Jackson Hole Map Reveals a Lustrous Landscape of Natural Wonders and Human Ingenuity

Tucked in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Jackson Hole area unfolds as one of North America’s most compelling natural and cultural landscapes—where jaw-dropping geography converges with a thriving community and conservation legacy. Using a detailed map of the region, every detail emerges: snow-capped peaks, valley meadows brimming with wildlife, historic town squares, and winding highways that traverse a terrain of global significance. This area is far more than a tourism hot spot; it is a living tapestry of ecological balance, human history, and stunning visual grandeur, whose full scope is best understood through its mapped expanse.

The Jackson Hole map reveals a dramatic topography shaped by glacial activity and millennia of natural evolution. At its core lies Jackson Lake, a 18,000-acre reservoir formed by the glacial-carved valley, bordered by the jagged skyline of the Teton Range. The Grand Teton rises over 13,700 feet just 12 miles south of the town, its glaciated slopes framing one of the most photographed natural vistas in the continental United States.

The valley floor, part of the larger Snake River Plain, is a mosaic of fertile farmland, wetlands, and riparian habitats critical to migratory species. Rose Creek flows through the heart of this valley, winding toward the Snake River and supporting diverse ecosystems monitored closely by local conservationists.

Geographic Scope: From Mountains to Meadows

A full map of the Jackson Hole area spans approximately 1,600 square miles, incorporating traversing national parks, protected wilderness, and developing towns.

Central to the region is Grand Teton National Park, which covers 310 square miles and protects iconic landmarks like Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, and the Migratory Wall. Beyond the park, the forested slopes of the Continental Divide transition into Bridger-Teton National Forest, home to over 1,000 square miles of backcountry hiking, hunting, and scientific research. The southern boundary extends into the National Elk Refuge—one of the largest wintering grounds for elk in the U.S.—spanning over 135,000 acres of frozen sagebrush flats and riparian corridors.

Key waypoints on the Jackson Hole map include: - Jackson Town Square, a historic focal point at the confluence of US-191 and US-89, surrounded by VI Curry Museum and the Teddy Roosevelt National Park visitor center (split across the state line). - Flagna, the gateway to Grand Teton National Park’s southern entrance and a hub for wildlife observation and backcountry access. - The Gros Ventre Mountains, rising abruptly west of the valley, famous for the 1925 landslide—the largest in U.S.

history at 198 million cubic yards—that altered regional hydrology and remains a geologist’s landmark. - The Snake River, which flows northward through the valley, carving a winding path that supports rare riparian plant communities and critical habitat forAmerica’s most imperiled species, the salmon. Each region interfaces with intensive land management: high-elevation wilderness areas prioritize preservation, while mid-elevation zones balance recreation, agriculture, and development under strict environmental oversight.

Wildlife, Water, and Wonder: Ecological Powerhouse

The Jackson Hole ecosystem is a globally significant hub of biodiversity. The area supports over 350 bird species, including golden eagles and sandhill cranes, as well as large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, moose, and reindeer (semi-wild herds managed year-round at the National Elk Refuge). The migration of pronghorn antelope—who complete a 150-mile round-trip—passes through this corridor, symbolizing the region’s role as a critical wildlife linkage between the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and mountain ranges to the west.

Water flows are foundational to the area’s ecology and economy. The Snake River, fed by snowmelt from the Tetons and Ji**ackson’s intricate watershed network, sustains not only aquatic species like cutthroat trout but also irrigates fertile lowland farms producing the region’s signature crops—leafy greens, hay, and barley. Groundwater recharge zones beneath the valley floor maintain aquifer health, monitored through decades of hydrological studies conducted by the Wyoming Water Development Commission.

Mother Nature’s gifts are displayed in thermal features too: while Jackson Hole itself lacks large hot springs, nearby Yellowstone’s influence ripples through geothermal gradients, contributing to soil temperatures and mineral-rich soils that foster rare plant assemblages across the high basin.