First, dive into a recon tram lap to get your bearings. After the rush of locals has clicked in and skied off, spend a few minutes taking in the views before you descend the bowl.

At the bottom, find the groomed Rendezvous Trail (R Trail to locals). Stay on R Trail for a steep, exciting warm-up groomer to mid-mountain, or keep the blood pumping from the bowl and hang a left into Wally World, a short but steep, challenging run with great perspective on other runs in Cheyenne Bowl. Either way, you’ll join South Pass Traverse, from which you look down into the lower faces, a slate of ungroomed, featured and steep slopes to the base, and make plans to hit them up later. Tram Line, near the base of Thunder Chair, is a long, flowing, often-groomed descent back to the tram, and a perfect place to wrap up your initial run.

After that, head to the upper mountain, where Thunder and Sublette chairs follow parallel ridges packed with challenging runs and interesting terrain. From Sublette, must-dos include Dog Face to Pepi's Run, Alta 1, 2, and 3, and Bird in the Hand. Be sure to brave the quad-busting Hobacks down to the base at least once.

Thunder’s best include Toilet Bowl, chock full of features and small cliffs (but no mandatory airs), and Tower 3, a steep, featured run and narrow crux, and a local favorite (bring your A-game to this one). Indulge in the steep trees in Hoops Gap, and don’t miss Dick’s Ditch, which drops from the top of Amphitheater Bowl to the base area in a twisting, featured natural halfpipe.

When you need a break, head over to Teton and Aprés Vous chairs, which both have delightful tree skiing and rolling terrain (this is also a perfect opportunity to check in with your crew if you’re a mixed ability group).

If conditions allow, don’t miss a few laps on the inbounds hike-to terrain. Access to the bootpack is from the tram via Corbet’s Couloir or from Sublette via Tensleep Traverse. A moderately steep, 20-30 minute climb set by Jackson Hole Ski Patrol leads to the wide-open Headwall, or you can go further to the featured terrain of Casper Bowl and The Crags.

Storm day tip: Major powder can mean utter mayhem, so consider hiring a ski instructor for the day just to cut the long tram lines.

The Jackson Hole Backcountry: If you’re an expert skier enchanted by the big mountain terrain visible out the backcountry gates, the resort offers Jackson Hole Backcountry Guides, a safer and better way to explore with a guide and rescue equipment. Don’t be tempted to go out the backcountry gates without a guide and the necessary gear. The backcountry is complex terrain with avalanche danger and sometimes arduous exits, and the best ski trips don’t include meeting Teton County Search and Rescue.

For skiers and snowboarders who already have some solid skills, a great way to comfortably ease into Jackson Hole’s vast slate of slopes and get used to the trail rating system is to cover it from looker’s right to left, an exploration that will get more challenging as you move across the mountain.

Start the day on Après Vous Chair (or AV to locals). AV offers a host of wide-open blue runs, but if you want an even mellower warm up, hop on the Sweetwater Gondola for a cushy ascent to the Casper area. This mid-mountain terrain was graded by the resort to create significantly gentler inclines and shorter runs. Get your bearings on Jackson-level blues such as Croaky Point, Sun Dog, and Sleeping Indian. If you’re feeling cheeky, venture into the delightful, widely-spaced glades between groomers for variety (and, if needed, quick exits back to the groomers). You can connect via South Pass Traverse to AV and longer groomers with gentle pitches and rollovers such as Upper Werner and Moran Gully.

Next, head up on Teton Chair for higher elevation and groomers with a little more terrain and steeper angles, such as Crags Run (Pro tip: Skier’s left is less steep than the right).

As your Jackson ski (or snowboard) legs get used to the mountain, make exploring the blues off the Bridger Gondola and Thunder Chair high on your radar. Try Woolsey Woods from Bridger for easy, cowboy tree skiing action, and off Thunder, don’t miss the terrain in Amphitheater Bowl and The Grand: a delightful, wide groomer with stunning views above the valley.

Jackson Hole asks more from beginners than most mountains do. The topography of the Teton Range rises abruptly from the valley floor with few areas of sustained, gentle terrain. It can be intimidating, but the beginner and lower intermediate areas are quality offerings where skiers, snowboarders and families can still have a great time on the snow and find plenty of room to progress their skills.

If you’ve been on skis before and are ready to strike out on your own, there are two lifts to keep in mind: Eagles Rest and Teewinot. These service mellow slopes with no surprises right next to the base area, making it easy to keep spirits high with hot chocolate breaks.

The limited groomed beginner terrain gives skiers the perfect excuse to be creative and have fun exploring the base area offerings. The Bronco terrain park off Teewinot is a great way to experience gentle, rolling features, no air or speed required. And no one is too grown up to enjoy the Kids Adventure Trails in the base area. These curving little trails in the woods are a kids’ favorite, but even expert and local skiers hit them up because they’re just really fun. Beginners, and even grownup ones, can trade skill-building on groomers with these exciting, easy routes, guided by pictures of forest creatures posted on the trees.