The Sawtooth Wilderness has some of the most gorgeous (and least visited) mountains in the United States. We decided to plan a trip to hike in the Sawtooth Mountains as much as we possibly could. Not many people think of the Sawtooth Wilderness when they think of great places for hiking in the USA, but trust me, they are definitely worth the visit. Read further to learn about some of the best hikes in the Sawtooth Mountains.
****Note: This post may include affiliate links to products I recommend. I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) from purchases from these links. But no worries, I only include links to products that we have tried or truly recommend!
*****Everything in this article is my personal opinion and experiences. Check your own resources and choose to do anything I discuss at your own risk. Some of the things in this post may be dangerous and not recommended for every body.
About the Sawtooth Wilderness
The Sawtooth Wilderness was first designated as protected area in 1937 before officially becoming a wilderness in 1972. There are over 50 peaks taller than 10,000 feet. Most of the peaks are made out of granite. Today there are over 350 miles of hiking trails. It is reported that some of the cleanest air in the lower 48 states can be found in the Sawtooth Wilderness.
Where is the Sawtooth Wilderness?
The Sawtooth Wilderness is located in central Idaho, north of Boise. Stanley, Idaho is the closest town to the Sawtooth Wilderness. There are no roads directly into the Sawtooth Wilderness, so you must hike into it. Main trailheads that head into the wilderness are the Tin Cup Trailhead, Redfish Trailhead, Iron Creek Trailhead, and Stanley Lake Trailhead.
Hikes in the Sawtooth Wilderness and Sawtooth National Forest
***Note: We hiked all of these trails in late June and our experience was as I explain. Keep in mind that conditions are different throughout the year and that each year is also different with varying amounts of snowfall and snowmelt.
Alice Lake (+ multiple variations)
Alice Lake is a gorgeous lake in the Sawtooth Wilderness. The views of spiked peaks reflecting on the clear water are iconic and unforgettable. It is one of the classic hikes to do in the Sawtooth Wilderness if you are a hiker.
Our hike to Alice Lake is an entire saga, so I have a separate post about how exactly to hike to Alice Lake which has all the information you need if you plan on hiking to Alice Lake.
In total the hike to Alice Lake out-and-back is around 13 miles with around 2,000 feet of elevation gain. We hiked out-and-back to Alice Lake, but many folks do Alice Lake on a loop trail.
Some options of continuing the trail from Alice Lake are:
- The Tin Cup Hiker which is 20.6 miles with 3,100 feet of elevation gain.
- Alice Lake, Twin Lake, and Edith Lake Loop which is 21.3 miles with 4,100 feet of elevation gain.
- Imogene Lake to Toxaway Lake to Alice Lake Loop which is 27.6 miles with 5,600 feet of elevation gain.
Bench Lakes
Bench Lakes is another phenomenal hike to do in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Most of the hike to Bench Lakes is in Sawtooth National Forest, but not the wilderness. However, the Bench Lakes are all in the Sawtooth Wilderness.
The hike is 7.8 miles with 1200 feet of elevation gain. While you will gain some elevation heading up to Bench Lakes, they are at a lower elevation than Alice Lake, meaning less snow on the trail earlier in the season.
The hike to Bench Lakes starts from the Redfish Trailhead. The parking lot is large, but many popular trails leave from here, giving it the potential to fill up pretty quickly. Follow the signs from the parking lot to the trailhead. Go straight on the trail. There will eventually be a fork in the road. Take the left trail that crosses a bridge across a creek. There is also signage there; make sure you follow the signs for “Bench Lake.”
After the small bridge, the trail will begin to go up. The trail weaves through the forest, up a hillside. Eventually the trail will plateau and to your left you will be able to see the Redfish Lake down below. Follow the trail above Redfish Lake until you reach another fork in the trail. This time, take the right trail towards Bench Lakes which will head slightly downhill.
At the bottom of the slope, fill out your wilderness permit. The trail switchbacks up a hill (covered in beautiful wildflowers in June). Continue following the trail and soon you will be at the first lake. The trail continues onto the other Bench Lakes.
We were able to see the first and second Bench Lakes. We continued on the trail to try to see the third Bench Lake, but it was much too snowy and the trail was obscured. You may be able to continue on the trail depending on the conditions during your visit.
The Bench Lakes are absolutely gorgeous and have great reflective views of the mountains. We sat on the shore of the second Bench Lake to eat our picnic lunch.
***One note with the Bench Lakes: The Redfish Corral does horse rides up on the trail to Bench Lakes. There may be horse poop on the trail or some horses may pass you. If there’s a horse group, step to the side and let them pass before continuing on your way.
Fishhook Creek Trail
Fishhook Creek Trail is a relatively flat and easy trail that has incredible views. The trail is an out and back 4.5 mile trail with around 300 feet of elevation gain. The trail is one of the few trails that most people could do and would be great for a family hike. We even saw a family with a newborn hiking this trail!
The trail begins at the Redfish Trailhead (the same one as Bench Lakes). When you get to the first fork in the trail, take the right trail which will continue flat through a meadow. The trail essentially weaves through this meadow along parts of Fishhook Creek, ending at the most reflective lake I have ever seen.
If you continue on the trail (as AllTrails suggests), you will go slightly into the Sawtooth Wilderness to another similar viewpoint and into the forest. The first reflective pond-ish area you will see is definitely the best view of the whole trail. There are logs in this area that make a great place to watch the view while eating a snack or having a picnic.
This trail should only take a few hours and is a great family-oriented hike.
any hike from Stanley Lake
There are several hikes you can begin from Stanley Lake. We hiked the trail to Lady Face Falls. The hike to Lady Face Falls is 5.3 miles with around 400 feet of elevation gain.
While I don’t think hiking to the falls is necessarily worth it (you cannot see the falls, only hear them), I think that the trail to get to the falls is super amazing. From the trailhead, start on the trail to Lady Face Falls. The trail will drop down into a meadow and will eventually open up with expansive mountain views behind the meadows.
In June, there were wildflowers in the meadows, but also many mosquitoes, so be sure to bring the bug spray on this hike. The trail is wide and well-maintained. Some people even bike on this trail, so it’s pretty flat and well-kept.
At the first intersection in the meadow, take a right to continue to Lady Face Falls. If you continue onto the falls, the trail will eventually leave the meadow and head back into the forest. Follow signage closely as you will eventually take a left of the main trail to go to the falls, but no worries as the signage is pretty well-done.
You will know you have reached the falls when you can hear a large waterfall. There is not really a safe way to see the falls. We tried walking up and down to see if there was a path, but there is nothing that gives you an easy view of the falls. The pictures on AllTrails of the falls were taken by people that took a dangerous scramble down to the bottom of the canyon, but I definitely do not recommend doing that.
From here you can turn around and head back to Stanley Lake Trailhead.
Sawtooth Lake
Sawtooth Lake is a super popular and well-known trail in the Sawtooth Mountains. Unfortunately due to weather and the time of year of our visit, we were unable to hike to Sawtooth Lake.
The Sawtooth Lake hike is 10 miles with around 1,900 feet of elevation gain.
Tips for Hiking in the Sawtooth Wilderness
Be prepared for weather changes
The weather can change very quickly in the mountains, especially at higher elevations. On our hike to Alice Lake, we checked the weather beforehand and it ended up being 30 degrees colder than forecasted at the lake and snowed over 6 inches in an hour! Needless to say, we were not prepared well enough and were put in a situation that we didn’t anticipate. Make sure you have more layers packed than you think you might need, extra food, and don’t be afraid to turn around.
Register for a Wilderness Permit
Wilderness Permits are required for hiking in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Unlike permits in some other US wildernesses, there are unlimited permits and there is no reserving of permits in advance. Permits are self-issued. There is a box alongside the trail upon entering the wilderness where you can fill out the permit. One part of the permit is put into a slot in the box and the other part is attached to your backpack.
The main purpose of these permits is to monitor how many people are using the witness and if something bad were to happen and no one could find you, there is record of where you planned on going. Check out the US Forest Service website for more information on wilderness permits.
Hike Later in the Summer
If you want to have the full “Idaho hiking” experience, you should probably plan your trip for late July or August. While June is summer in many places across the US, many trails will still be covered, at least partially, in snow. Some routes may be passable over the snow, but you may need extra gear such as crampons and ice axes.
Also, backcountry camping in the earlier months of the summer will still be very cold. Earlier in the summer, although the trails may be clear of snow, the trails are less maintained and there is a higher likelihood that there will be downed trees over the trail that you will need to climb over. By waiting until later in the summer, you will definitely be warmer and have an easier time navigating trails and crossing rivers.
Leave No Trace
Leaving no trace is super important when recreating in the outdoors. By taking care of the wilderness around you, you are allowing others to enjoy it in the future. Learn more about how to leave no trace on the LNT website.
While this post is all about hiking in the Sawtooth Wilderness, there are so many things to do in the Sawtooth Mountains besides hiking. Check out my blog post guide on visiting the Sawtooth Mountains if you’re interested in other things to do in the Sawtooth Mountains!
I hope you found this guide to hiking in the Sawtooth Wilderness useful! Please let me know if you have any comments or questions!
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Thanks for Reading!
-Liz
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