This trail leads high into jagged granite peaks where Sawtooth Lake is cradled in a basin below McGowan Peak. It’s one of the most popular treks in our area and has a moderately difficult trail rating. Approaching a fishing trip to the Sawtooths demands preparation. Most of the trail to Sawtooth Lake is a pleasant walk with a small uphill grade. The hike to Sawtooth Lake is a five-mile trek suitable for most hikers and boasts breathtaking views of alpine lakes and towering mountains You’ll want to bring your camera along for this hike, as you’ll traverse up 1,700 feet in elevation until you reach the largest alpine lake in the Sawtooth Mountains. 5. After leaving Alpine Lake, hiking to Sawtooth Lake is more strenuous because the trail climbs at a faster pace. Once at the end, I dipped back down to the shore, crossed, and found a decent scramble up in to the snowy valley. This trail climbs 520 m (1,710 ft) and takes about six hours out and back. Toxaway Lake is almost 1 mile in length and one of the largest in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Deep lake beds prevent the water from freezing all the way through and most fish populations survive the winter months unscathed. Alice Lake, sitting under the watchful eye of El Capitan, is utterly breathtaking. The trail at Sawtooth Lake splits and continues over two separate divides. This was a great hike with gorgeous views, just be sure not to miss the trail turnoff where the arrow has come off the sign - keep left on the trail to head to Sawtooth Lake (branching right will take you miles out of the way towards Stanley Lake) Sawtooth Lake is relatively large as alpine lakes tend to run. Looking back on Sawtooth Lake; Unnamed Lake 8271; Unnamed blue lake… This hike is popular because of the … Best to backpack in to soak up all … The western trail traverses to a divide with Stanley Lake Creek and drops onto the McGown Lakes. A sign indicates "Pettit Lake". Sawtooth Lake was still partially frozen as of July 1st – see photo below. The last 5km of forest road to the trailhead was unpaved and heavily washboarded, still in better shape than the one to Hyndman Peak trailhead though. That's Mount Reagan rising from the south end of the lake to just over 10,100 feet. Most of the high passes are still snowed in. At 5.8 miles, you can go right to upper Eagle Lake or shortly after that, left to Eagle (7 miles from the trailhead). The Sawtooth Range is a stunning portion of Idaho's Rocky Mountains with 57 peaks and 400 alpine lakes to explore. Sawtooth Lake Trail On the map, the parking lot was at “Iron Creek Trailhead”, named after the creek flowing next to it. 1. This trail is actually longer than Goat Lake but the trail grade is much less steep. Most of the trail lies within the Sawtooth … Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Sawtooth Lake Iron Creek to Sawtooth Lake Trail Details. The hike starts out hiking through a new growth forest recovering from the Hidden Lake Fire in 2003. The Sawtooth Wilderness offers over 700 miles of hiking trails, with opportunities for camping, hiking, biking, trail running, and wildlife watching.We've searched high and low for the best hikes in the Sawtooth Mountains, and we've found the best trails for the ideal Sawtooth … To access the trailhead, drive 17.7 miles from Stanley on Highway 75, and turn right Pettit Lake Road (gravel). We took a wrong turn and accidentally continued south from Cooney Lake. Truckee Trails Foundation PO Box 1751 Truckee, CA 96160 W501(C)3 Tax ID 01-0601303 Miles: 10 round trip Difficulty: Difficult Directions: If you can choose only one hike to do in the region, this is one the one. From Toxaway we continued on to Farley Lake. Follow road 1.5 miles to a four-way intersection. After that, your trail ends until Sawtooth Lake. You'll find it nestled in a bare, rocky bowl at the base of Mt Regan. Hikers can enjoy the views of the Sawtooth Valley and Mount Regan at 3,110 m (10,190 feet). The trail follows Petit Creek for 5.5 miles from the trailhead to Alice Lake and the elevation gain is gradual — about 1,600 feet total along this section. Start at the Crater Creek trailhead heading for Boiling Lake. Many people will walk a portion of the loop trail and then peel off on one of the spurs to climb deeper into the hills above the lake. The trail climbs steadily from the parking area through lodgepole pine forest in granite-boulder terrain. Finding Your Sawtooth Wilderness Lake. While way more “thawed out” than Goat Lake and Sawtooth Lake, it is hard to top the views at Redfish Lake. Take the Fishhook Creek Trail (Trail 186) for about a half-mile, until you see the sign for Marshall Lake, and follow this trail to the right. You’ll hike through forest interspersed with open meadows with views of the jagged spires rising above the valley that are characteristic of the Sawtooth Range. Steeper areas employ switchbacks, but the grade is strenuous in some spots. Sawtooth Lake is one of the best day hikes in the Sawtooth Mountains. The subtle saddle to the south of Sawtooth Lake drops into the North Fork of Baron Creek. The water is clear, the forest is thick, and the wildflowers are fully in bloom! Sawtooth Lake. The following is a good list of suggestions to help you find your perfect alpine lake. After following the creek with some distant views toward the trees, the trail … The hike to Sawtooth Lake isn’t technical, but it does include several steep climbs. At 8,430 feet, it’s about 8.5 miles round-trip and 1,700 vertical feet from the Iron Creek Trailhead.The trail … The Sawtooth NRA has over 700 miles of trails, 40 peaks rising over 10,000 feet and 300-plus high-elevation alpine lakes that add to the spectacular scenery and vistas. Sawtooth Lake is a 6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Dillon, Montana that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Alturas Lake and Pettit Lake Areas Alturas Lake is the southernmost of the Sawtooth NRA's big lakes. Just note that (at least for our group), the junction at Cooney Lake was a little confusing. Goat Lake: trail is mostly melted out except for a few snow patches as you approach the lake. We were happy to hike it during a shoulder month to enjoy it in solitude. Recreational pursuits include outdoor activities like camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, boating and canoeing, rafting, observing nature, photography and bicycling. The 10-mile round trip hike grants beautiful views of the incredible alpine lake and surrounding wilderness area. Photo courtesy of Idaho Tourism 2. Even in summer, light snows often accent the crags and their slopes above the treeline. These lakes are unnamed, but we found a good spot to eat lunch and enjoy the views and solitude. From the trailhead at 4,700 feet, take trail 431 past the Crater Lake trail and past the Martin Creek trail at 2.0 miles and continue on. So, we drove to the Iron Creek trailhead and set out for Sawtooth Lake (about 8.5 miles, 1700′). It is roughly a mile from Alpine Lake to Sawtooth Lake, and the elevation gain is close to 600 feet. Chadd Cripe ccripe@idahostatesman.com Sawtooth Lake. There is a great viewpoint there. Sawtooth Lake. That valley leads up to the extremely scenic Lake … Dogs are also able to use this trail. This 10-mile trek begins at the Iron Creek Trailhead and is only a 12-minute drive from your Triangle C Cabins rental. The last 2 miles get steep. Along here, you can access the trail to Edna Lake and beyond. The trail is well signed the … Alpine Lake to Sawtooth Lake. I’m so glad that our first introduction to the Sawtooth Range was the Alice Lake area, because it is hands-down one of the most beautiful trails I’ve ever been on (and I’ve been on a LOT of beautiful trails). Sawtooth Lake rests in a cirque surrounded by Goat, Highboy, and Sawtooth Mountains. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from July until September. There are campsites along the lake, follow a side trail to find one. It is a 10-mile easy round trip on a nice path to walk from one end of Redfish lake to the other. Sawtooth Lake in the southern Pioneer Mountains is a popular summertime hike. Sawtooth Lake can be reached by an 8-km (5-mi) trail that starts from the Iron Creek trailhead just off the Sawtooth National Forest Road 619. Previous trail reports cover condition fairly well. For Monday, we figured we should see the Sawtooths’ namesake lake. Contact Us. Sawtooth Lake Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho The Sawtooth National Recreation Area, located in the heart of Idaho, is home to majestic landscapes—nearly 1000 miles of rivers and streams, 40 peaks towering over 10,000 feet, and over 1100 lakes. From there, the loop trail links up with the “bench lakes” on that northern slope. Sawtooth Lake is an alpine lake in Custer County, Idaho, United States, located high in the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.The lake is approximately 6.8 miles (10.9 km) southwest of Stanley.A trail from the Iron Creek trailhead and campground leads approximately 5 miles to Sawtooth Lake. The trail gradually steepens as you climb up onto the ridge, passing through gorgeous wildflower fields and aspen groves. 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