The Sawtooth Mountains – The Ultimate Adventure Getaway for Hikers.
With so many picturesque and uniquely challenging trails in the Sawtooth Wilderness, it can sometimes be hard to choose! But in my opinion, there is no better introductory trail to this wild country than the hike to Alpine and Sawtooth Lake.
This hike, beginning at Iron Creek Trailhead, is extremely popular (especially during summer months) and for good reason! The trail takes you through towering pines, up above an emerald-green Alpine Lake, past several mountain peak viewpoints and finally, to the most iconic lake in the entire Sawtooth National Forest – Sawtooth Lake.
Moderate hike with a huge payoff? Sounds like a date, right?
But before plopping into your polyester-wear and tightening your boots, let’s get into the nitty gritty! In this guide we’ll be discussing:
- Trail Basics (Distance, Eleveation, Etc.)
- Trailhead Location
- Trail Conditions
- Best Time to Visit
- Rules + Permits
- Know Before You Go
- What to Pack for Day Hiking
- What to Expect on the Trail to Sawtooth Lake
- How to Hike the Alpine Lake Detour
- Tips to Avoid the Crowds
- How to Hike it With Dogs
Without Further Ado, Let’s Get Hiking!
TRAIL BASICS: IRON CREEK TO SAWTOOTH LAKE
WHERE DOES THE TRAIL BEGIN?
Iron Creek Trailhead is where you’ll start your hike. Directions are in the section below, and I’ve also embedded a map below with the exact location!
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?:
I would recommend about 6 hours for this hike including a 1 hour stop at Sawtooth lake (add an extra hour if you plan to take a quick detour down to Alpine Lake!) – It took us 3.5 hours on the way up and about 2 on the way back, so 5.5 hours total hike time. This included several breaks and photo stops!
TOTAL DISTANCE:
10 miles, though I clocked it at closer to 11 miles total to our campsite and back again.
ELEVATION GAIN:
1,873 Feet – most of it is gained in the final 1/3 of the hike!
DIFFICULTY:
Officially, this is marked as a “Moderate” hike. Unofficially, (i.e. my personal experience) the trail is really easy for the first 3 miles, then gets slightly more challenging as you climb towards Alpine Lake. The section after Alpine Lake is the most difficult and technical of the entire trail. This is where you’ll do murder to your calves. Thankfully, you can rest them while admiring the beauty that is Sawtooth Lake 😉
HOW TO GET TO THE SAWTOOTH LAKE TRAILHEAD
From Stanley, head West on ID-21 until you reach Forest Road 619 – you should also see a sign for Iron Creek Campground. Turn left on this road and follow it all the way to the end where you’ll find a parking lot and a pit toilet. The road and parking lot are dirt/gravel but typically no 4WD is required.
TRAIL CONDITIONS
This trail is well-maintained, but still be aware of the following:
- It’s a dirt trail and has your typical “tripping hazards” (rocks and roots)
- Towards the end of the trail, there are some steeper sections with loose rock. Come prepared with good, solid shoes/boots!
- It’s an out-and-back trail and the way back is almost 100% (knee-jarringly) downhill
- Be sure to check trail conditions (here) to make sure there are no closures and don’t hike just after a heavy rainfall as this can be damaging to trails
BEST TIME TO HIKE TO SAWTOOTH LAKE + ALPINE LAKE
July – September.
This is generally considered the “ideal season” for visiting the Sawtooth Mountains, but of course that isn’t a hard and fast rule. If you visit outside of this season, do thorough research before heading out! You might run into some snow, ice or rain.
RULES + PERMITS
PERMITS
Permits are required, even for day hiking. However, these permits are free and available right there at the trailhead. So no pre-planning is necessary.
CAMPING
Allowed at both Alpine and Sawtooth Lake. Just be sure to use existing sites rather than “creating your own” and damaging plant life. Campsites should be at least 100 feet from lakes or other water sources.
CAMPFIRES
Not Allowed. The Sawtooth Wilderness is especially susceptible to wildfires, so most areas forbid them.
DOGS
Allowed! On-leash rules are in effect from to July 1 to Labor Day. Fall, winter and spring allow for off-leash doggies.
DRONES
Not allowed.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- The parking lot gets very full. I would recommend arriving as early as possible in order to find a spot. The biggest influx of hikers is usually at around 10AM.
- Sawtooth Lake is WINDY. Make sure you pack a light jacket or windbreaker.
- There are a couple steep and narrow spots towards the end of the hike that could freak you out if you’re scared of heights.
- You’ll want plenty of water. This hike can be strenuous at times and you’ll get a decent amount of sun exposure.
- On the way back, you’ll have a lot of downhill to get through. Some hikers may want to bring trekking poles to take some of the pressure off their knees.
WHAT TO PACK FOR DAY HIKING TO SAWTOOTH LAKE
- Day Pack. To hold your water, extra layers, and other essentials.
- Water Bladder. These are super handy on the trail since they slide right into your backpack and they hold a ton of water without adding to much weight. Plus, you can drink on the go!
- Water Filter. There are plenty of places to refill if you have a proper water filter – most people refill at Alpine Lake before the final ascent to Sawtooth Lake. I’ve heard iffy reviews on Steripens, so I personally opt for water filtration tablets. They’re lightweight and effective!
- Snacks. According to my Fitbit, I burned about 1,700 calories on this hike. Yikes! You’ll definitely want to refuel along the way and maybe even have a quick picnic at Sawtooth Lake.
- Headlamp. I always recommend bringing a headlamp on any hike. Mostly because I’ve mismanaged my daylight hours on more than one occasion. Whoops. Headlamps are small and lightweight and can be a huge life-saver if you get caught in the dark!
- Moleskin or Blister Kit. With such intense incline and decline, you may end up getting a blister or two. This is another easy and light addition to your pack that can make your hike a lot more comfortable!
- Wilderness First Aid Kit (Lite).
- Toilet Paper + a Sealable Bag for Dirty Tissue/Trash.
- Dress in Layers! Temperatures will change as your elevation changes and your temperature will change as you start climbing, too! Make sure to wear layers so you can add/remove as you go.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE TRAIL TO SAWTOOTH LAKE (THE PLAY-BY-PLAY)
Your epic wilderness journey begins at the Iron Creek Trailhead. Here you can take a quick bathroom break before hitting the trail!
Once you’re pee-free, fill out your wilderness permit at the trailhead. You’ll need to attach one copy to your pack and the other you’ll leave in the box provided. These permits are free!
The start of the trail is relatively flat and easy. You’ll need to pay some attention to rocks and roots jutting up from the ground, but other than that there’s nothing very technical for the first 2.5 miles of the hike. You’ll wind through dense forest and alongside Iron Creek (hence the trailhead name).
1 mile into the hike you’ll see some signs letting you know that you’re officially entering the Sawtooth Wilderness. About 1 mile further and you’ll reach a junction where you’ll hang a LEFT (there should be a sign to guide you) – continuing straight would take you on a much longer hike towards Stanley Lake.
The trail continues to be gradual and relatively easy for the next mile or so until you reach a small river crossing.
NOTE: There are some EPIC views in this section (as shown in the photo below).
This is where you reach your first set of switchbacks and the elevation gain becomes much more rapid. Just remind yourself that the top of the section brings you to the beautiful Alpine Lake.
You’ll reach another sign shortly after the ascent flattens out (about 3.8 miles in to the hike) that will direct you to Alpine Lake. You can either take the short detour down to the lake or you can continue on to Sawtooth Lake.
NOTE: There’s more information on the Alpine Lake detour in the next section.
After Alpine Lake, the hike becomes much more intense. It’s basically switchback after switchback and steady elevation gain (about 500 feet in a very short span). This is what I like to call the “calf-burner” section. It’s also the reason I was skeptical to bring our dog, Tuna, on this hike. There is a lot of loose rock in this section and 2 spots (that I can think of) that were quite narrow with steep drop-offs. If you’re scared of heights, this is something to keep in mind – though I think it’s still probably doable for most.
While this section is brutal on the legs, it’s also packed full of gorgeous views – including an “aerial view” of Alpine Lake that is totally breathtaking. Most of our favorite photos were actually taken on this section of the trail.
You’ll know when you reach the end of the “hard part” because you’ll catch a glimpse of what you might, at first, think is Sawtooth Lake. It’s actually a small pond. Boooo. But it’s still quite pretty and it means Sawtooth Lake is just around the corner! Just continue up the trail and you’ll find several campsites and viewpoints of Sawtooth Lake.
NOTE: Many hikers have said that there are awesome views of Sawtooth Lake (from above) if you continue up the trail a ways. If you have the energy – more power to ya! My legs were pretty much dead by the end of the hike and it was nearing dark, so I didn’t make it that far.
HOW TO HIKE THE ALPINE LAKE DETOUR
As I mentioned earlier, Alpine Lake is just a quick off-shoot from the main trail to Sawtooth Lake. Many people stop here for photos and to refill their canteens.
The detour is located about 3.8 miles into the hike and you’ll have to descend about 100 feet to get down to lake. We didn’t make it down there on our hike – we were told by other hikers that it was a steep descent (liars!!) – but after researching I really regret not making the quick trip down. I’d definitely recommend this detour.
AVOIDING THE CROWDS
While this hike is gorgeous, it’s definitely not a well-kept secret. The Sawtooth Lake trail is probably the most popular in the area and, especially in the summer, you’ll have a hard time finding seclusion. Here are some tips to “beat the crowds” on this trail:
- Arrive Early. The biggest influx of hikers is always around 10AM. Try to hit the trail early so you can at least have the hike up to yourself.
- Consider visiting after Labor Day. Crowds die down after Labor Day and you still get some good-weather days in mid to late September!
- Camp at a Different Lake. Less people camp at Alpine Lake or the small pond just before Sawtooth Lake.
HOW TO HIKE THE SAWTOOTH LAKE TRAIL WITH DOGS
While dogs are permitted on this trail, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Steep drop-offs. If you’re not sure how your dog will handle cliffs, this is not the hike to test him out on.
- Lack of water. There are a couple stream crossings before reaching the lake that would likely be safe for your dog to drink from, but much of this hike is away from water. Make sure you bring a collapsible bowl (like this one) and plenty of water for both you and your pup.
- Lots of elevation gain. Your dog is probably going to running back and forth the whole trail, and most dogs don’t know when to take a break. For every mile you hiked, your dog probably ran 3. Forced breaks might be necessary!
