You’re standing at the edge of Rendezvous Peak. The wind is whipping at 10,450 feet, and your lungs are definitely feeling the thin air. Suddenly, you smell it—melted butter and toasted sugar. It feels impossible, like a hallucination brought on by altitude. But it’s not. It’s coming from a tiny, weathered shack that looks like it might blow off the mountain if the wind gets any higher.
Welcome to Corbet's Cabin.
Most people come to the summit of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for the legendary Corbet’s Couloir—the kind of ski run that makes your stomach drop just looking at the entrance. Others come for the 360-degree views of the Tetons that’ll make your iPhone storage cry. But honestly? A huge chunk of people are just here for the waffles. Specifically, Corbet's Cabin top of the world waffles.
They aren't just food. They’re a ritual.
The "How the Heck Do I Get There?" Logistics
Getting to these waffles is half the adventure. You aren't just strolling into a café on a street corner. You have to earn these, either by wallet or by leg power.
The standard way is the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram. It’s affectionately called "Big Red." You cram in with 100 other people (mostly skiers in the winter, sightseers in the summer) and rise 4,139 vertical feet in about 12 minutes. It’s a literal trip. If you’re visiting in the summer, you can actually hike up if you're a glutton for punishment, but most people just pay the tram fare.
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Wait. Important tip: If you hike up to the summit, the ride down on the tram is usually free, but you’ve gotta check the current resort policy because that changes based on the season.
Once the tram doors hiss open at the summit, the cabin is right there. It’s small. It’s cramped. It’s usually humid inside because of the waffle irons going non-stop. And it is glorious.
Why Corbet's Cabin Top of the World Waffles Aren't Your Average Eggo
Let’s get one thing straight. These aren't those thick, cakey Belgian waffles you get at a Sunday brunch in the suburbs. If you’re expecting a giant, fluffy tower of dough, you’re in the wrong place.
The waffles at Corbet’s are thin. They’re made using Carbon's Golden Malted flour—a classic—but they’re cooked until they’re pliable enough to be folded over like a sandwich. This is a design choice. You’re at the top of a mountain. People are wearing gloves or holding ski poles. You need something you can eat with one hand while staring at the Grand Teton.
They’re buttery. They’re slightly salty. They’ve got that "melt-in-your-mouth" texture that only comes from a high-heat iron and way more butter than your doctor would recommend.
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The Menu: Decoding the Flavors
The menu isn't long, which is good because the line usually is. You’ve basically got four or five heavy hitters that have been on the board for years.
- The Gateway: This is the local favorite. It’s peanut butter and smoked bacon. Don't make a face. The heat from the waffle melts the peanut butter into a gooey sauce, and the salt from the bacon cuts right through the richness. It’s high-calorie fuel for a reason.
- The Englishman: Lemon glaze, powdered sugar, and whipped cream. It’s lighter, zingier, and arguably the most "refreshing" if a waffle can be refreshing.
- The Italian: Nutella and strawberries. It’s a classic for a reason. It’s messy. You will get chocolate on your jacket.
- The Trad: Just brown sugar and butter. It’s the purist’s choice. When that brown sugar hits the hot butter, it creates this sort of instant caramel.
Recently, they’ve played around with things like "The Cookie Monster" (Biscoff/cookie butter) or seasonal berry toppings, but the core four are why people come back.
Is It a Tourist Trap?
I get asked this a lot. Look, is $10-$15 for a single waffle "expensive"? Sure, in the real world. But you’re at 10,000 feet. Everything in that cabin—the flour, the bacon, the napkins—had to come up on the tram.
The atmosphere isn't corporate. It’s a high-altitude shack. You’ll see world-class pro skiers sitting next to a family from Ohio who have never seen snow before. Everyone is just happy to be warm and eating sugar. It’s one of the few places in Jackson Hole that still feels a bit like the "old" Wyoming, despite the fancy tram.
Survival Tips for the Waffle Line
If you show up at noon on a Saturday in January, you’re going to wait. The line can wrap out the door and into the snow.
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- Go Early or Late: The cabin opens when the tram starts running. Be on one of the first few "buckets" up if you want a seat inside.
- The "Ski-In" Strategy: In the winter, most skiers hit the waffles at 10:30 AM as a mid-morning snack. By 12:30 PM, it’s a madhouse.
- Seating is a Contact Sport: There are only a few benches. If you see a gap, take it. People are generally cool about sharing tables. It’s part of the vibe.
- Check the Weather: If the wind hits a certain mph, the tram shuts down. No tram, no waffles. Always check the Jackson Hole app before you head to Teton Village.
Beyond the Waffle: The Experience
While you’re chewing, take a second to look at the photos on the walls. Corbet’s Cabin has history. It was built back in the 60s as a patrol shack and radio hut. It wasn't always a "waffle house." It was a place for survival.
Even the bathrooms are a feat of engineering—they use a composting system because there’s no running water up there. It’s a reminder of how remote you actually are.
If you’re there in the summer, take your waffle out to the deck. You can watch paragliders run off the edge of the mountain and catch thermals. In the winter, you can stand by the fence and watch the "senders" drop into Corbet's Couloir. It’s free entertainment with your meal.
What to Do Next
If you’re planning a trip to Jackson, don't just "wing it" when it comes to the tram. Buy your sightseeing tickets online in advance to save a few bucks and skip the ticket office line.
Once you finish your waffle, don't just head back down. If it's summer, walk the Top of the World trail. It’s a relatively easy loop that gives you views of the Granite Canyon and the back of the Tetons. If it's winter and you aren't an expert skier, please, for the love of everything, do NOT try to ski down the front. Just ride the tram back down. Your knees (and the ski patrol) will thank you.
Actionable Step: Download the "Jackson Hole Resort" app tonight. It has a live "Waffle Cam" and tram status updates so you don't waste a trip to the base area when the summit is socked in by a blizzard.