Escape to Wyoming This Winter: What’s New This Season and into 2023

Fewer crowds, new direct flights, epic winter events and endless snowy experiences – Wyoming is a winter destination unlike any other.

October 6, 2022- Cheyenne, WYO – As the weather cools down and blankets of snow begin to cover pristine landscapes, Wyoming becomes a winter wonderland for all types of travelers. With fewer crowds, award-winning ski-resorts, new direct flights and winter events, the Cowboy State offers endless winter experiences. Here is a selection of new and notable this season:

Winter in Wyoming

• Winter Events
  • Skijoring – Rodeo may be Wyoming’s official sport, but skijoring is the state’s unofficial winter sport. It is a uniquely Western athletic and cultural phenomenon combining two of Wyoming’s favorite pastimes: skiing and horseback riding. Travelers can spectate competitive Skijoring at the Sheridan WYO Winter Rodeo, Sundance Winter Festival, Saratoga Skijoring Races, Skijor Wars (Buffalo) or Pinedale Winter Carnival. Most Skijoring competitions are held in February with 2023 to be announced.
  • For more information on Wyoming’s annual winter events, click here.
• New Flights: Miami Takes Wyoming – American Airlines is launching a new seasonal service from Miami (MIA) to Jackson Hole (JAC) this winter, operating with Airbus A319 aircraft. Flights launch on Dec. 15 and operate through April 3. Service will operate daily from Dec. 15 through Jan. 9, weekly from Jan. 10 through Feb. 15, and daily from Feb. 16 through April 3.
• Wyoming Ski Destinations
  • Jackson Hole Mountain Resort New Lift (Jackson, WY) – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) will replace its Thunder quad chairlift with a faster and more powerful detachable quad chairlift ahead of the 2022-23 winter season. The speed of the new lift is 1,000 feet net per minute, twice the velocity of the original Thunder, and will cut riders’ time down from just over 7 minutes to 3.6 minutes
  • Grand Targhee Resort’s New Terrain (Alta, WY) – For the first time in over 20 years, Grand Targhee Resort is opening new terrain with the construction of the Colter Lift on Peaked Mountain. Construction is underway and the opening is slated for the start of the 2022/23 winter season. The Colter Lift will transport up to 2,000 people per hour and gain 1,815 vertical feet in just five minutes. The brand-new six-pack will give skiers and riders access to over 600 skiable acres of fall line skiing, open glades, world-class side-country, and extraordinary views of the Grand Tetons.
  • Snow King Mountain Expansion & Improvements (Jackson, WY) – Located in the heart of Jackson, Snow King Mountain unveiled a new, 8-passenger Leitner-Poma gondola and zipline, the steepest in North America (available in the summer months). The new gondola offers spectacular views of the Grand Tetons, the National Elk Refuge and the town of Jackson. In addition, Snow King will expand its operations with a new summit restaurant, observatory, planetarium and 100 acres of ski terrain.

Going into 2023, Wyoming continues to offer unparalleled outdoor adventure, accommodations, and milestone anniversaries. The following are a handful of new and notable with much more yet to be announced:

New and Notable for 2023

• Outdoor Adventure
  • Sandboarding on 2nd Largest Sand Dunes in the World (Rock Springs, WY) – With sand dunes reaching up to 100 feet high, the landscapes of Killpecker Sand Dunes are punctuated by towering rock formations in the form of buttes and spires, like the famous Boars Tusk spire, making it a can’t miss experience. Visitors can visit the new attraction located in Southwest Wyoming on their very own sandboard or sled. The boards are like snowboards, with two-foot holds and curved edges, while the sleds are like winter downhill sleds. While surfing the dunes, keep an eye out for the desert elk. The area is home to one of the largest desert elk herds in the world.
• Lodging & Camping
  • Luxury Property, Reid Creek Lodge, Opens in Central WY (Douglas, WY) –, Reid Creek Lodge, a luxury property, opened in the summer of 2022. Reid Creek Lodge features an 8,000 square foot lodge with seven beautifully appointed bedrooms accommodating up to 22 guests and one group at a time. The exclusive experience includes a personal chef, curated programming, cozy gathering spaces and rustic mountain design.
  • Little America Hotel Unveils New RV Park (Green River, WY) – Featuring 42 spacious sites, including back-in and pull-through spots, Little America RV park provides a variety of hotel-like amenities, including marble showers, a heated outdoor pool, a kid’s playground, a fitness center, a fuel center and a 24-hour convenience store. Rates start at $55 per night.
  • Snow King Resort to Open New Spa (Jackson, WY) – Snow King Resort is close to unveiling its new Grand View Spa in December 2022. The resort’s new addition will feature six treatment rooms including a couple’s suite, locker rooms with experiential showers, hot tubs and eucalyptus-infused steam rooms, men’s and women’s private lounges, an infrared sauna, a boutique retail shop and scenic outdoor deck with a large hot tub.

2023 Milestone Anniversaries:

• 30th Anniversary of the National Bighorn Sheep Center (Dubois, WY) – July 3, 2023 – The National Bighorn Sheep Center operates in Dubois, Wyoming. The Center features dioramas with full-scale taxidermy mounts that recreate bighorn habitats, interactive exhibits about wildlife management and special adaptations of wild sheep, and wildlife films the whole family will enjoy.
• 30th Anniversary of International Climbers’ Festival (Lander, WY) – July 13-16, 2023 – The 30th Anniversary of the International Climbers’ Festival (ICF) is the longest-running climbers’ festival in the world and has stayed true to its grassroots origins
• 110th Annual Fremont County Fair (Riverton, WY) – July 29 to Aug 5, 2023 – A celebration for those near and far that showcases all that Wind River Country has to offer. Plenty of things to do and see for all ages, such as children’s activities, entertainment, food and merchandise vendors, livestock and agriculture competitions, midway rides and much more.
• 10th Anniversary of the Grand Opening of the Carissa Mine for Tours at South Pass City (South Pass City, WY) – May/June TBD- The Carissa Mine was the largest gold mine in the Sweetwater Mining District. The history of the Carissa Mine is tied to the hopes and dreams of many men starting in 1867, but it never truly took off. What remains today is one of the best-preserved historic mining operations in the world. Tours include a walk-through of the historic structures, a live demonstration of milling equipment, and a great story of life in a gold town.

For more information on the Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT), visit www.travelwyoming.com and request a 2022 Travel Guide here. Media are invited to visit the Press Room for story ideas, news releases, image library and other resources.