This Crowd-Free Idaho Wilderness Boasts 400+ Lakes, Jagged Peaks & Majestic Rivers

Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness, Idaho

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Gorgeous lakes dot Sawtooth Wilderness

There are more than 300 blue mountain lakes scattered all over the wilderness. Sawtooth Lake, Alice Lake, and Goat Lake are the ones everyone loves to take pictures of.

Most of these lakes formed when glaciers melted about 10,000 years ago. The water is so clear you can often see 20+ feet down. Many lakes are stocked with fish by helicopter drops since there are no roads.

It’s gold-tier stargazing territory

Idaho’s Dark Sky Reserve covers 1,416 square miles and got a gold-tier rating in 2017 – the first in America to earn this top honor.

Special meters along Highway 75 check darkness levels in the heart of the reserve.

Thanks to a $1 million NASA grant from 2021, you can join stargazing programs led by visiting astronomers. The skies are so dark that you can see the Milky Way with just your eyes – something 80% of Americans miss due to light pollution where they live.

If you visit in 2025, you might catch more northern lights than usual due to increased solar activity. The mountains block light from cities, creating some of the blackest night skies in the country.

Breathtaking mountains

The Sawtooth Range has over 50 peaks taller than 10,000 feet, with sharp points that really do look like a saw blade.

The view from Stanley Lake is particularly stunning – the mountains seem to pop right out of the water. The tallest peak, Thompson Peak, reaches 10,751 feet.

The mountains were formed about 50 million years ago. On clear days, you can see for over 100 miles from some of the higher summits.

Nature without the crowds

Set aside as wilderness in 1972, these 217,000 acres have no roads or vehicles allowed – just pure nature.

The area receives about 80% fewer visitors than similar areas like the Tetons. Most trails see fewer than 50 hikers per day, even during peak summer months.

The wilderness boundary is patrolled by rangers who sometimes travel on horseback, maintaining the old-school backcountry feel.

Backpacking routes for every skill level

Whether you want an easy weekend trip or a challenging expedition, there’s a route for you. The well-maintained trail system spans over 350 miles.

The Alice-Toxaway Loop and the Sawtooth Traverse are popular options. The trail system was largely built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

Some remote routes see fewer than 20 hikers per season. The average backpacking trip lasts 3-5 days, but some adventurers spend weeks exploring the network of trails.

Phenomenal water recreation

Several major rivers start in these mountains, including the famous Salmon River (also called “The River of No Return”).

You can find everything from gentle floats to serious whitewater. The Salmon River drops more than 7,000 feet from its headwaters to its confluence with the Snake River.

Spring runoff typically peaks in late May to early June when water levels can rise 5-10 feet in a matter of days. Several outfitters offer guided trips ranging from half-day floats to week-long expeditions.

The tiny but mighty town of Stanley

Stanley (population around 70) is the perfect place to start your adventure, with simple lodging, good food, and real western character.

Don’t miss the hot springs nearby after your wilderness trips. Stanley has been called the coldest place in the continental US, with frost possible any night of the year.

The town sits at 6,260 feet elevation, contributing to its extreme temperature swings. Despite its tiny size, Stanley serves over 100,000 visitors each summer, with many businesses operating seasonally.

Rock climbing paradise

Granite walls and spires throughout the range offer great climbing for all skill levels. The Elephant’s Perch, a 1,000-foot granite wall, is one of the most sought-after climbs in the country.

The area features over 200 established routes, many first ascended in the 1960s and 70s. The clean, solid granite resembles that found in Yosemite but with far fewer crowds.

Wildlife around every corner

Keep your eyes open for elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bears, wolves, and mountain lions. Dawn and dusk are when you’ll see the most animals, especially near meadows and water.

Over 200 bird species inhabit the area, including golden eagles and peregrine falcons. Moose populations have been increasing in recent years, especially in boggy areas.

Wolverines, though rarely seen, maintain a small but stable population in the remote high country.

Insane blooms

From mid-June through August, the mountains are covered with wildflowers – lupine, paintbrush, columbine, and many others create incredible colors.

Some alpine species bloom within days of snowmelt, creating a brief but spectacular display. Botanists have cataloged over 600 plant species in the wilderness area.

Unique microclimate zones create distinct plant communities that change dramatically with elevation.

Amazing fishing spots

The crystal-clear streams and lakes have excellent fishing for several types of trout, including native cutthroat and bull trout.

Some alpine lakes have trout over 20 inches long. Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged to maintain healthy fish populations. The area’s streams produce abundant insect hatches, making it a fly-fishing paradise from June through September.

Ernest Hemingway wrote parts of his famous books here

Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway spent his final years exploring these mountains before his death in 1961. He wrote sections of “A Moveable Feast” while staying in nearby Ketchum.

Hemingway first visited in 1939 as a guest at Sun Valley Lodge and kept coming back to hunt and fish. His favorite spots included Silver Creek and Big Wood River just outside the wilderness boundary.

Visiting Sawtooth Wilderness

The 217,088-acre wilderness sits inside the larger 756,000-acre recreation area with over 700 miles of trails.

• Main entry: Town of Stanley on Highway 75
• Visitor Center: 5 North Fork Canyon Road, Ketchum (open May-September)
• Permits: Needed for overnight stays, get them at trailheads
• Best time to visit: July-September when high passes are snow-free
• Remember: No motorized equipment allowed in wilderness