THE SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, IDAHO

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area consists of over 750,000 acres of protected land in one of Idaho's most scenic areas. It's easy to see how the area got its name, with jagged mountain ranges making for eye-catching skylines in every direction. In addition to mountains, the area contains hundreds of high alpine lakes, some large enough for boating, and the headwaters of four area rivers including the Salmon.
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is located in central Idaho, about 85 miles north of Twin Falls in the Sawtooth National Forest. To learn more about the area, click the Overview button on the left, or select the type of activity you're interested in.

There is no shortage of activities to try in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. From fishing in Redfish Lake to rafting the headwaters of the Salmon River, from hiking the hundreds of miles of trails to enjoying one of the three national scenic byways that run through the area, the Sawtooth Region has something for every outdoors lover.
The Sawtooth area can be roughly divided into three sections. The western third of the region is designated as the Sawtooth Wilderness. No roads or permanent structures are allowed here, making for a remote and isolated experience. The Stanley/Sawtooth Valley corridor is the most traveled part of the recreation area, and lodging and dining options are highly accessible. The eastern half of the area is made up of the White Cloud and Boulder mountain ranges.

Sawtooth Wilderness

Comprising of some quarter of a million acres, the Sawtooth Wilderness protects the striking granite peaks of the Sawtooth Range, as well as countless alpine lakes and rivers. The south fork of the Payette River has its headwaters here, as do branches of the Boise and the Salmon. Numerous trails snake through the mountains here, popular both on foot and horseback.


Stanley / Sawtooth Valley

The central corridor of the national recreation area runs through Sawtooth Valley, with the center of the populace in the small town of Stanley. Three scenic byways converge in Stanley, a strong hint at the beauty of the countryside here. Stanley is a convenient base of operations for visitors to Sawtooth, and is only miles from dozens of campgrounds, lakes, and scenic viewpoints.
The Sawtooth Valley stretches south from Stanley, and Highway 75 passes by the ghost town of Sawtooth City and the tiny community of Galena before ending up in Ketchum, the first destination south of the area's border. The beautiful drive follows the rushing waters of the young Salmon River and passes over Galena Summit.
The Visitor Center for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area is located at its southeast border, eight miles north of Ketchum. It is open sporadically during the offseason: call ahead at 208-727-5000 for more information.


White Cloud Peaks Area

With some of its summits poking up over 11,000 feet high, the White Cloud Peaks are tall and imposing. While the terrain is similar to the Sawtooth Wilderness to the west, the land here is open to more uses such as 4WD roads and snowmobiling in winter. Backpacking and backcountry camping are also popular here, however, and peace and solitude can often be found on miles of isolated trails.

Nearly 40 developed campgrounds are located within Sawtooth National Recreation Area, with a total of about 700 individual campsites. Since the area is a popular vacation spot, some campgrounds fill up on popular days. Reservations for 10 of the most popular campgrounds can be made at 1-800-280-CAMP. Fees range from $2 to $15 per night, depending on location and available services. Most campgrounds open in mid to early June and close sometime in September.