LOCAL
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August in Jackson Hole is summer at its fullest—warm days, hazy afternoon light, and the valley humming with visitors, wildlife, and activity. Rivers have dropped and warmed, so anglers and paddlers are chasing the cooler morning hours before the heat sets in. Wildflowers are past their peak in the lower meadows but still going strong up high, where alpine blooms hang on a few extra weeks in the shade of the peaks.
Wildlife is on the move as the season shifts. Bears typically start to feast on ripening berries, at this time, but this year has seen poor berry production. Bears will search for alternatives, but will still be climbing into the whitebark pine zone above 8,500 feet for the nutrient-rich seeds. Give them plenty of room and carry bear spray on every hike, even a short one. The bison rut, which got underway in July, is winding down, while the first stirrings of the elk rut are beginning near the end of the month—a preview of the bugling to come in September.
Town is lively too, with the Grand Teton Music Festival wrapping up its summer season, the Jackson Hole Art Fair drawing artists and crowds to the Center for the Arts lawn, and the rodeo still running Wednesday and Saturday nights through Labor Day. It’s a wonderful month to soak up the last long days of summer before the pace begins to shift toward fall.
Happy Trails,
Cathy Shill
Founder, The Hole Hiking Experience
REGIONAL
Hyperphagia: How Grand Teton’s Bears Prepare for Winter
Soon, black bears and grizzlies alike will be shifting into hyperphagia, spending up to 20 hours a day eating in an effort to pack on fat reserves before den season. Berry crops are usually the main draw at lower elevations like huckleberries, chokecherry, hawthorn, and mountain ash, but this year has seen a troubled berry production. Bears at higher elevations seek out whitebark pine seeds cached by Clark’s nutcrackers in forest middens. It’s a critical, high-stakes season for bears, and it means more bear activity along roads and trails through October. Give them space, secure your food and garbage, and make noise on the trail.
Learn more:
July Wildlife Whereabouts: Summer in Full Swing, shared by the Grand Teton National Park Foundation
SPIRIT
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.“
— John Muir
Join a Naturalist in Jackson Hole
We take pride in our guides—their commitment to providing excellent service is the key to our success. Each of our staff members has chosen guiding as a profession in order to share his or her expertise and passion for nature. Their dedication, depth of knowledge, and strong work ethic are what make our tours memorable, safe, and fun!
Nature Awaits You!
Backcountry Tips
- Bears are in full hyperphagia mode this month. Carry bear spray, know how to use it, and stay especially alert in whitebark pine habitat above 8,500 feet and along berry-rich corridors like Moose-Wilson Road.
- Give bison and elk extra space as the rut transitions—males can be unpredictable and aggressive as breeding season winds down and ramps up.
- River and lake water is warm this time of year, but afternoon temperatures at altitude can still swing quickly—pack layers and start hikes early to beat both the heat and the crowds.
Field Facts
- Huckleberries are at their peak in lower-elevation meadows and forest edges, with chokecherry, hawthorn, and mountain ash ripening as the month goes on.
- The bison rut is winding down while bull elk are beginning to gather harems ahead of the rut later in September.
- Bald eagle and osprey chicks that fledged earlier this summer are now testing their wings along the rivers—watch for them near Oxbow Bend and other riparian stretches.
Cathy Shill: The Visionary Behind The Hole Hiking Experience
Cathy is a celebrated leader in connecting people with the natural world. In 1989, she founded The Hole Hiking Experience in Jackson, Wyoming, and has since inspired thousands of visitors each year. Her trips are fun, engaging, and full of lively interpretation, giving clients the chance to connect with natural processes, observe wildlife, and discover the deep, innate connections we share with nature.
