Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Sawtooth National Recreation Area (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Stanley Lake, Little Redfish Lake, and Fourth of July Lake. Also, be sure to include Redfish Lake in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Sawtooth National Recreation Area (Idaho).
Table of Contents
Stanley Lake
Lake in Idaho. Stanley Lake is an alpine lake in the western United States, located in Custer County, Idaho, at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
The lake is approximately seven miles (11 km) west of Stanley, readily accessed via a three-mile (5 km) spur road from State Highway 21. The surface elevation of the lake is 6,513 feet (1,985 m) above sea level.
Stanley Lake is northeast of the base of the 9,860-foot (3,005 m) McGown Peak, and just south of the considerably smaller Elk Peak. The lake is two miles (3 km) downstream of Lady Face Falls on Stanley Lake Creek; it drains into the main Salmon River via Stanley Lake Creek and Valley Creek.
Recreational facilities at the lake include three campgrounds with nightly fees, a day use area, a boat launch, and hiking trails.[1]
Little Redfish Lake
Lake in Idaho. Little Redfish Lake is a name given to two different alpine lakes in central Idaho, both in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Custer County. This article refers to the lake on Redfish Lake Creek downstream of Redfish Lake and south of Stanley. For the article on the other Little Redfish Lake see Little Redfish Lake.
Little Redfish Lake is a picturesque mountain lake (photo) on the northeast edge of the Sawtooth mountain range in central Idaho, five miles south of Stanley in and less than mile from State Highway 75.
Its surface elevation is 6,489 feet (1,978 m) above sea level, and is about a mile (1.6 km) downstream from the significantly larger Redfish Lake (6,547 feet (1,996 m)). Both were named for the red-scaled sockeye salmon that returned every year to spawn via the Salmon River. The lakes flow into the river via Redfish Lake Creek.
Besides the red-scaled salmon that come to this lake, Little Redfish Lake also has a clay pit, located at the bottom of the lake.
In 1961, Richard Brautigan wrote portions of his novella Trout Fishing in America while camping near the lake, which is featured in several chapters of the book.[2]
Fourth of July Lake
Lake in Idaho. Fourth of July Lake is an alpine lake in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the White Cloud Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lake is accessed from Sawtooth National Forest trail 109.
Fourth of July Lake is just west of Patterson Peak, northeast of Fourth of July Peak, and northwest of Washington Lake, although Washington Lake is in a separate basin.[3]
Redfish Lake
Alpine lake in Idaho. Redfish Lake is an alpine lake in Custer County, Idaho, just south of Stanley. It is the largest lake within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
The U.S. Forest Service has developed some facilities for hiking, camping, and water sports on Redfish Lake while largely maintaining the natural landscape of the Sawtooth Mountains. On the north shore sits a seasonal hotel and marina, Redfish Lake Lodge, which offers a cross-lake ferry service for hikers and sightseers in the summer.[4]
Washington Lake
Lake in Idaho. Washington Lake is an alpine lake in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the White Cloud Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lake is accessed from Sawtooth National Forest trails 109 and 203.
Washington Lake is south of Patterson Peak and southeast of Fourth of July Lake, although it is in a separate basin.[5]
McDonald Lake
Lake in Idaho. McDonald Lake is a small alpine lake in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lake is approximately 15 miles south of Stanley and 34 miles northwest of Ketchum. The lake is very shallow and about half of it is a shallow wetland due to sedimentation.
McDonald Lake can be accessed from State Highway 75 via Sawtooth National Forest road 205 and 096. Forest road 096 is a high clearance road that goes directly to a trailhead and campground on the shores of Yellow Belly Lake, which is just downstream of McDonald Lake.[6]
Titus Lake
Lake in Idaho. Titus Lake is an alpine lake in Blaine County, Idaho, United States, located in the Smoky Mountains in Sawtooth National Recreation Area of Sawtooth National Forest. The lake is most easily accessed via a trail from just below Galena Summit on Idaho State Highway 75.[7]
Yellow Belly Lake
Lake in Idaho. Yellow Belly Lake is an alpine lake in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lake is approximately 15 miles south of Stanley and 34 miles northwest of Ketchum. Yellow Belly Lake can be accessed from State Highway 75 via Sawtooth National Forest road 205 and 096. Forest road 096 is a high clearance road that goes directly to a trailhead and campground on the shores of Yellow Belly Lake.
In the southern section of the Sawtooth Valley, Yellow Belly Lake is one of the largest lakes in Sawtooth National Recreation Area.[8]
Pettit Lake
Lake in Idaho. Pettit Lake is a large alpine lake in Blaine County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lake is approximately 16 miles south of Stanley and 33 miles northwest of Ketchum.
Pettit Lake is accessed from State Highway 75 via Sawtooth National Forest road 205. There are campgrounds and trailheads around Pettit Lake.
In the southern section of the Sawtooth Valley, Pettit Lake is the third largest lake in Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Just east of the Sawtooth Wilderness, Pettit Lake is at an elevation of 6,996 feet (2,132 m), downstream of popular destinations such as Alice Lake and the Twin Lakes.[9]
Alturas Lake
Lake in Idaho. Alturas Lake is an alpine lake in Blaine County, Idaho, United States, in the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lake is approximately 21 miles south of Stanley and 30 miles northwest of Ketchum. Alturas Lake can be accessed from State Highway 75 via Sawtooth National Forest road 205.
In the southern section of the Sawtooth Valley, Alturas Lake is the second largest lake in Sawtooth National Recreation Area and has easy access around its northern shore, several campgrounds, and private camps. Leah Lake and Logjam Lake are upstream of Alturas Lake.
The lake took its name from the now-defunct Alturas County, Idaho.[10]
Perkins Lake
Lake in Idaho. Perkins Lake is an alpine lake in Blaine County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lake is approximately 21 miles south of Stanley and 30 miles northwest of Ketchum. Perkins Lake can be accessed from State Highway 75 via Sawtooth National Forest road 205.
In the southern section of the Sawtooth Valley, Perkins Lake has easy access around its northern shore, several campgrounds, and private camps. Camp Perkins, a Lutheran Outdoor Ministries camp is located on the northeast shore of Perkins Lake.[11]