The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is the largest recreation area in the United States 756,000 acres. There are countless opportunities for recreating outside. This area is great for Rafting, Hiking , Biking, Fly Fishing, Kayaking, Horseback Trail Riding, ATV riding, Camping, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Snowmobiling and star gazing. Stunning views are all around the Sawtooth Valley. Photo by Sierra Molina.
HIKING
Easy
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2.3 Miles Point to Point
(Ascent: 240', Descent: -6', High: 6,808', Low: 6,575')
Directions from Camp: Head south on Hwy 21 toward the town of Stanley. Turn RIGHT onto State Hwy 75. In 4.3 miles, turn RIGHT onto Redfish Lake Rd. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit and stay on Redfish Lake Rd. Continue for .7 miles to the Redfish Trailhead parking (just after the turn to Redfish Lake Lodge). Actual Trailhead is located across the road.
Intermediate
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9.4 miles Out and Back
(Ascent: 1,747', Descent: -1,747', High: 8,471', Low: 6,744')
Directions from Camp: Head south on Hwy 21 toward the town of Stanley. Turn RIGHT on to Forest Rd. 619. (Iron Creek Road) Drive 3 miles to the Iron Creek Trailhead parking lot.
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7.8 miles Out and Back
(Ascent: 1,240’, Descent: -1,240’, High: 7,771’, Low: 6,564’)
Directions from camp: Head south on Hwy 21 toward the town of Stanley. Turn RIGHT onto State Hwy 75. In 4.3 miles, turn RIGHT onto Redfish Lake Rd. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit and stay on Redfish Lake Rd. Continue for .7 miles to the Redfish Trailhead parking (just after the turn to Redfish Lake Lodge). Actual Trailhead is located across the road.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Easy
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4.3 mile point to point
(Ascent: 320' Descent: -307' High: 6,786' Low: 6,504')
Directions from camp: Head North .5 miles on Hwy 21, take a LEFT on Stanley Lake Road. Head 2.2 miles turn LEFT onto RD 630.
Intermediate
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11.4 mile loop
(Ascent: 1,063', Descent: -1,061', High: 7,119', Low: 6,516')
Directions from camp: Head North .5 miles on Hwy 21, take a LEFT on Stanley Lake Road. Head 3.6 miles to Stanley Lake Trailhead. Find the large map on board in parking lot.
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17.7 mile loop
(Ascent: 2,011', Descent: -2,013', High: 8,125', Low: 6,637')
Directions from camp: Head south on Hwy 21 toward the town of Stanley. Turn RIGHT onto State Hwy 75. Destination will be on the left in 10.9 miles to the Williams Creek Trailhead parking.
Difficult
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26.9 mile loop
(Ascent: 3,930', Descent: -3,987', High: 9,535', Low: 6,491')
Directions from camp: Head E toward downtown Stanley. Turn right at the fork onto ID-75 S. Turn left in 5.8 miles, drive for .7 miles.
FISHING
IDAHO FISHING RULES AND REGULATIONS (We are located in the Salmon Region)
Fishing licenses can be purchased at: Lower Country Store in Lower Stanley MAP IT
The Middle Fork and Upper Main Salmon Rivers offer world-class opportunities for wade, bank and float fishing. You will find Rainbow, Westslope cutthroat, hybrid rainbow-cutthroat, brook, and bull trout as well as mountain whitefish and Chinook salmon in the waters surrounding Stanley.
All Bull Trout are protected. Catch and release only
Salmon / Steelhead require a special permit to fish and generally have special rules about when targeting salmon can occur.
Please consider leaving all Wild fish caught in the river system via catch-and-release. Non-wild fish are generally identified by their clipped rear-most fin (dorsal or adipose).
Valley Creek
(Dec 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend – trout limit is 0, catch-and-release;
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 - Salmon Region general rules apply)
Directions: From Stanley RV, walk across Highway 21 to the parking area across from camp. Head right, and follow the flagging on the trees. Walk down the hill, through the opening in the barbed wire fence and down to the creek for amazing mountain views and fishing. Public access easements of 20 ft. on either bank have been set up for fishing and floating access by guests. Fishing Valley Creek requires a state of Idaho Fishing license.
Salmon River
(Waters open all year: Trout limit is 6; only trout with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout)
Directions: From Stanley RV, turn RIGHT on Hwy 21 towards downtown Stanley until it intersects Hwy 75. The Salmon river runs parallel to Hwy 75 to the North and South. The river is public access to the North for 25miles to Thompson Creek. To the South the river is mostly privately owned, with multiple fishing access points. You can access the river via campgrounds, day use areas, or where the Fishing Access signs are posted clearly along Hwy 75.
Yankee Fork of the Salmon River
(Dec 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend - trout limit is 0, catch-and-release;
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 – trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout)
Directions: From Stanley RV, turn RIGHT on Hwy 21 towards downtown Stanley until it intersects Hwy 75. Turn LEFT on Hwy 75. Continue for 13 miles, past the Sunbeam Hot Springs. Turn LEFT onto Yankee Fork Road. Fishing is accessible along most of the river and is public access.
Continue 3 miles up Yankee Fork road to the Dredge Ponds for great still water fishing. The State of Idaho stocks these ponds, and even tags some of them for cash prizes. Perfect for kids!
HOT SPRINGS
Boat Box
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Directions from camp: Turn RIGHT onto Hwy 21 toward downtown Stanley until it intersects Hwy 75. Turn LEFT onto Highway 75 for about 3.5 miles, about 2 miles past the town of Lower Stanley. There’s a small pull-off on the right side of the road. Keep an eye out for steam rising from the river. The spring flows into an old mining cauldron, and only has room for 3-4 soakers, and it can be a cozy fit.
Sunbeam
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Directions from camp: Turn RIGHT onto Hwy 21 toward downtown Stanley until it intersects Hwy 75. Turn LEFT onto Highway 75 for about 6 miles. There will be a large pull-out on the right. Keep an eye out for a posted sign and the historic Sunbeam Bath House. There is a whole network of man-made pools, so you can find one that is the right temperature for you.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Based out of the corrals at Redfish Lake Lodge, Mystic Saddle Ranch offers scenic trail rides at Redfish Lake, wilderness pack trips, and guided hunting trips throughout the Sawtooth NRA. Call 208-774-3591 for reservations.
WHITE WATER RAFTING
Idaho isn’t called the whitewater state for nothing. Stanley sits on the banks of the Main Fork of the Salmon River, and is just about 30 miles from the famed Middle Fork of the Salmon River and the rapids of the South Fork of the Payette. This proximity offers opportunities for both beginners and river-running veterans to get out on the water.
Day Trips
The River Company
208-788-5775
White Otter Outdoor Adventures
877-788-5005
Sawtooth Adventure Company
866-774-4644
Longer Excursions
Rocky Mountain River Tours
(208) 345-2400
Mackay Wilderness River Trips
208-720-3311
White Cloud Rafting
MOUNTAINEERING
Sawtooth Mountain Guides
Sawtooth Mountain Guides offer rock climbing, hiking trips for beginners and well-seasoned mountaineers alike, single and multi-day skiing, as well as a variety of courses and skill workshops. For more information or to book, call 208.806.3063 or visit Sawtoothguides.com
MOTORSPORTS
The area surrounding Stanley is home to hundreds of miles of singletrack, doubletrack, and dirt roads to explore by ATV in the summer or by snowmobile in the winter. Rentals available at the following establishments:
Sawtooth Trax
208-989-2116
Smiley Creek Lodge
877-774-3547
Sawmill Station
208-838-2400
HISTORY
Yankee Fork Gold Dredge
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Located on the Yankee Fork Tributary of the Salmon River, the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge is a historic piece of machinery that operated from 1940 to 1952. Self-guided tours are available daily from 10 AM to 4:30 PM
(Adults – $5, Children 6-12 – $1)
Custer Ghost Town
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Following gold being found, the town of Custer was established 1879. By 1896, Custer was home to more than 600 people and was a bustling town with a school and sports teams. By 1910, the town was completely empty. The town schoolhouse and saloon have been restored and are open to the public.
Stanley Museum
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The Stanley Historical Museum is located on State Highway 75, between Stanley and Lower Stanley. Located in historic Valley Creek Ranger Station, the Museum displays photographs and artifacts depicting the early days in the Sawtooth Valley, and offers a glimpse of pioneer life in this not-so-gentle landscape. The Museum is open daily, 11 am to 5 pm, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
DISC GOLF
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Directions: Head southeast on Highway 21, Turn right onto Wall Street, Continue onto Airport Way. Turn right onto School Rd. Turn left onto the course. The course has 9 holes, with the starting basket is close to the playground. It is hard to follow the course, we suggest using UDisc app to find all the holes.
