Snow King Observatory & Planetarium

The Snow King Observatory and Planetarium might be Jackson Hole's best-kept secret for families who love science and stars. It sits at the top of Snow King Mountain, accessed via the gondola — so the experience begins with a scenic gondola ride above the rooftops of Jackson, which is already a treat. Then you arrive at a proper astronomical observatory with a research-grade telescope and a planetarium dome.

The setting is extraordinary. Jackson Hole sits in a dark-sky area with minimal light pollution, which means the stargazing quality from this location is genuinely exceptional. On clear nights, the resident astronomers point the telescope at whatever's most interesting that evening — Saturn's rings, Jupiter's moons, star clusters in the Milky Way — and walk visitors through what they're seeing.

The explanations are pitched for general audiences, and the staff are notably good at connecting with kids.

On overcast nights (which happen frequently in Jackson's summer), the planetarium dome takes over with immersive sky shows projected on the ceiling. These are high-quality productions, not the dusty 1970s planetarium shows of childhood memory — they're modern digital productions that feel genuinely cinematic. Most kids find them just as engaging as the real telescope, sometimes more so because they can see things that aren't visible even with the telescope (distant galaxies, historical events in the sky).

Practically speaking: get there via the Snow King gondola, which runs until 6:30 PM normally, but the observatory opens at noon and runs until 8 PM. Dress in layers — summit temperatures drop significantly after sunset. The experience is best suited for kids 5 and up; very young children may not have the patience for careful telescope observation, but the planetarium shows work for a wider age range.

This is a niche attraction that the right family will absolutely love — especially kids who are into science, space, or just the kind of experience that's genuinely different from everything else in Jackson Hole.