Most travelers just pass through Swan Valley without ever exploring many of its unique opportunities. The South Fork of the Snake River attracts anglers from all over the world. It flows out of the Palisades reservoir and runs for 64 miles, offering excellent tail-water fly-fishing. The South Fork also is conducive to flat water rafting as well as kayaking. Although most of the river appears to be flat and calm, make sure you know what you're doing as river conditions can be deceiving and is known to change unexpectedly.
The forests around Swan Valley offer hiking, biking, horseback riding, and hunting. The weather of Swan Valley is mild compared to the weather of nearby Jackson Hole. Temperatures drop to the 10s in the winter and reach high 80s in the summer.
Grand Teton National Park is about an hour drive from Swan Valley. To get there, take Pine Creek Pass to Victor, Idaho, and then climb up Teton Pass to Wilson, Wyoming. Watch out for wildlife, especially at night. You can enter park either through Moose-Wilson Road, past Teton Village, or drive through the town of Jackson and head north to the town of Moose. Grand Teton National Park offers excellent hiking, rock climbing, and wildlife viewing. If you are traveling in the winter, the park provides exceptional backcountry skiing options. Be sure you are familiar with avalanche safety before you head out.
The south entrance to Yellowstone National Park is about a 2 hour drive from Swan Valley. Almost the entire drive yields breathtaking views of the Teton Mountain Range. Yellowstone provides numerous hiking and sightseeing opportunities. As a geological Hot Spot, Yellowstone is home to over 10,000 hot springs and geysers.
Teton Village also offers wonderful skiing at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The resort offers an aerial tram that takes you to 10,000 feet. There are 9 other lifts which open up mostly expert terrain. Ski lessons and rentals are available through the resort or at any ski shop in Teton Village. Bring warm clothes as temperatures can drop below zero on a typical ski day.
Before heading up Pine Creek Pass to Victor, many locals as well as tourists like to stop at the gas station near the junction to get Swan Valley's famous square ice cream. Yup, instead of a normal round scoop, your mint chocolate chip sits as a nice cube on top of your cone.
The nearest airport to Swan Valley is in Jackson Hole which is about 44 miles away. There is also one in Idaho Falls which is about 50 miles away. Salt Lake offers a bigger international airport and is about a 4 hour drive from Swan Valley.
