Visit the stunningly beautiful Brooks Lake in remote Wyoming
In northwestern Wyoming, high in the remote Absaroka Mountains lies a lake that is little known but offers genuinely stunning beauty. Brooks Lake is tucked away in the Shoshone National Forest and surrounded by soaring granite peaks and buttes.
Brooks Lake is between Grand Teton National Park and DuBois, Wyoming, off U.S. Highway 26. It is a 5-mile drive on a washboard dirt road to get to the lake. When we visited on a cool fall afternoon, the road had much more bear scat than traffic. Our small AWD SUV had no problems negotiating the road. Once you arrive, you are greeted with a postcard mirror view of Brooks Lake flawlessly reflecting the towering “pinnacles group.”
Staying the night at Brooks Lake
There are several options for those looking to stay awhile. Brooks Lake and Pinnacles campgrounds are right by the lake, featuring sweeping scenery that cannot be beaten. Both campgrounds are small, with 13 and 21 sites, respectively. Neither takes reservations; you can expect them to be full during summer weekends. There is a lodge for fancy folks who disdain vault toilets and camping in grizzly country.
The Historic Brooks Lodge sits above Brooks Lake and is quite exquisite. It was originally constructed in 1922 to serve tourists on the way to Yellowstone National Park. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic lodge is not cheap but is exceptionally nice. Guests can get rooms in the lodge or private cabins. Dining looks pretty awesome, with a few examples being banana fosters french toast in the morning, elk sloppy joes at lunch, and beef tenderloin for dinner.
Things to do at Brooks Lake
No matter if you are camping or relaxing in the lodge, the reason people come to Brooks Lake is to be in the great outdoors. There is incredible hiking in the area. You can walk along the famed Continental Divide Trail or hike to Upper Jade Lake, Upper Brooks Lake, or Rainbow Lake. If you are hiking, remember you are in grizzly country! The National Park Service recommends carrying bear spray, hiking in groups, making noise, and avoiding hiking at dawn, dusk, and night. Fishermen can expect world-class trout fishing.
There are warning signs to be careful where you are gutting them, as they attack bears. Plenty of other wildlife roams the area as well. If you are lucky, wolves, birds of prey, elk, and mule deer may also be seen.
Brooks Lake can be a perfect off-the-beaten-path trip for your vacation to Yellowstone or Jackson Hole. Whether you only spend a couple of hours or a few days, Brooks Lake will surely not disappoint.
