For everything we had dreamed of when imagining our summer out west, Stanley, Idaho delivered ten fold. With breathtaking panoramic views of the sprawling Sawtooth Mountain Range, crystal clear lakes, scattered hot springs, and more hiking than one’s two feet could allow you to explore, this idyllic map dot stole our hearts. Our trusty adventure dog in tow, we weren’t able to participate in some of Stanley’s other offerings such as whitewater rafting, horseback riding, or fly fishing on this trip but we left with plenty of recommendations for our next go round. Thankfully, all of the trails and campgrounds in this area were dog friendly and even the boat shuttle that we needed to reach our first trail head welcomed Daisy on board free of charge.

Still regarded as one of Idahoan’s best kept secrets, it seems that someone has spilled the beans on Stanley’s charm (and boy, are we thankful they did). But for those of us that plan a trip on the more last-minute side, finding accommodations during the peak season can be tough. On a Thursday afternoon, we passed many a “full campground” sign before finding a single spot remaining at our new weekend oasis: Sunny Gulch Campground. Camp was set to the sound of the Salmon River babbling behind us and the sight of the Sawtooth’s looming above. Then it was a ten minute drive up the road to Redfish Lake Lodge where a scouting mission for the next day’s hike turned into an evening of laughter with new friends on the lodge’s veranda, overlooking a picturesque lake and mountain vista.

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The following morning began with the ceremonial creaking and groaning associated with sleeping on the ground after you’ve begun greying and was quickly cured by crisp mountain air and piping hot instant coffee. We returned to Redfish Lake where we hopped aboard a skiff and were ferried across the lake to the Redfish Inlet and subsequently, the trailhead for our daily hike. This 14 mile hike brought us past rushing waterfalls and open meadows. It included steep elevation gains that rewarded immensely with stunning views. The sweet smell of wildflowers would waft by with each refreshing breeze. At one point, a makeshift river crossing required Mike to make a heroic water rescue of Daisy after we misjudged her size against the current. Thankfully, both made it shore side unscathed (although, Mike’s phone did not fair as well). Adrenaline pumping with renewed respect for the river, we continued on and were even more thankful to reach our peak destination at Alpine Lake. There, we took a moment to relax at 8,500 feet; our traditional peanut-butter-sandwich+whiskey backpacking provisions made a perfect picnic as we soaked in the pristine lake and snowcap views. After a quick dip in the icy cold snow melt-off, we descended and returned to camp to cook fireside and unwind under the stars.

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Our second hike of the weekend began in Iron Creek Campground, a destination found at the end of a dirt road a few miles outside of Stanley. This treck was a bit more mild than the day before with a relatively moderate terrain and clocking in at just over ten miles. The views and destination were nothing short of amazing however, and we enjoyed another mountain top picnic at Sawtooth Lake where mounds of ever-present snow cooled and refreshed us as we relaxed against sun drenched rocks. Daisy was disappointed by the lack of swimming access at this destination but we made up for it with a nice river soak on the way down. For the human hikers tired legs, a soak in boat box hot springs later that night was just what the wilderness ordered.

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