Solitude Float and Dornan’s
River Floats, Moose Sightings & Mountain Sunsets
Our morning started bright and early at Jackson Lake Lodge. We headed to the main lobby and enjoyed breakfast at The Mural Room, which serves an incredible breakfast buffet. Everything you could want was there — a made-to-order omelet and egg station, fresh fruit, pastries, and the most perfect coffee — all enjoyed with a panoramic view of the Teton Mountain Range.
After breakfast, we checked out and made our way toward the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, where we met our group for the Solitude Float Trip. I highly recommend this as a fun adventure for families! A short van ride took us to the river drop-in point, and soon we were drifting peacefully down the scenic river. It was a breathtaking experience — calm, quiet, and full of wildlife. We spotted multiple moose, a beaver, bald eagles, and even a bear! Our guide was knowledgeable, funny, and full of great stories, which made the float even more memorable.
Once we landed, we stopped at Dornan’s Chuckwagon for a hearty lunch. We ordered classics off the menu, left very full, and then poked around the shop for cookies to bring along for the road.
Before heading to our next lodge, we made a quick stop at Signal Mountain Lodge to take in the stunning views of the lake. We decided to grab something to eat at Trapper Grill and we couldn’t resist ordering what turned out to be the largest plate of nachos we’ve ever seen — and they were absolutely delicious!
From there, we continued east toward our next destination: Togwotee Mountain Lodge, a beautiful, rustic getaway set high up on Togwotee Pass (elevation 8,400 ft). In hindsight, we realized that the rapid ascent caused a touch of altitude sickness for a couple of us, but it thankfully passed within 24 hours. Other than that, our stay was peaceful, quiet, and full of mountain-adventure charm.
After a day of wildlife sightings, good food, and jaw-dropping scenery, we fell asleep surrounded by the sounds of the mountains — tired, happy, and deeply grateful for the adventure.