The Sawtooth Mountain range is Idaho's crown jewel. Like so many wilderness areas in the Northwest, the Sawtooths are a really cool place in any season. The area occupied by the mountain range is divided into a designated wilderness and a National Recreation Area. Mechanized travel is not allowed in the wilderness, making it an excellent place for hiking and cross-country skiing.
Photo: Sawtooth Lake, a popular day-hiking destination within the Sawtooth Wilderness.
Towns: Stanley is a tiny town right at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains. It has a small permanent population, but gets very busy in the summer. It has everything you'll need: groceries, gas, lodging, restaurants, ATM, even some backpacking supplies. Within 30 minutes of Stanley are dozens of trailheads leading to twice as many trails inside the wilderness.
Exploration: For a real blast, start your visit with a "flightseeing" trip. In half an hour, a mountain pilot will take up to three passengers up for a view of the mountains you won't believe. The cost is about $90. Take plenty of film, and try to go on a clear, calm day.
Photo: Baron Lakes from the window of a Cessna 182.
Trails: Trails lead up valleys into the mountains, and to the hundreds of alpine lakes inside the wilderness. Trails connect to other trails, and you can make your own loop trips of a day to a week. The most popular day-hike is to Sawtooth Lake. It's easy and beautiful, but if you have time, get into some of the more remote lakes for a long day or overnight trip.
SNRA: For mountain biking, snowmobiling, ATV trips, boating, you name it, the adjoining Sawtooth National Recreation Area has it all. There's a very nice SNRA visitor center about an hour south of Stanley.
Camping: The valleys around Stanley are mostly within the NRA, and full of large lakes. Those lakes are surrounded by drive-in campgrounds, picnic grounds and trailheads. Redfish Lake is the most heavily used of the large lakes, and has its own rustic lodge. Some campgrounds take reservations, and when they do, you'd better make them.
Environmental issues: The Sawtooth Wilderness faces the familiar set of challenges, keeping up with hiker use and the accompanying damage. Because of the long, harsh winters at this elevation, vegetation recovers slowly. Please do your part to prevent unnecessary damage.