The Deck at Piste – A Good Way to End a Grand Teton Day

The Deck at Piste – A Good Way to End a Grand Teton Day

The Deck at Piste, in Teton Village. A great overlook of the Jackson Hole Valley.

The Deck at Piste is a restaurant just outside Grand Teton National Park, in Teton Village, and it is a great place to eat appetizers and enjoy drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available) while overlooking the Jackson Hole Valley.

It’s the perfect place to end your day of Grand Teton activity.

The Deck at Piste is different from many of the other decks in Jackson Hole Valley as it does not give you a view of the Tetons…

…because it is ON the Tetons!

This time you are on the Tetons looking out over the vast Jackson Hole Valley, the Snake River, and the Gros Ventre Mountain Range.

The views are stunning.

Geology is amazing!

Even if you didn’t major in Geology, you will think you did, as you will find yourself being able to identify that a glacier formed the valley, and that the surrounding mountains (including the ones you are standing on) are millions of years old (Tetons = 10 million years old).

Enough of how scholarly you are! Back to the experience of The Deck at Piste…

UPDATE for 2024

The Evening Bridger Gondola is open from June 25th – September 7th. – – 5 pm to 9 pm (last gondola up is at 8:30 pm)

• The Evening Gondola is closed every Friday and Saturday and has event closures on June 21-22; July 30, August 6, 8, 10, 14 + 24; September 5.
• Additional closure dates are possible and subject to change.
• Check the website for updated closures.
• The Bridger Gondola may close at any time due to weather.
• Last gondola up at 8:30pm.
• Last gondola down at 9pm.

Bridger Gondola to the Deck at Piste and Piste Mountain Bistro

Beginning in 2022 the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort announced that the Evening Bridger Gondola would no longer be free on its own after 5:00 pm.

Message from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort website:

“The Evening Bridger Gondola is free if you have one of the following:

• A Summer Sightseeing Lift Ticket from that day (includes Aerial Tram)
• A Summer Sightseeing Season Pass
• A winter 23/24 Rendezvous or Grand Pass
• A reservation at Piste Mountain Bistro for that day
• You may also hike to the top and ride the Bridger Gondola down for free.

Aerial Tram at Teton Village

The Summer Sightseeing Lift Ticket is an all-day pass that includes the Aerial Tram, and day and evening access to the Bridger Gondola (except noted closures) and is discounted by $7 if you purchase it online.

If you are interested in dining at the Piste Mountain Bistro, take a peek at their menu here, and make reservations here.

If you don’t want to purchase the Summer Sightseeing Lift Ticket that includes the Aerial Tram ride, nor eat at Piste Mountain Bistro, and want to do the Evening Bridger Gondola, you can purchase Evening Gondola only tickets. Hours: 5:00 – 9:00 pm.

• Adults (18-64) – – – $18
• Seniors (65+) – – – $14
• Kids (5-17) – – -$12

With the Bridger Gondola not being free after 5:00 pm, doing the Deck at Piste isn’t as good of a deal as it used to be, but I do have some ideas about how to do the Deck at Piste this summer.

Getting to The Deck

To get to The Deck at Piste, take the Bridger Gondola, found in Teton Village. The Gondola holds 4 adults comfortably and can hold 6 people. There will be an attendant there to help get you in and settled.

The Deck at Piste restaurant opens at 4:30. Be prepared to wait in line for the gondola around dinner time.

The last ride up is at 8:30 pm.

The last ride down is at 9:00 pm.

Pro Tip: Grab a $5 margarita at the Tin Can Cantina as you wait in line. Tin Can Cantina is located at the base of the Bridger Gondola (closes at 5:00 pm).

Enjoy the ride up (12 minutes) and look for animals. We once saw a black bear bumble down a hiking path (so if you are hiking up, be aware!).

At the end of the gondola ride, you will exit straight on to the deck.

Group selfie with Jackson Hole Valley in background

Welcome to 9,095′ ft. elevation!

…and there are still higher peaks behind you…

The Deck has amazing views!

Pro Tip: For best pictures of the valley, (and pictures of you with the valley in the background) go earlier in evening/late afternoon. As the sun continues to set behind the mountain, a shadow casts across the valley.

If you are going to eat/drink on The Deck, which is first come, first serve, read on for your best game plan.

A great table at The Deck

Getting a Good Table

Stake out your table first.
You seat yourself. If you wait for someone to seat you, it will be a long wait (never) and you will miss out on a good table. Stake out your table BEFORE going to look at the view.

Get as close to the edge as you can.
*SPOILER*: While there is an edge to the deck, it is NOT the edge of the mountainside, even though it looks like it when exiting the gondola (breathe easy my acrophobic friends). *SPOILER*

Order food and drinks.
Order your food and drinks BEFORE walking over to see the view. Pass your wait time by standing at the deck edge overlooking the valley that stretches for miles. Make sure your table looks taken.

Two Prime Seats at the Deck at Piste overlooking the Jackson Hole Valley

Food and Drinks

To be clear, The Deck Restaurant is only on the deck. Inside the building is the Piste Mountain Bistro. A different restaurant with a different menu.

For drinks, you are covered across the board. They have cocktails, mocktails, wine, beer, lemonade, tea, hot chocolate, coffee, juice, soda, water…

For food, The Deck serves appetizers and shareable plates.

It is a limited menu with only six to nine items, one of them is often a dessert.

The baskets of fries and edamame are HUGE! One basket of fries or edamame is a lot for two people, ideal for three, and good for four well-mannered diners.

Big baskets of fries and edamame – image courtesy of Dishing Jackson Hole (dishingjh.com)

The Deck at Piste is Ideal for:

• The view
• Late afternoon and/or evening drinks
• After dinner drinks
• Drinks with snacks and/or a small dinner
• Vegetarian and Vegan options
• To listen to live music by local musicians

People enjoying the food and views on The Deck

Summary

• Be sure to check The Deck’s website for any closures for private events.
• Unless a dinner of French fries is okay, the menu is not kid-friendly. It is not often kids find the other options suitable for them.
• Food choices are limited, six to nine choices.
• They do not split checks, plan accordingly.
• It will get cooler as the evening goes on. Bring a jacket.
• You are at 9,095′ ft. elevation, remember to drink water, especially if you are having alcoholic drinks
• Wear bug spay. Yes, even this high up.
• Late afternoon and early evening you are still in full sun (no umbrellas). Wear your sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat.
• Best photos of the valley are in the late afternoon or early evening, before the mountain casts a shadow.

Any questions about the Deck at Piste? Let us know in the comments section!

Update for 2024 Thoughts

In summers past, the Bridger Gondola was free after 5:00 pm and I would recommend The Deck at Piste as a “Must Do Activity”!

In my humble opinion, I think the Jackson Hole Valley view from The Deck at Piste is stunning.

…and when the Bridger Gondola was free after 5:00 pm, I thought it was a “good deal (read: must do)” activity for everyone, because you could see that view, get a free gondola ride, and have the option to drink and/or eat at the top while still enjoying the view.

Now, with there being a charge to use the Bridger Gondola after 5:00 pm, I can’t recommend it as a “must do.”

At least, not in the scenario I just described (ride/view/dine).

The additional charges just changes the “deal” in my opinion.

Again, my opinion, not fact.

Two Ideas for Doing the Deck at Piste for Summer 2023

I do think the view is still worth seeing, but in my opinion, I think there are two better ways to do the Deck than paying the evening gondola ride prices.

1. Eat at Piste Mountain Bistro

Book a reservation and eat at the Piste Bistro (located next to the Deck at Piste – the inside area).

Proof of reservation comes with a free gondola ride up to the restaurant.

Before or after you dine, you can go to the Deck area and see the views, maybe even have a drink (both alcohol and non-alcohol drinks available).,

Disclosure: I haven’t eaten at Piste Mountain Bistro because we always utilized The Deck. This summer will be our first meal there, and I’ll report any tips and/or tricks I learn back here in this article.

2. Do The Summer Sightseeing Ticket

The Summer Sightseeing Lift Ticket is an all day pass that includes the Aerial Tram, and day and evening access of the Bridger Gondola (except noted closures) and is discounted by $7 if you purchase it online.

The Aerial Tram runs from May 18th – October 6th and the Bridger Gondola runs from June 15th – September 7th (except noted closures).

Anyway, the Aerial Tram takes you up to the top of the mountain. Even higher than the Bridger Gondola.

In fact, you can look down to the Bridger Gondola, The Deck at Piste, and the Piste Mountain Bistro.

At the top of the Aerial Tram – you will see the same magnificent view as at the Deck at Piste, plus a little extra to the west. You’ll get the opportunity to ride in the Aerial Tram, walk around at the top, buy a waffle, and maybe touch snow.

Here is what the website describes the experience as:

“The summit offers staggering 360-degree views of the Tetons, Jackson Hole valley and surrounding mountain ranges. The “Top of the World” provides amazing access to a plethora of great hiking and running trails, climbing and the occasional snowball fight. And don’t forget the world-famous gourmet waffles in Corbet’s Cabin!” – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

So that is all pretty great.

…and those waffles are very good.

My favorite waffle is the “Englishman”.

Now as for the Bridger Gondola, you get to use it anytime with your Summer Sightseeing Ticket that same day (except noted closures). So you could plan the event by doing the Aerial Tram early in the day, come back down and do other activities, and then come back to Teton Village in the evening, take the Bridger Gondola and have dinner/drinks/etc… to finish out the day. I think that is what my family and I are going to do this summer.

There are of course, other options. You could arrange to do the Aerial Tram in the afternoon and then do the Gondola back to back.

I just wanted to share with you my thoughts and hopefully help you get the most out of this activity. I’m here for you, kids!

Have fun and enjoy the view!!

Keep Your Eye Peeled for a Moose!

Jenn Cunningham
Founder, Explore GTNP

GRAND TETON 3-DAY ITINERARY

The Deck at Piste can be found in our GTNP 3-DAY Itinerary. If you are looking for additional ideas of what to do and see in Grand Teton National Park, and how to do it efficiently to make the most of your time, check out our Grand Teton 3-DAY Itinerary.

All the best places to see, hikes to do, places to dine, and the fun to have laid out day by day in this 3-DAY Itinerary.