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Stanley Idaho has been a place I’ve wanted to spend time in for years. I finally got around to it in January of 2021 and was stunned at the jagged mountain peaks and charm mountain town and KNEW I had to come back in the Summer to experience a different side of this extremely underrated place. Also, it turns out Stanley is known for being the coldest Winter in the lower 48 and I’d say I agree with that haha. I spent 2 weeks here and saw as much as I could of the mountains, the pristine alpine lakes, the food and nightlife and the incredible Stanley Idaho camping the area has to offer. So, here’s 10 of the Best Things to do in Stanley Idaho.

About Stanley Idaho: the Gateway to the Sawtooth Mountains

Stanley Idaho has a population of about 120 people that live there full time. Despite it being small, there are so many things to do in the mountains and in town. I also want to note that the town of Stanley sits at an elevation of 6,300 ft! So, if the hiking feels more challenging – that could be why! Stanley is located in South Central Idaho and is surrounded by the Sawtooth Mountain Range as well as incredible hot springs (around 10 popular hot springs just near Stanley!)

Watch my YouTube video exploring the best things to do in Stanley Idaho!

Getting to Stanley Idaho:

Stanley is definitely an area where you will want to have a vehicle, unless you are arranging with a guide, there isn’t much in terms of public transit. You really don’t need anything more than a standard vehicle to do any of the things in this itinerary of best things to do in Stanley Idaho.

closest airports to the Sawtooths Mountains:

• Boise Airport (BOI) – The closest major airport, about 130 miles (3 hours) from Stanley. Most visitors fly into Boise.
• Hailey/Sun Valley Airport (SUN) – About 2 hours from Stanley, with regional flights (Salt Lake City, Denver, Seattle, etc.)
• Idaho Falls Airport (IDA) – About 3.5 hours east of Stanley.

Best Time to Visit Stanley Idaho:

The best time to visit the Sawtooths and Stanley Idaho truly just depends on type of activities you are looking to do. I’m going to break that down for you here:

Summer (June–August)

This is when I visited most recently! I arrived in mid August and stayed until late August. I could really tell when school started back up, because so much of the crowds dropped off at the end of August. I really liked visiting this time of year because of the ideal weather, lack of snow in the mountains and the lively town activities happening (live music, salmon festival, street dancing!) I will say there were some really hot days and nights, but luckily there is so much water to cool off in.

Best for: Hiking, backpacking, climbing, fishing, lake days, wildflowers.

Fall (September–October)

Best for: Fewer crowds, golden aspens! The shoulder season is still a great time to visit and arguably better for hot spring hopping with the colder temperatures! The hiking is still great this time of year, but you may start to run into some early snow at high elevations and backpacking would be QUITE chilly. But, it could be really worth it to have some of these places to yourself!

Winter (November–March)

Best for: Solitude, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, hot springs! As mentioned, I visited for the first time in January, and WOW was it cold. The kind of cold where within seconds of getting out of the hot springs, my hair would freeze haha. But, it is a magical place in the Winter, and seeing the Sawtooth Mountains with snow is something I’ll never forget. Just note: roads like Highway 21 from Boise often close due to snow and services in town can be VERY limited due to them being seasonal.

Spring (April–May)

Best for: whitewater, wildflowers, hot spring trips without summer crowds. Like Fall, you’ll likely be dealing with some snow here which will limit some trails you may want to do! But if you are coming here for the hot springs and whitewater in late May – this could be the perfect time for you.

10 Best Things to do in Stanley Idaho:

Okay LASTLY, before I start sharing all these hidden gems and classics to see and do in the Sawtooth Mountains, it’s important to remember to do your part and Leave No Trace! This area is not a national park (yet), but can still see a similar amount of crowds. There are very accessible and well maintained trash facilities, but this relies on YOU packing out your own trash and waste and properly disposing of it.

Also a reminder when camping in the backcountry, camp at least 100ft from any water source. If you can’t properly dispose of human waste in a cathole (6-8 inches deep) USE A WAG BAG. And also PLEASE pack out all toilet paper (use a reusable pee cloth!). It can take up to 2 years to properly decompose. Visiting hot springs? Brush up on your etiquette HERE.

1. Hiking in the Sawtooths

Hiking in the Sawtooth Mountains is spectacular. I’m not even sure how to properly explain it. It feels like the Dolomite mountains of Italy were randomly placed in Idaho and I am here for it. The peaks are jagged and tall and the alpine lakes are deep turquoise. It’s truly some of the prettiest hiking I’ve done and the trails are really quite accessible. Not crazy long, and not crazy steep.

Sawtooth Lake

This is a classic for this area, and because of that it can be quite busy. The trailhead has a good amount of parking, but if you end up there too late in the morning on a weekend – you may be waiting around for a bit.

• 9.6 miles round trip
• 1,817 ft elevation gain
• dog friendly

Fishhook Creek Trail

This is a short and sweet one with VERY little elevation gain that leads to stunning views of the mountains and water. It is also just off of a very large parking lot, so parking shouldn’t be a big issue.

• 4.5 miles round trip
• 288 ft elevation gain
• dog friendly

Goat Lake

Also known as a classic Sawtooth hike, this is one of the first one’s I’ve ever saved from this area that I wanted to do! A bit more annoying to get to with a long dirt road with potholes to the trailhead, but because of that you may see less crowds.

• 10.2 miles round trip
• 1,637 ft elevation gain
• dog friendly

Bench Lakes

Unfortunately this hike has some pretty bad burn scars from the fires of 2024, but regardless it is still a beautiful hike and has views of the jagged towering peaks. The later lakes in this hike have less burned areas.

• 8 miles round trip
• 1,236 ft gain
• dog friendly

2. Best Backpacking near Stanley Idaho

Backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains is one of my favorite ways to experience this area. I was lucky enough to get out on two overnight trips in the 2 weeks I was here, and left with a full list for next time. So, I’ll be sharing the trails I have done and the ones still on my list.

New to backpacking? Check out my guide on getting started and my guide on my favorite gear!

Thompson Peak

This was my first experience with backpacking near Stanley and it blew my mind. We had quite the fun day hanging out at the lake cooling off from the hike up. Also sunrise here is absolutely beautiful. Don’t be alarmed at the elevation on the guides – Thompson Peak is the peak ABOVE the lake you can camp at. We did not feel like summiting the peak and that definitely saved us around 1k of elevation gain.

• 12.5 miles round trip
• 4,117 ft elevation gain
• dog friendly
• considered challenging

Alice-Toxaway Lake Loop

This is one that is still on my list! A friend has done it and the iconic sawtooth mountain landscapes you get to camp next to look absolutely stunning. I love loops so much more than out and back hikes so this one is moving up even more on my list for next time.

• 18.7 miles loop round trip
• 3,139 ft elevation gain
• dog friendly

Sawtooth Lake

As mentioned in the hiking section, this is a classic for this area. Busy, but beautiful! The trailhead has a good amount of parking, but if you end up there too late in the morning on a weekend – you may be waiting around for a bit. As far as backpacking, we were one of 3 small groups up at the lake camping. There were VERY few spots near the lake and I’d suggest being willing to backtrack to the first lake if there are multiple groups when you arrive.

• 9.6 miles round trip
• 1,817 ft elevation gain
• dog friendly

Grandjean Sawtooth Lake Loop

And to wrap up my backpacking recommendations, this is another challenging loop that offers incredible views and less crowds. This loop goes beyond Sawtooth Lake to more remote parts of the wilderness here with absolutely spectacular views.

• 20.4 mile loop round trip
• 4,022 ft elevation gain
• dog friendly

3. Beach Days at the Lakes | Things to do in Stanley Idaho

One of the things I love about Stanley Idaho is the access to so many pristine, clear lakes without tons of development on the water. There’s more paddleboarding and fishing than motor boats, and the beach isn’t littered with condos, lodges, and private properties. So, here are my favorite lakes to hang out at in the area.

Redfish Lake

Redfish Lake feels like the center of Stanley. It is a rather large lake framed by the jagged Sawtooth Mountains. It really is so beautiful here. In the Summer, visitors set up along the sandy beaches, backpackers catch shuttles to trailheads, and kayakers and paddleboarders drift across the clear blue water. There are boat rentals and Redfish Lake Lodge has a restaurant and live music some evenings (bring your blanket to sit on the grass!).

Tips for Visiting Redfish Lake:

• Parking: The main lot fills quickly in summer, especially on weekends. Go early or consider parking in the trailhead parking nearby and walking over (~10 min walk).
• Shuttles: A boat shuttle runs across the lake to trailheads leading into the Sawtooth Wilderness, so make sure to check out hiking options over that way too!
• Dogs: dogs are allowed on the lawn at the Redfish Lake Lodge for music in the evenings, but dogs are not allowed on the beach right outside of the lodge. However, just a short walk to the left (while facing the lake) there is a dog specific beach to take your pup!

Stanley Lake

Stanley Lake is much quieter than Redfish, as it is a few miles outside of town at the base of McGown Peak (maybe one of my favorite views from the area). There is a small day use area and also the campground access, with a trail that spans the lake.

The sunrises here are absolutely magical and peaceful. I absolutely recommend bringing a paddle board or canoe of some kind here. We also witnessed lots of people catching fish here in the evenings!

4. Visit the Hot Springs near Stanley Idaho

I’ll never forget my experience in these hot springs in January. Truly a frigid, yet magical experience, but visiting in the late Summer was just as special and such a fun and relaxing way to spend the early mornings or evenings when it is cooler outside.

Sunbeam Hot Springs

Sunbeam Hot Springs is one of the more well known hot springs in the Sawtooth Wilderness area and is 12 miles east of Stanley along the Salmon River. It is easy to access as it is right off the road with pools of different temperatures lining the riverbank. If you are used to hot spring resorts, this definitely has a “wild” aspect to it with no “amenities”, but it is absolutely worth a stop.

Kirkham Hot Springs

This is one that is still on my list and considered a popular, classic Idaho hot spring. My friend, Eva, has a great guide on it that you can check out here. This hot spring is very photogenic and known for the steaming waterfall that falls over the rocks and into the pools. Kirkham is a bit farther out of Stanley at about an hour and a half away, but you could easily make a day out of this or include it on your route to or from Stanley. There are several pools with different temperatures after a short walk down a staircase from the parking area. I recommend getting here early if you are wanting the chance of time alone here.

Cove Creek Hot Springs

Cove Creek Hot Springs or sometimes known as just Cove Hot Springs is a small, lesser-known pool just outside of Stanley. We found it on accident because we kept showing up to hot springs that were just too crowded for us to enjoy ourselves. The pools sit right along the Salmon River. I was surprised at how perfect the temperature was for us, and it was pretty convenient having the river RIGHT there to cool down in when we got too warm. It is under a 5 minute walk down a dirt path right off of highway 75. No amenities, but a great simple place to soak with some solitude.

Boat Box Hot Springs

Boat Box Hot Springs is another classic and perhaps the most iconic hot spring near Stanley Idaho. Check out my guide for this place here! It is close to Stanley, just a couple of miles outside of town right on the edge of the Salmon River. You can adjust the temperature by scooping cold river water into the tub (which I had to use buckets of snow when I was there in January!). The space is very small and can only fit a few people, so it makes this hot spring a little tricky to visit if you are visiting on a weekend. I recommend sunrise on a weekday to have the best chance of visiting this gorgeous place.

5. Stanley Idaho Camping/ Where to stay in the Sawtooths! (part 1)

There are a lot of really exceptional camping options here in Stanley! It truly adds to the overall experience of being here and enjoying the landscape of the Sawtooth Mountains. A lot of these require reservations, but some have limited first come first serve spots. I’m going to break down the Stanley Idaho camping options and provide tips on scoring a site here.

Point Campground

Point Campground in Stanley Idaho is right next to Redfish Lake. This is so nice for so many reasons. You can walk to live music at the Redfish Lake Lodge or grab dinner there! This location is also conveniently located very close by to many trailheads. I think what makes this campsite really exceptional is the access to so much water. There are beaches that line the point with a dock that you can even jump off of in the Summer.

What you need to know:

• there are only 17 sites, half of them being walk-in sites.
• The reservable season is May 22, 2026 – September 17, 2026 and these are reservable online
• September 18th – 30th it becomes first come first served
• $26 per night (includes one vehicle. $10 per additional vehicle)
• ONLY trucks with campers and vans. No motor homes or trailers allowed.
• Most sites have lake views.
• Pit toilets and trash available at campground
• BOOK HERE.

Okay, so we did not plan in advance to get reservations here, but our friend knew that if you just check in with the camp host each day, the odds can be good at scoring a cancellation! We got lucky and grabbed 2 nights here for 4 vans. It was such a fun time. We got out our paddle boards and floaties and spent the day on the water before walking down to the lodge to enjoy some live music! HIGHLY recommend this campground.

Stanley Lake Campground

This campground is about a 15 minute drive out of the town of Stanley. It is a quieter area and has 39 sites total. Our camp host was so nice and let us park 3 vans in one spot (a lot of the spots are pretty spacious!). We again got lucky with cancellations and ended up moving once, but was able to camp there for almost an entire week.

• 39 sites for any type of camping rig
• The reservable season is May 22, 2026 – September 17, 2026 and these are reservable online
• $24 per night ($10 per each additional vehicle)
• Most sites have lake views
• Pit toilets, trash and campfire pits available!
• BOOK HERE.

This is SUCH a pretty lake and my favorite of our campspots.

Free Dispersed Camping

I was surprised by the amount of good options Stanley had for free camping! If you are not familiar with finding and using free, dispersed camping, it is public land with no amenities (meaning you need to bring everything you need and also pack out ALL of your waste and trash). I love using ioverlander to find spots, but also read my guide all about finding the best free camping for more tips. Stanley Idaho camping is some of the better dispersed camping I have experienced!

6. Unique Stays in Stanley Idaho (where to stay part 2!)

Stanley has quite a few cozy, rustic stays that offer unique experiences. If Stanley Idaho camping isn’t for you and you are wanting to have the convenience of being in town, staying in these places might be the best experience!

Mountain Village Resort

This stay is most famously known for it’s onsite hot springs. They have 3 total hot springs, but the most famous hot spring is located in a small shed that looks directly out to a stunning mountain view. These operate by reservation only and can be reserved for a fee of $50 if you are not a guest.

Mountain Village Resort is conveniently right in town, next to a saloon/restaurant, and across the street from a small grocery store. The rooms are pretty basic, but everything was clean and the convenience of location was what sold me on booking here!

Triangle C Cabins

You can add some of the rustic charm Stanley has by staying in the Triangle C Cabins (conveniently located right in town. Walk to get dinner and drinks or baked goods in town. These are reasonably priced, simple cabins that could be perfect for a cabin getaway in the Sawtooths. BOOK HERE.

Redfish Riverside Inn

The Redfish Riverside Inn is definitely best known for its scenic balconies overlooking the Salmon River. Simple and a bit rustic feel, but great location and stunning views.

The Sawtooth Hotel

The Sawtooth Hotel is known as the authentic hotel of Stanley since 1930. It maintains an old country feel in the decor and structure, and also has a cozy restaurant attached. Eating at the Sawtooth Hotel was my favorite meal I had in Stanley. The food was SO good and there was live music out on the back porch with dinner. I will definitely be going back here.

7. Food, Nightlife and Festivals

Stanley really is such a lively town in the Summer months and I was not expecting such good food, beverage and culture here! Here are my favorites:

Food:

• Sawtooth Hotel: I got the Chicken Al Pastor and my partner got Brisket and it was so dang delightful. We sat out on the back porch in their outdoor seating with a bottle of wine and listened to the live bluegrass they had. One of my favorite nights there!
• Stanley Supper Club: this one is so highly rated and everyone I know recommended going here! Elevated home cooked meals gives this place a cozy feeling that you’ll want to come back for! Highly recommend making reservations during the busy season.
• Kasino Club: This Stanley classic has elevated pub food in a “locals bar” type of vibe. Enjoy live music here on the weekends as well!
• Stanley Baking Company: We visited this place an embarrassing amount of times. The pastries, coffees and breakfast options are so good. You’ll want to get here early, as it doesn’t take long for the line to get long.

Drinks:

• The Rod and Gun: this is SUCH a cool place. It has been recently remodeled under new owners and the vibe is immaculate. It has a classic almost dive bar feel to it, but comes with upscale delicious cocktails and tons of dogs hanging out inside. It has some lounge elements too with couches and dim lamps. I highly recommend grabbing a cocktail here!

Events:

• Street Dancing! Just outside of Kasino Club there is street dancing every Thursday from June 12th through August 21st!!
• Also at Kasino Club there is live music every Friday and Saturday beginning at 9:30pm
• Late August is the Sawtooth Salmon Festival! I was so happy we caught this! The live music was awesome and there were some incredible vendors.

8. Scenic Drives in the Sawtooths: Things to do in Stanley Idaho

One of the best ways to experience the Sawtooths is simply by driving through them. The roads that wind in and out of Stanley are some of the most beautiful in Idaho, offering jaw-dropping mountain views, river canyons, and endless pull-offs for photos.

Top Scenic Drives:

• Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway (Highway 21): This drive connects Boise to Stanley. It winds through pine forests and up into the mountains before opening up to sweeping views of the Sawtooths. It’s absolutely stunning.
• Salmon River Scenic Byway (Highway 75 north): Following the Salmon River toward Challis and Salmon, this stretch is all about dramatic river canyons and wide-open country (and also where a lot of the hot springs are!!)
• Sawtooth Scenic Byway (Highway 75 south): Heading over Galena Summit toward Sun Valley, this drive delivers some of the most iconic views of the Sawtooths, with plenty of spots to stop and take some beautiful landscape photos

TIP: Use 511.idaho.gov to see real time updates on road conditions. I stalked this website for a week leading up to our trip to make sure the roads would be clear enough for us to drive through when I went in January.

9. Whitewater Rafting

Stanley is one of the best “basecamps” for whitewater in the West. The Salmon River (apparently also known as the “River of No Return”) winds right past town. The Salmon River offers beginner routes for a mellow experience and also very technical routes for advanced folks. Local outfitters run guided trips ranging from a few hours to multi-day adventures. It’s a beautiful way to see a different perspective of the Sawtooth Mountains.

• Sawtooth Adventure Company
• Rocky Mountain River Tours

10. Sawtooth Stargazing

When the sun dips behind the jagged peaks, the Sawtooth Mountains become one of the best stargazing spots in the country. Stanley is in the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve (one of the largest in the world). With pretty much no light pollution, the night skies here are absolutely mind blowing.

I’d recommend heading to one of the lakes at the campgrounds or up in the backcountry to get the reflection of the stars too. Truly a magical experience.

• I love using the SkyView Lite App to identify constellations!

Packing List for Stanley Idaho:

Here is a list of essentials I recommend for this list of activities!

• sun hoodie
• base layers
• hiking shoes (these are my favorite!! So lightweight and comfy)
• hiking sandals
• headlamp
• paddleboard
• day pack
• 2 swimsuits (so one can dry out!)
• packable towel
• camera! (if you’ve been enjoying these photos – check out my photo presets!)

Other Nearby or Similar Destinations:

• Mount Rainier Itinerary
• 20 Best Backpacking Trips in Washington
• Lander Wyoming – an underrated road trip
• Best Oregon Road Trip Loop

Conclusion: Best Things to do in Stanley Idaho | Stanley Idaho Camping

Stanley may be a tiny mountain town, but it’s packed with epic experiences. Whether you’re hiking into the jagged Sawtooth Mountains or soaking in the many wild riverside hot springs, I truly believe there is something here for all outdoor lovers. Add in the cozy restaurants, beautiful drives, and plentiful live music, and it’s easy to see why Stanley is become more and more well known as an outdoor destination. I feel like it could become a National Park in the future. I hope this gave you some inspiration and things to look forward to as you plan your Stanley Idaho camping, hot springs, or just general mountain getaway trip!

Let me know if you have any questions.

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