Sawtooth Lake, located in the Sawtooth National Forest, is the quintessential hike of Stanley, Idaho. It may be reached from three different trailheads: Stanley Lake, Redfish Lake, and Iron Creek.
I believe the shortest hike to Sawtooth Lake is via the Iron Creek Trailhead, and it registers as a moderate ten miler on AllTrails.
The Iron Creek Trailhead dirt parking lot with a pit toilet is small. It can accommodate approximately 30 cars, and by the time I arrived before 7:30 in the morning at least ten cars had beaten me to a space.
Given I hadn’t seen many people get started before 8 to 9am most mornings, I hoped these were backpackers’ cars. Otherwise, Annie and I would be in for a busy trail this Fourth of July.
HAPPY HIKING!