7 Ways to Hygge: The Cozy Side of Jackson
There’s a word our Scandinavian friends use that particularly fits around this time of year: hygge. It’s pronounced something like “hyoo-gah,” and it’s Danish for a feeling of comfort, warmth, and coziness that makes you feel pretty good about life—the feeling you get when the world outside looks a little wild, but you’re tucked somewhere safe, preferably wearing flannel with a mug warm in your hands.
October in Jackson Hole might not automatically come with candlelit cottages or Danish pastries (though, really, nobody's stopping you), but this place nails the vibe perfectly. The trees fade to gold and rust, the mountains start collecting snow caps, and Jackson becomes exactly the kind of place where you can practice the fine art of doing nothing beautifully. Here are some of our favorite ways to experience hygge in Jackson:
- A cup of something hot at Persephone Bakery. Whatever’s going on in the outside world, the smell of croissants and the soft hum of conversation make things feel civilized again.
- Reading by the fire at the bookstore. Grab a local favorite and settle down to read next to the fire at Jackson Hole Book Trader.
- A slow afternoon drive through Grand Teton National Park. Save the “see everything” jaunts for when you’re not hygge-ing. Just watch the light shift across the peaks while the car heater hums. Bonus hygge points if you’ve got a warm thermos and a playlist that never gets too rushed.
- Warming up at the hot springs. Try Granite Hot Springs, Astoria, or even your favorite local soaking spot. There’s something deeply relaxing about sitting in hot water while the snowline creeps lower down the mountains. Just make sure to check open seasons and hours first.
- Watching the stars from anywhere dark enough. Wrap up in a blanket and let the cold make you appreciate the warmth you came from, where air is sharp, the sky is huge, and the silence is a bit awe-inspiring. Find a great location here.
- A downtown walk at dusk. The creak of boardwalks, the smell of woodsmoke, the smell of baked goods and the sounds of good times floating from open doors—all classic hygge atmosphere.
- Doing nothing on purpose. Jackson isn’t just for adventurers—it’s also for people who want to sit still and listen to the creek for an hour without pretense or pressure to do anything else. Nature is fully on board with hygge, after all.
So pour another cup, pull on some wool socks, and let the world outside do its thing. Inside, it’s all about hygge.
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This post is brought to you by Flat Creek Inn, another great place to get your hygge on. Go ahead—grab a hot chocolate from the store, sit by the window, and watch the steam rise over the elk refuge.
Ryan Kunz is a copywriter and freelance writer who writes on a variety of topics, including media, the outdoors, and whatever else strikes his fancy. He would much rather be hygge-ing than what he is doing right now.
