Snowmobiling to Lunch at Brooks Lake Lodge
A winter journey through the Tetons and Togwotee Pass
Some winter days in Wyoming feel designed rather than discovered. A snowmobile ride from Togwotee Pass to Brooks Lake Lodge is one of them. Wide open skies. Endless groomed trails. Big mountain terrain rising on all sides. And at the end, a historic lodge waiting with a warm lunch and a roaring fire.
This is not just a ride. It is one of the great winter experiences in the Rocky Mountains.
From Jackson Hole to the High Country
The day begins in Jackson Hole, where we rent snowmobiles and load them onto trailers for the drive east. The route itself is a visual prelude. As we pass through Grand Teton National Park, the Tetons dominate the horizon. In winter, their jagged granite faces stand stark and luminous against the sky, framed by snow-covered meadows and frozen waterways.
The road climbs steadily toward Togwotee Pass, a place long known among snowmobilers as one of North America’s premier riding destinations.
Togwotee is pronounced TOH guh tee. The name comes from a Shoshone guide whose name is often translated as “lance thrower” and is tied to traveling freely through this mountain corridor. Today, the pass remains a gateway into vast alpine terrain that feels both wild and accessible.
At the trailhead, we unload the sleds, gear up, and head into the mountains.
Riding Through Togwotee’s Legendary Trail System
From the first throttle pull, it is clear why Togwotee holds such a strong reputation. The groomed trail network stretches for miles across high plateaus, weaving through forests and open meadows with constant mountain views. The riding is smooth and fast, but the landscape around it is anything but tame.
Off the trail, steep hillsides, bowls, and ridgelines rise into true big mountain sledding terrain. Riders who want adventure can climb into powder-filled slopes and technical alpine zones, while those seeking a more relaxed ride enjoy wide, scenic routes through pristine winter country.
Above it all, the sky feels impossibly large.
Arriving at Brooks Lake Lodge
After crossing miles of high alpine terrain, the mountains begin to close in, and Brooks Lake appears. Nestled in a secluded basin at nearly 9,200 feet, Brooks Lake Lodge feels like a destination from another era. In winter, the lodge is accessible only by snowmobile, snowcat, or skis, located five miles beyond the nearest paved road. That remoteness is part of the experience and part of what makes arriving here feel so special.
Originally built in 1922 as the Two Gwo Tee Inn, the lodge has been welcoming winter travelers for more than a century. Today, it blends that Old West heritage with refined comfort and hospitality.
Stepping inside from the cold is part of the magic. Snow suits and helmets come off. Hands warm by the fire. And a proper seated lunch awaits in a dining room surrounded by massive log beams, stone fireplaces, and the quiet history of the American West.
It is the kind of place where time slows down.
Afternoon Riding on Brooks Lake
After lunch, the experience continues outside. Brooks Lake itself stretches wide and frozen, reflecting the surrounding peaks and sky. The terrain around the lake is ideal for exploring, with open slopes, rolling hills, and scenic climbs that reveal expansive mountain views in every direction.
Pinnacle Buttes and the surrounding peaks rise dramatically above the basin, creating a sense of isolation and scale that few places can offer. The riding here is relaxed and beautiful, the kind of winter landscape that stays with you long after the engines are off.
The Ride Back to Togwotee Pass
As the afternoon light softens, it is time to point the sleds back toward Togwotee. The return ride follows the same groomed trail system, but the shifting shadows and golden winter light give the landscape a completely different character.
Back at the trailhead, the sleds are loaded onto trailers, and the drive back through the Tetons feels like a quiet closing chapter to a remarkable day.
Why This Trip Belongs on Every Winter Bucket List
Snowmobiling to Brooks Lake Lodge combines everything that makes Wyoming winter special. Grand mountain scenery. World-class trail systems. True backcountry access. And a historic lodge that offers warmth, hospitality, and a connection to the past.
It is not just about getting to lunch. It is about the journey through one of the most beautiful and wild winter landscapes in North America.
