Mountain Resorts

East of Moran Junction [1] at Togwotee Pass (9,658 feet), U.S. Highway 26/287 tops the Continental Divide and then slides eastward toward Dubois and the Wind River Valley. The Togwotee Pass area is famous for luxuriously deep snow all winter and is a destination for snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, and dogsledding enthusiasts.

Just north of the pass is Teton Wilderness [2], a place to discover what solitude means. As you face west from the pass, the Teton Range offers a jagged horizon line. This entire area provides a delicious escape from hectic Jackson [3] and is home to two noteworthy, attractive high-elevation resorts: Togwotee Mountain Lodge and Brooks Lake Lodge.

Togwotee Mountain Lodge

Forty-eight miles northeast of Jackson and just a few miles west of Togwotee Pass is Togwotee Mountain Lodge (307/543-2847 or 800/543-2847, www.togwoteelodge.com [4]), a pleasantly rustic place to spend a night or a week. Owned by the conglomerate Aramark, the resort offers horseback rides, and the staff can set up mountain-bike trips, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, backcountry pack trips, and other summertime adventures, along with wintertime snowmobiling (the primary winter activity), dogsledding, and cross-country skiing when the snow flies. Togwotee has a variety of accommodations, and guests will enjoy two large hot tubs. Summer rates are $170 d for rooms in the lodge, $200 d for family rooms with bunk beds for the kids, and $230 d for one-bedroom cabins. The mini-suites and cabins sleep up to six people ($10 per person for more than two). In winter, the resort specializes in package deals that include lodging, breakfast and dinner, snowmobile guide, and free airport shuttle. The resort also houses a restaurant ($15-27), bar, gas station, gift shop, and convenience store. Togwotee is closed early April-mid-May and mid-October-November.

Brooks Lake Lodge

Brooks Lake Lodge (307/455-2121, www.brookslake.com [5]) may have the finest location of any Wyoming resort, with a placid lake in front and the cliffs of Pinnacle Buttes nearby. Built in 1922, it has long served travelers en route to Yellowstone, and its enormous great hall contains big-game trophies from all over the world. Completely restored, the lodge is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Seven guest rooms are available in the main lodge, and eight attractive cabins hide in the trees; all are tastefully appointed with handmade lodgepole furniture. The cabins also have woodstoves.

The turnoff for Brooks Lake Lodge is 65 miles northeast of Jackson (34 miles east of Moran Junction) and another five miles off the highway via Brooks Lake Road. The lodge is open mid-June-mid-September and late December-mid-March. There’s a three-night minimum stay, and rates are $650-750 per day for two guests in the lodge or cabins. The largest and most luxurious cabin has two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, jetted tub, and more for $1,700 nightly. All rates include gourmet meals, horseback riding, guided hiking, canoeing, fly-fishing, and Wi-Fi in the summer. A stocked casting pond is available for working on your technique. The spa features a small workout room, sauna, and outdoor hot tub; massage and facials are extra. Winter stays include three meals, cross-country skis, ice-fishing, and snowshoes, plus spa access for $500-550 per day for two people (two-night minimum). Snowmobile rentals and dogsled tours are also available. Brooks Lake Lodge is open to the public for winter lunches (burgers, sandwiches, salads, and daily specials), making this a popular stop for snowmobilers and cross-country skiers.