!

We at Barker-Ewing Whitewater have had the great pleasure to live and work in Jackson Hole for more than 53 years. Why so long? Of course, the draw of living in one of the wildest, most spectacular places on Earth brought us here, but it’s the people that convinced us to stay.

The many great people who call Jackson Hole home have cultivated a strong sense of community—a collective personality that shines through in our local events. Below is just a slice of the many excellent cultural events our community has to offer this summer season.

1) Fourth of July Parade—Come celebrate your freedom at the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Howdy Pardners Ambassador Club Fourth of July Parade. The events start at 7:00 a.m. with a Pancake Breakfast on Town Square. Then, parade floats and other entries line up at the Teton County Fairground for the parade start. The day finishes at 6:00 p.m. with a performance of patriotic songs sponsored by the Grand Teton Music Festival.

2) Teton County Fair—July 22-31, join us for the Teton County Fair, located at the Teton County Fairgrounds in Jackson. In addition to lots of great rides, rodeos, fried dough and cotton candy, fair-goers can expect to see Teton County’s finest livestock, fiddle playing and the always cutthroat and always hilarious diaper derby.

3) Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival—The Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival is a series of 50 events during the first half of September designed to celebrate Jackson Hole’s world renown art scene. The high point of the 11-day event is inevitably the Palates & Palettes Gallery Walk, scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11. Dozens of galleries open their doors to ply the public with wine and food and show off work from some of the west’s finest artists.

4) Old Bill’s Fun Run—This fundraiser sponsored by the Jackson Hole Community Foundation has raised $121 million for charity over the 19 years of its existence. Come see Jackson’s wide array of worthwhile non-profits specializing in everything from wildlife preservation to feeding the hungry to educating children about science. Athletes young and old can choose to participate in the run itself, which starts on Town Square and follows the Elk Refuge Road for some spectacular views.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming is located right in the middle of one of the wildest places in the lower 48-states. Nearly every animal that existed here when European settlers first explored the west still lives here today.

What’s amazing about these animals is that they manage to thrive in a high elevation habitat with heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures.

Below is a countdown of Jackson Hole’s top four toughest, most amazing critters. Be sure to take a hike to check them out after a rafting trip with us!

Number 4: Pikas—These members of the rabbit family hide out in high elevation rock fields. Not only are pikas some of the cutest creatures you’ll find in the Teton Range, they’re also some of the best at enduring cold temperatures. What pikas don’t like is heat. Sustained temperatures higher than 80 degrees can be deadly.

Number 3: Pronghorn—Clocking in at speeds of more than 55 miles per hour, these turbo-charged ungulates evolved to outrun a now-extinct North American cheetah. Each year the Grand Teton National Park pronghorn herd migrates roughly 100 miles to Sublette County and back over the rugged Gros Ventre Mountains. Recently, federal and state agencies joined forces to protect the Path of the Pronghorn from manmade disturbances that hinder that migration, such as housing developments and fences.

Number 2: Teton Range Bighorn Sheep—Scientists are constantly astounded that this isolated bighorn sheep herd continues to survive on the high elevation peaks of the Teton Range. In winter, they hang out on wind-scoured slopes and eat whatever they can find. Several agencies have set aside important winter range for the sheep to protect them for disturbance by backcountry travelers. 

Number 1: Wolverines—These ultra-tough members of the weasel family have been known to kill bears and chew through logs. They can travel hundreds of miles in a single push and generally favor climbing straight over whatever mountains happen to block their path. Researchers say only few wolverines live in the Teton Range, where they give birth to their young in high elevation snow dens.

Paddling is hungry work. One of the best parts about a rafting trip with Barker-Ewing Whitewater is the appetite you build up after a day on the river. Luckily, you’re visiting Jackson Hole, a town known far and wide for its fantastic food. Jackson features numerous dining options, from buffalo steaks to pizza to Thai. Below, we’ve compiled some of our favorite restaurants in Jackson Hole for apres-paddling food and fun, as well as our favorite grocery stores and markets. If you still can’t decide, ask our guides and staff for their favorite place to eat!

Blue Collar Restaurant Group: Operates six restaurants in the Jackson area: Merry Piglets (Mexican), Sidewinders (sports bar, restaurant), Noodle Kitchen (Asian), Artisan Pizza Italian Kitchen (Italian), Liberty Burger (Burgers), and Bubba’s (barbecue). You can’t go wrong with any of them!

Creekside Market: A combination liquor and convenience store known by locals for its great deli sandwiches—across from the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center.

Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company: Aims to sustain the ranching traditions of the Great American West by selling premium buffalo and elk meat—located near Smith’s grocery store, south of Jackson.

Jackson Whole Grocer: A locally owned upscale grocery store featuring fresh, natural and organic foods, high quality baked goods and an expansive beer, wine, and liquor selection—located on South Hwy. 89.

Pizzeria Caldera: Serving thin-crust, Napolitana-style pizza hot from a stone-hearth oven—located in downtown Jackson.

Silver Dollar Bar and Grill: Located in the historic Wort Hotel and serving high quality food and drink to locals and visitors alike for decades.

Snake River Brewing: Award winning beer and delicious food at the brewery in downtown Jackson—a local favorite.

Thai Me Up: Authentic and delicious Thai food and an award winning micro brewery—located in downtown Jackson.

E.leaven: A bread-obsessed restaurant and catering company featuring made-from-scratch comfort cuisine—located in downtown Jackson.

There’s no doubt that the grandeur of the southern Yellowstone region is best experienced while hiking, boating or horseback riding, and it would take a lifetime to see it all. But, for motorists on a Jackson Hole vacation, here’s a one day trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks that lets you cram in as much beauty and wildlife as possible into a single day.

First, a few caveats: This loop is closed from early November to late May, entering the Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks requires an entrance fee or a pass, and summer traffic can make this route take much longer. Also, please watch out for wildlife, especially at dawn and dusk.

That said, this 254-mile, 7-hour (not including stops) loop takes you through some beautiful country in eastern Idaho and Montana, and right past some of the most popular attractions in both national parks.

First, take Highway 22 west over Teton Pass. At the state line, the name of the road changes to Highway 33 and heads into Victor, Idaho. In Victor, it’s mandatory to stop at the Victor Emporium for a huckleberry milkshake. From there, stay west on Highway 33 through Driggs and Tetonia.

Just outside of Tetonia, take a right onto Highway 32. This route takes motorists over rolling hills through mile after mile of potato fields, and offers some stunning views of the west slopes of the Teton Range.

Highway 32 intersects with Highway 47 in Ashton, Idaho. Take a left onto Highway 47 and then a right onto Highway 20 toward Island Park. At several points, this route intersects the Henry’s Fork, known to anglers as one of the best trout rivers in the lower 48 states. For those who don’t mind a side trip, Harriman State Park offers opportunities for fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking and historic tours.

From Island Park, continue on Highway 20 to the Montana state line and into West Yellowstone, Montana. People with children may want to consider a side trip to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. The center is a non-profit wildlife park for grizzly bears and gray wolves that are unable to survive in the wild. Lucky visitors may get to see Sam the grizzly bear test bear resistant trash containers.

From West Yellowstone, drive east and enter Yellowstone National Park on Highway 191. The route takes motorists along the Madison River toward Madison. Then turn right toward Old Faithful. Along these stretches of road, bison jams are common and any number of the park’s thermal features and pullouts can offer a worthwhile diversion. One of the most popular and most beautiful is Midway Geyser Basin, which hosts Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the United States. Bathers beware, the spring comes in at 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

After Old Faithful, drive east to West Thumb and then take a right toward the park’s South Entrance. After a brief trip through the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, travellers enter Grand Teton National Park on Highway 89/191/287. Again, this route offers plenty of attractions. Depending on traffic and stops, you might arrive at Jackson Lake Lodge just in time to see the sun dip behind the Tetons.

This is the final stretch. Here you can opt to bear right onto the Teton Park Road, or go left to 26/89/191 and then head south toward Jackson. If it’s getting close to dinnertime, either route takes you close to Dornan’s, where weary travelers can enjoy beer and pizza while enjoying yet another amazing view of the Tetons.