Jackson Hole vs Big Sky
One calibrated, SNOTEL-backed look at snowfall, forecast accuracy, and access — so you know which to ski.
Jackson Hole
WY · 10,450 ft
Big Sky
MT · 11,166 ft
Side-by-Side
| Metric | Jackson Hole | Big Sky |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Wyoming WY | Montana MT |
| Summit elevation | 10,450 ft 6,311 ft base | 11,166 ft 6,800 ft base |
| NWS accuracy grade | A NWS underpredicts | D 76% overpredict |
| Calibrated season snowfall | 27" 20 storms | 33" 37 storms |
| Avg storm-day rate | 1.3"/day | 0.7"/day |
| Best storm | 70/100 Significant | 27/100 Major |
| Verified storms | 119 SNOTEL-verified | 406 SNOTEL-verified |
| Community reports | 960 TGR posts | 25 TGR posts |
| Nearest airport | JAC | BZN |
| Drive time | 0.25h 10 mi · JAC | 1h 50 mi · BZN |
| Access difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Pass | Ikon | Ikon |
Snowfall totals and NWS grades come from the same SNOTEL-verified data on each resort's own page. Blank or “pending” cells mean the data is still being verified — we never fill them with estimates.
The Verdict
Jackson Hole has the more reliable NWS forecast — it grades A versus D at Big Sky, where NWS overpredicts snowfall by about 76%.
Big Sky got more snow this season — 33" of calibrated snowfall versus 27" at Jackson Hole. Big Sky also averaged 0.7"/storm-day.
Jackson Hole is the easier trip — about 0.25h from JAC (Jackson), versus 1h from BZN for Big Sky.
Best for
Jackson Hole — quick-strike trips — the easier drive at ~0.25h from JAC.
Best for
Big Sky — chasing the biggest totals — it out-snowed Jackson Hole this season.
Local Knowledge
TGR Community IntelJackson Hole
Ski during active snowfall when others bail for lighter crowds.
Big Sky
Big Sky is positioned high enough to benefit from most storm tracks in the region.
FAQ
Does Jackson Hole or Big Sky get more snow?
Big Sky got more snow this season — 33" of calibrated snowfall versus 27" at Jackson Hole. Big Sky also averaged 0.7"/storm-day.
Is Jackson Hole or Big Sky easier to get to?
Jackson Hole is the easier trip — about 0.25h from JAC (Jackson), versus 1h from BZN for Big Sky.
Which has the more accurate snow forecast, Jackson Hole or Big Sky?
Jackson Hole has the more reliable NWS forecast — it grades A versus D at Big Sky, where NWS overpredicts snowfall by about 76%.
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