8 Towns In The Rockies With Thriving Local Businesses

The Rockies are the largest mountain range in North America. They run through Canada and the US and peak at 14,440 feet above sea level. Although it may seem like businesses have no business in that rugged region, restaurants, bars, breweries, theaters, bookstores, hotels, cafés, and even candy shops thrive in Rocky towns many thousands of feet in elevation. Here are eight Rocky Mountain way stations where you can find amazing local fare.

Jackson, Wyoming

Go on down—er, up—to Jackson, a Wyoming town carved into the Rockies over 6,000 feet above sea level. There, you can hike Millers Butte, climb Jackson Peak, ski Snow King Mountain, and then explore more of such epic preserves as Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Thankfully, those elevated views and activities are matched by elevated businesses. Glorietta Trattoria treats travelers with Italian-style meals that utilize local ingredients. Trio welcomes trios, duos, quartets, and many other groups into its innovative bistro curated by a local chef, who, along with his wife, also owns Local, an aptly titled steakhouse with locally ranched meats. But arguably the finest local haunt is the Jackson Hole Playhouse, which has been entertaining humans and horses (it started as a livery stable) since 1915 as the "longest-running professional theatre in Wyoming."

Telluride, Colorado

Though Telluride sits in a box canyon in the Colorado Rockies, it is hard to put in a box. Yes, this 2,600ish-person town is a hub for outdoor recreation ranging from skiing to mountain biking to whitewater rafting, but it is also a hub for art and eclectic culture. As the "Festival Capital of the Rockies," Telluride hosts the Telluride Jazz Festival, Telluride Comedy Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Telluride Gay Ski Week, Telluride Mushroom Festival, and many other events that temporarily multiply its population. Thousands of festivalgoers are served by local joints like The National, which is a Mediterranean restaurant in the historic Telluride National Club building; Between the Covers, which is a long-running independent bookstore with an adjoining café; and The Butcher & the Baker, whose claim to fame is organic homemade food offered all day long. Of course, Telluride's residents also get pampered by those elegant establishments.

Banff, Alberta

Banff has more shopping options than you can probably imagine at 4,500 feet in the Canadian Rockies. Lining its mountainside main streets are the Banff Sweet Shoppe, Banff Trading Post, Banff Tea Co., Last Temptation Vintage, and Banff Candy Store. After browsing those businesses, sit down for local food at numerous eateries. In Banff, which is part of Banff National Park, "local food" means mule deer, elk, and bison. Scavenge venison fondue from The Grizzly House, elk burgers from The Eddie Burger + Bar, and bison tartare from The Bison. That is some highfalutin grub in Canada's highest incorporated town.

Ketchum, Idaho

Ketchum sits in Idaho's Wood River Valley, which is surrounded by Rocky Mountain subranges. Residents of not just Ketchum but neighboring communities like Sun Valley and Hailey have 24/7 access to mountain vistas. They also have all-day access to spectacular shops and restaurants. An Asia-inspired eatery called Rickshaw, a souvenir shop called the Country Cousin Store, and a longstanding extra-local haunt called the Ketchum Grill satiate residents and let tourists have a taste of high-elevation hospitality. When it comes to Rocky Mountain towns, you gotta Ketchum all.

Park City, Utah

Another community to catch in the Rocky Mountains is Park City, which is part of a Utah region dubbed the Wasatch Back. This "low pass over high range" sits several thousand feet above sea level and contains some of the best resort cities in the state, Park City included. After twisting around ferns at the Brighton Resort, refuel with new American cuisine at Twisted Fern. After riding horses along the Provo River, enjoy local food and music at the Riverhorse on Main. And after admiring hearth and hill at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, sip terroir-driven wines at Hearth and Hill. After leaving the Wasatch Back, you will certainly want to go back.

Fernie, British Columbia

The Rocky Mountains reign cover multiple provinces in Canada, one of which is British Columbia. Situated over 3,300 feet in BC's Rockies is Fernie, a city of about 6,000 people and dozens of booming businesses. Mugshots is one such establishment: a neighborhood café that serves coffee, lunch, treats, and all-day breakfast. Another place to place your mug (and butt) is Board Stiff, a longstanding shop that specializes in boards, whether they be skate, snow, or paddle. Although extreme sportspeople might be bored with this business, Polar Peek Books is for homebodies or else outdoor enthusiasts who want to curl up with a book after conquering the wilderness. Polar Peek has been Fernie's "hub for literacy" since 1993.

Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky is a census-designated place in the Madison Range of the Montana Rockies. It is home to the Big Sky Resort, which is considered the third-largest ski resort in America. Big Sky's 5,850 skiable acres and over 40 miles of mountain bike trails attract countless adventurers who need many amenities when they are off their skis and wheels. This mountain town has them covered—both with resort eateries and independent haunts like the Beehive Basin Brewery and the Blue Moon Bakery. It even has a family-run gourmet grocery store called The Country Market.

Taos, New Mexico

The Rocky Mountains reach their southernmost point in New Mexico. Rather than towering pines and snow-covered cabins, this part of the Rockies is characterized by tumbleweeds and sand-swept pueblos. The primary pueblo is Taos, which is both an ancestral Indigenous community and a modern town with myriad businesses. Chief among them are Lambert's of Taos, a fine dining restaurant that has been locally owned since 1989; The Alley Cantina, which is a late-night retreat in a 400ish-year-old building; The Coffee Apothecary, whose ethically sourced beans grind global esteem into local joe; and Taos Gems & Minerals, which is said to be Taos's oldest rock shop. Get your rocks off in New Mexico's finest Rocky Mountain town.

Even while walking miles above sea level, one can find wonderful local businesses. This is especially true in the Rocky Mountains, which span several states and provinces and hundreds—if not thousands—of communities. The best of these are Jackson in Wyoming, Telluride in Colorado, Banff in Alberta, Ketchum in Idaho, Park City in Utah, Fernie in British Columbia, Big Sky in Montana, and Taos in New Mexico. What they lack in oxygen, they make up for in food, drink, and high-level hospitality.