Trail Guide: Hiking to Sawtooth Lake in Idaho

Funny enough, it took me three tries hiking up Iron Creek to actually make it to Sawtooth Lake. Not because it’s too difficult, but because the first two attempts I didn’t give myself enough time. Once you get into the alpine, the trail up to Sawtooth Lake is so gorgeous that I was stopping at every corner to take in the views and snap a few photos. Before I knew it, I was out of time and had to turn around. On each hike I was satisfied, but I had no idea what I was missing out on!

On a recent trip to Stanley, Idaho, we got our butts in gear and hit the Iron Creek trailhead at a more reasonable hour. I learned that each time I hiked this trail, I turned around just as the views started to get really good.

The hike to Sawtooth Lake is filled with non-stop views of craggy peaks, alpine lakes, and gorgeous three lakes. The hike itself isn’t too tough considering all of the visual distractions. In this Sawtooth Lake hiking guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to prepare for this awesome day hike.

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Sawtooth Lake via Iron Creek Basics

Sawtooth Lake is located within the 217,00 acre Sawtooth Wilderness. We hiked it roundtrip in about 4-5 hours, which included several breaks to take in the gorgeous views. The trail is well-marked & fairly popular, so brush up on your trail etiquette and be prepared to share it with other hikers and backpackers. Dogs are allowed on the trail. July 1 through Labor Day they are required to be on a leash, but outside of those dates, they can be off-leash.

Iron Creek and Sawtooth Lake can be great for trout fishing, but you’ll need to pick up a fishing license before heading out if interested.

Here are a few more good things to know about hiking to Sawtooth Lake:

Best Time to Hike to Sawtooth Lake

July through September are the best times to visit the Sawtooth Wilderness. The trail begins at almost 7,000 feet in elevation and climbs above 8,250 feet so if you try to hike the trail from October-May you’ll likely run into snow.

Given the elevation, the trail can be cool and windy, so make sure to pack a warm jacket for your hike.

Getting to the Iron Creek Trailhead

From Stanley, Idaho, drive northwest 2.5 miles on ID 21 and then take Forest Road 619 south for 5 miles. The Forest Road is not paved, but the road is well-maintained and no 4×4 is required.

Sawtooth Lake Trail Guide

Before you start your hike, make sure to check out the bulletin board at the Iron Creek Trailhead for any pertinent information. I also recommend pulling up a trail map on your favorite hiking app (while you are still in town), so you can follow your progress. 

Then, fill out a wilderness permit form, which is required even for day hikers. The entire hike is well-signed, so pay attention to any forks in the trail to make sure you are on the right path to Sawtooth Lake.

The first mile is fairly easy as you meander through the forest with Iron Creek on your left. At 1 mile, you curve away from Iron Creek, reaching a junction at 1.7 miles.  Here, you hang a left and begin your climb to Alpine Lake with gorgeous views as you switchback your way up.

At 3.8 miles, you’ll reach the junction for Alpine Lake. It’s only 100 feet down to the lake, so I’d recommend stopping and at least checking it out before you continue to Sawtooth Lake. It’s also a good place to filter some water if you need a refill.

Beyond Alpine Lake, the trail winds up a ridge eventually giving you views of Alpine Lake on one side and jagged Sawtooth peaks on the other. At every corner and switchback, the trail gets more exciting!

After 500 feet of quick ascent, you reach a small but beautiful lake/pond. If you are looking for a quiet campsite, there is one awesome spot on this lake with a small footpath that leads right to it. The views aren’t quite as spectacular as Sawtooth Lake up ahead, but you’ll have more solitude at this campsite.

Once you reach the pond, the trail flattens and Sawtooth Lake is just around the corner. At Sawtooth Lake, there are a couple of campsites right at the outlet where there was a big log jam. Beyond that, we found another private campsite up on a ledge above the lake. We hiked to the end of the lake where the 10,190-foot Mount Regan towers above.

We found a nice little lakeside meadow below the trail to relax and have a snack towards the end of the lake before turning around and returning to the Iron Creek Trailhead.

If you have more steam in you, we heard that if you cross the creek near the log jam at the outlet of Sawtooth Lake, there is a side trail that climbs high above Sawtooth Lake where you can get even better views.

Car Camping Near Iron Creek Trailhead

The Iron Creek campground at the trailhead has 9 campsites that are along the creek, which makes it a convenient place to camp when day hiking to Sawtooth Lake. Campsites are first-come, first-serve and are $18 per day.

There are also plenty of dispersed, free campsites around Stanley. Check out our blog post – How to Find Free Campsites – to learn how to find them.

Stanley Idaho Hiking Resources

Given cell phone service is so limited around Stanley, I’d recommend bringing a map or hiking books with you on your trip. Here are my favorites:

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Have you hiked to Sawtooth Lake? What did you love about it? What questions do you still have? Leave a comment below!