I absolutely loved Jackson Hole Marathon, and I'd say it probably earned the top spot of my all time favorite marathons both in terms of organization and scenery. I prefer smaller and more scenic as opposed to crowded city runs and it definitely fit the bill. From the beginning:

I flew into Salt Lake City and drove the 4.5 hours to Jackson (cheaper than flying directly into Jackson airport). The Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole was a beautiful, quiet place to stay, and convenient to downtown, the grocery store, and everything else. Jackson isn't a cheap place to visit but it's totally worth it with lots to see and do, and great restaurants and beer. The bib pickup location was the Chamber of Commerce downtown on Friday afternoon. Very quick and efficient - and great t-shirt for 2016!

The start is in downtown Jackson (about a mile from Wyoming Inn - my husband dropped me off but shuttles also run from the finish to the start area). The town square is lovely with the antler arches on each corner. I think there were supposed to be heated bathrooms in the visitor center open that morning but that didn't happen for some reason. There were portajohns and I found an open hotel with easy bathroom access! There are lots of fellow Marathon Maniacs and 50 Staters at this race so the start was a fun, casual few minutes before the gun went off at 7:07am. The weather was cool but not cold, and mostly clear.

The course itself is point to point, running from Jackson to Teton Village on mostly paved paths with only a few manned road crossings. It's absolutely breathtaking and not at all crowded. I carried my phone and took several pictures. It's not a downhill course, but not terribly challenging either. You are at about 6600 feet and there are some hills but nothing bad. There are several aid stations but the most important consideration is that it's a cup-less race, so you need to carry your own water system with you, either a bottle, hydration pack, or hydra pouch. Volunteers were very helpful and supportive the entire way.

Again, the course was beautiful, within sight of the Tetons, pastures, the Elk Refuge, and lots of other breathtaking beauty around you. You may be alone for some of it, as it's a small race, but nothing wrong with that!

The finish was in Teton Village which was lovely. My husband met me there and we drove back after hanging out a bit (about 11 miles to Jackson). The medals were very cool, one of my favorites, and there were snacks and drinks available, including the local Snake River Brewing which I fell in love with. It was low-key but festive.

The weather really cooperated with us this year. I can see how it could be a very hot course without a ton of shade in some parts, but it was cool with partly-cloudy skies the entire race, only getting a little warm towards the last couple of miles. Perfect!

Be sure and take the time to see Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. We spent time in each and saw tons of wildlife! Well worth taking a couple of days minimum!