KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
TRAIL ETIQUETTE
There are plenty of great hiking trails to enjoy while you’re in town. Here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind as you embark on your next hike.
THE DO’s
DO: please try and remember to take a step to the side and give way to uphill traffic, they have the right of way. Bonus: it’s always nice to give your knees a break on the way down!
DO: remember to keep your eyes up for oncoming traffic (human or animal).
DO: bring your dog if it’s a dog-friendly trail! Please be sure to double-check before bringing your furry friend, and bring a leash if so.
THE DON’Ts
DON’T: leave your car idling in the winter. We know it’s cold outside, so we encourage you to bundle up any time you leave the house!
DON’T: bring your dogs into the National Parks. They are not permitted in the National Parks – this includes all trails, lakes, and other bodies of water.
WILDLIFE ETIQUETTE
Seeing a moose can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They are awe-inspiring, enormous, and beautiful. However, even though they look quite docile on the side of the road or even crossing the street, they can change their mood and start to charge in a second and frequently do.
Here are a few do’s and don’ts about how to stay safe when you see any of the magnificent wildlife who call this place home! This was, after all, their home first, so we do our best to be respectful.
THE DO’s
DO: find a safe pull-out on the road to park your car. If there isn’t a pull- out, take in the sights from the safety of your car and enjoy.
DO: take out your binoculars to view from the car and watch in awe.
DO: keep your voices down to try not to disturb their migration path.
DO: quietly take a photo if you’d like from a minimum of 25 feet (~8 meters) away from large animals, and 100 feet (~30 meters) away from bears and wolves.
DO: watch these incredible animals in their natural habitat roaming free.
DO: stay in your car when you see a bear. While they may look cute and don’t want to harm you, they can be incredibly dangerous, even deadly.
THE DON’Ts
DON’T: pull over on the side of the road where there’s not a designated pull-out.
DON’T: stop the flow of traffic in town, at intersections, or in the park.
DON’T: get out of your car if the animal is closer than 100 yards, the equivalent of a football field. This applies to smaller animals such as foxes, and especially wolves, and bears as well.
DON’T: take a selfie anywhere close to an animal.
DON’T: raise your voice or arms.
DON’T: run in any direction or make sudden movements.
DON’T: put any animal, no matter how small or cute, in your car. Even if it’s below zero, they will find a way to stay warm. If they get a human scent on them, sadly, their pack will kill or abandon them and they will not survive.
Please give ALL wildlife plenty of room:
– Bears and wolves: you must remain a minimum of 100 yards away from them at all times
– Bison, Elk, Moose, and all other wildlife: you must be 25 yards away them from at all times
– This is their home, and it is vital to respect that for your safety as well as theirs!
– Take binoculars and/or a scope out for a drive, and see what you find! Always look at animals through binoculars rather than walking up to them.
ENVIRONMENT ETIQUETTE
One of the things that makes Jackson Hole so unique is that we are absolutely surrounded by protected lands. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to help you help us keep our environment and its inhabitants safe, happy, and healthy.
THE DO’s
DO : pick up after your dog. Paws of Jackson Hole provides leashes, poop bags, and trash bins all over town.
DO : leash up! The wildlife around here can be easily spooked by out-of- control pets, so please be sure to keep your pets on a leash.
DO : recycle! It’s a bit different here. Please use our helpful guide to know what can be recycled in Teton County! Recycling locations are listed at the bottom of the guide, it’s a great town bonding experience.
THE DON’Ts
DON’T : leave your car idling in the winter. We know it’s cold outside, so we encourage you to bundle up any time you leave the house!
DON’T : bring your dogs into the National Parks. They are not permitted in the National Parks – this includes all trails, lakes, and other bodies of water.
IN-TOWN ETIQUETTE
We are first and foremost a small town. Please take a minute to look over some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind while you’re here to ensure nothing but the best interaction with those who call this place home around town.
THE DO’s
DO: keep an eye out for bikers in the bike lanes while driving. Many locals commute by bike in the summer, so the lanes are heavily trafficked.
DO: pay attention to our road rules: speed limits, 4-way stops, crosswalks, school zones, etc. This is a small town with lots of bodies, so we want to keep everyone safe!
DO: be kind to your servers, baristas, bartenders, taxi drivers, etc. As a beautiful, adventure-filled destination, our community is deeply rooted in tourism. They’re working as hard as they can to give you the best that Jackson has to offer. And please please remember to tip!
DO: be patient! We understand that things can move a little more slowly here than in bigger cities, after all, that is part of the charm of our small western town! However, we similarly ask that you please be patient with your servers, baristas, bartenders, taxi drivers, etc. They’re truly moving as fast as they can!
THE DON’Ts
DON’T: litter! There are trash and recycling bins all around town for your convenience.
