Early Jackson Hole settlers called the Snake River the “mad river” because it has an 8-mile stretch of furious and seemingly unnavigable whitewater. Today, you’re considered mad if rafting “the Canyon” isn’t at the top of your list on a hot July or August day. Experience rapids with names like Lunch Counter and Big Kahuna and take a dip in the Champagne Bubbles swimming hole. With over 15 rafting companies in Jackson Hole, there are boatloads of opportunities to have an unforgettable experience on the Wild and Scenic Snake River in Jackson Hole, as long as you’re up for a few splashes along the way.

The Tetons are a popular destination for climbers of all levels, and the region’s rich climbing history continues to motivate and challenge new generations of climbers. Paul Petozlt instrumentally popularized climbing in this region, inspiring generations of climbers to crimp, layback, and chimney their way through Jackson’s iconic granite and limestone rock. For experts, the range has more than 1,000 rated and named routes along its walls, buttresses, aretes, spires, and summits, and new routes are continually being developed. Most climbs in the Tetons are traditional (aka trad) multi-pitch routes that require a hike, often with an alpine start, to reach the base. There are also bolted limestone crags for sport climbing around the valley at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, inside Grand Teton National Park, and south of Jackson. Whether you’re a first-time climber or experienced with an ambitious objective in mind, hiring a local guide is a great way to ensure you stay safe and on route.

Floating the Snake River in a drift boat as it meanders past the Tetons or wading on the banks of a stream deep in Yellowstone National Park are spectacular experiences whether you catch any fish or not. However, your chances of experiencing some of the best fishing in the West are more than just good in Jackson Hole — they’re legendary.

Home to some of the best trout fishing in the world, Jackson Hole offers access to renowned waterways like the Snake River and the Gros Ventre River. Both of these rivers are home to abundant populations of wild trout and a healthy natural population of the native species of cutthroat trout, the Snake River cutthroat. Also accessible from Jackson are renowned waters like the Henry’s Fork or New Fork of the Green River and the South Fork of the Snake. Local guides know each of these streams inside and out. The more waterways you explore, the better your chances of landing a Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout or a Snake River cutthroat trout.

Many of the first tourists to Jackson Hole came here to play at being cowboys and cowgirls. They stayed at dude ranches, often for a month at a time, and rode horses every day. Today it’s still worth spending at least part of the day on horseback. Time in the saddle offers a unique way to slow down and sightsee while connecting with the heritage of Jackson Hole’s settlers and visitors. No experience is required and outfitters offer rides as short as one hour.

There are more miles of hiking trails in, around, and through Jackson Hole than there are hours of sunlight in the summer, and August alone gets an average of 340 hours of sun. Jackson Hole hikes range from day-long epics that get you high in the Tetons — maybe even onto a Teton summit — to mellow walks along the Snake River. In between there are hikes in the Gros Ventre Mountains with spectacular Teton views (a secret: the best views of the Tetons aren’t from the Tetons) and walks along routes used by Native Americans for hundreds of years. On any of these, expect to encounter something wild, whether an animal, flower, or local athlete trying for a speed or distance record.

There are flowy cross-country trails that cut across hillsides covered in wildflowers and through forests, technical downhill trails, and bike parks where lifts do the hard work of getting you uphill so you can catch as much (or as little) air as you want on jumps and features on the way down.