Jackson Hole, Wyoming includes many popular spots such as the city of Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. But the road less traveled may also be nestled in its same valleys and along the Gros Ventre River. See why Robert Frost could have been writing about Jackson Hole and specifically Goosewing Ranch when he penned the words “the road less traveled by.”

Each year, three to four million people visit Yellowstone National Park. Many of those people continue south to Jackson Hole. Just a short 60-mile drive through the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway and Grand Teton National Park, and you wind up in one of the true mountain towns of the American West. Jackson Hole is a town built on a history of people traveling to the free expanse of the mountain landscape to find a moment of solace, a place to reclaim the busy mind, and indulge in some relaxation.

So what’s the difference between Jackson Hole and Jackson, Wyoming? Jackson Hole is the larger 48-mile long valley and includes the towns of Kelly, Moose, Moran, Wilson, Teton Village, and of course, Jackson.

Evolution of the Dude Ranch

In its early history, Jackson was known as a place where fur trappers could trap, buy, and trade. Later, as the fur trapping industry waned, a few people began developing the area’s first dude ranches. In 1872 when Yellowstone became the country’s first national park, the interest in the West increased. Easterners yearned for the chance to experience the frontier, and dude ranches provided this avenue, albeit in a safe and comfortable fashion.

The term “dude” was coined as a description of those who paid for the ranching service. Through the legacy of dude ranching, people began to see the benefit settling in, and spending some time “living on the ranch.” Thus, a long-standing tradition of people coming to spend time in the Tetons was born.

Today, the town of Jackson retains a touch of its western heritage as it has been enveloped in the new western traditions of outdoor sports, art and gastronomy. There are endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, a myriad of art galleries to inspect, and wonderful restaurants to satisfy the palate. You will always enjoy something in Jackson. But in busy summer months, you will be doing it with a lot of other folks.

Jackson Hole: Choosing Jackson or a Dude Ranch

Imagine all those three and a half million people driving their cars, wagons and RV’s from Yellowstone in a vigilant procession to get to the next flag on the vehicle’s fancy navigation system. Imagine yourself in that procession when suddenly you see a road leading in another direction. Off to a quiet vista of red rolling hills, majestic mountaintops where a crystal clear river rolls through the valley of uncompromised beauty.

As all those people are checking in to their hotels and motels, you are sitting on the porch of your cabin, taking in the landscape of open wilderness as far as the eye can see. As the cars move through the town, the people swarm the town square, and wait for dinner reservations. Meanwhile, you walk to the deck for a decadent BBQ dinner masterfully cooked accompanied by a full bar and scenery that is beyond compare.

The Road Less Traveled

One cannot help but think of Robert Frost’s classic poem, The Road Not Taken:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Not everyone has the opportunity to stay at a guest ranch in the heart of the Gros Ventre River Valley. Not everyone knows about such a magical place. And not everyone will ever know the wonder and peacefulness of spending time in the wilderness. Goosewing Ranch offers weary travelers a respite from the busy chatterings of life. A chance to jump out of the line of status quo into a fresh unique way of discovering nature.

Days on the ranch are filled with horseback riding, fly fishing, mountain biking, hiking, sunbathing poolside, amazing meals, and time to unwind. No lines to wait in, no cash registers, no buses filled with tourists. And when you do get to Jackson, you will do so with a smile on your face. The furrow in your brow will not be quite so deep because you took the time to slow down, breathe in the expanse of the wild, and stare at a star filled sky.

So, when you are making your summer plans, think of Frost… “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”