Launch Your Summer At The Newly Renovated Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole has long been the epitome of Wyoming mountain luxury, and the property has just unveiled a complete renovation of its rooms and suites, right on time for the summer season. It’s the perfect spot for complete access to the Teton Range (and Yellowstone National Park), from hiking and mountain biking to paragliding and wildlife safaris.

The resort, in Teton Village, backs right up to the mountain, and it doesn’t matter which side your room is situated on: views of the valley to the east offer spectacular sunrises, while mountain-view rooms give you a slice of the action with folks setting off on their various adventures.

General Manager Ryan Grande says that the intention of the renovation was to bring the grandeur of the natural landscape into the guest rooms, incorporating elements of earth, wood and metal to mirror the hotel’s iconic setting. Subtle greens, grays and blues achieve this mirroring effect. Underscoring the connection between interior and exterior are the stone gas fireplaces in each room. Bedding, of course, is the plush signature line that the Four Seasons brand is well-known for. Technology has also been upgraded to include USB-C ports for fast charging, a trend we will likely see catch on in hotel design. And fortunately, bathtubs with separate showers were maintained in the renovation. Many hotels are forgoing tubs these days, but who doesn’t love a hot bath after a day of hiking at altitude?

While you can certainly relax to your heart’s content here, the resort really is home base for adventure, and on my recent visit, my itinerary was filled with nature-driven activities. On your first full day there, it’s wise to get the lay of the land. Take the aerial tram up to the top of the mountain (at 10,450 feet), where you can have waffles at a shack with 360-degree views.

If it’s hiking, birding, and wildflower photography you love, you can choose from several trails of varying levels of difficulty at altitude gain — ask for a map at any of the kiosks on the mountain and choose your challenge. I hiked both Wildflower Trail (a rather long, steep trail punctuated by wooden benches and macro-photo ops) and Saratoga Trail, an easy meandering trail that follows along the mountain biking path and a rushing creek. I put in about five miles before lunch without ever needing to get in the car.

Needless to say, I deserved a spa treatment and a swim, so I settled in for a deep tissue massage in the sanctuary-like quiet of the property’s spa, then reclined in the sun by the pool before dinner.

The main restaurant, the Westbank Grill, has an excellent cocktail list (try the spicy passionfruit margarita), and while Chef Michael Goralski is known for his way with meat (bison, elk, Wagyu beef), the Four Seasons veteran once helmed the kitchen at the Maui property, so he knows his way around seafood just as well. The oysters were on point, and my Wagyu flatiron was cooked to a perfect-medium rare. Side dishes can only be described as decadent, and consider truffle mac and cheese (with a lobster option) exhibit number one for this argument. There’s even a local wine on the list (vinified in Jackson Hole, grown in Russian River Valley, Sonoma).

The hotel’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its food composting program. The property partners with Haderlie Farms in nearby Thayne to participate in its compost collection program. Each week, green bins of food waste are collected and sent to the farm, where it is either fed to the pigs or used for compost. Since its inception in 2018, the program has diverted more than 99 tons (99,000 kilograms) of food waste from landfills.

While this is a classic-contemporary mountain lodge, the emphasis is on luxury, which the service underscores. Needs are anticipated and met graciously and seamlessly at all venues — spa, pool, dining, concierge — and offsite activities are coordinated so that you don’t have to get in the weeds of planning too much.

The highlight of my all-too-brief visit was an all-day wildlife safari conducted by Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris guide Seth Ames, a biologist with deep knowledge of the areas eco-system and the animals and plants that live in it. We left early to try to catch a glimpse of moose in Grand Teton National Park, and we did! Seth spotted several young moose and, in one instance, we pulled over a distance away, hiked in about five minutes, and saw, in one miraculous panorama, four species in one location: moose, elk, bison and pronghorn. Apparently, this is a very rare occurrence, and it was thrilling. Later, we saw mother and baby bison nursing and playing in park — always surrounded by the magnitude and stark clarity of the Teton mountain range. Seth is the dedicated guide for Four Seasons guests, and the partnership with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris is year-round. Guests get to ride in style in luxury RVs, and tours include snacks and a multi-course picnic lunch.

We also made our way into town. Jackson Hole proper is just a 15-minute drive from the resort, and it’s got a hoppin’ food scene. We stopped in at The Bistro, right off the Town Square, where Chef Gavin Fine turns out classic French-casual dishes with aplomb. It’s easy to pop in for a quick moules frite or a frisee aux lardon salad and a glass of bubbly or sit down for a multi-course meal.

Back at our luxury base camp, I learned about the newest program to be developed at Four Seasons Jackson Hole: an immersive encounter with the elusive wolf population in Yellowstone National Park. I hope to be back to check it out when the program launches in in the Fall. The Four Seasons brand stays ahead of the field with its unique experiential offerings, and this is an exciting one soon to be available to guests.

I think perhaps my favorite part of spending time at Four Seasons Jackson Hole is being able to walk outside the building an be in the splendor of the Tetons. Every morning, I simply filled up my water bottle and hit a new trail. I can’t think of a better way to relax and welcome summer.