Sawtooth Mountains

The Sawtooth Mountains are the crown jewel of Idaho’s mountains — a jagged, dramatic range of granite peaks rising in central Idaho, named for their serrated, saw-toothed skyline. With more than 50 peaks above 10,000 feet and several hundred high alpine lakes cradled in glacier-carved basins, the Sawtooths are one of the most spectacular and beloved ranges in the American West.

Protected within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and the Sawtooth Wilderness, the range rises above the Sawtooth Valley and the headwaters of the Salmon River, offering some of the finest hiking, backpacking, climbing and fishing in the country. Iconic Redfish Lake sits at the foot of the peaks. A wild, granite high country of peaks, lakes and meadows, the Sawtooth Mountains are a treasured natural icon of Idaho.

The Sawtooths are a paradise for hikers and backpackers, with hundreds of miles of trails to alpine lakes, passes and peaks, plus rock climbing and mountaineering on the granite spires, fishing in the lakes and the Salmon River, horseback riding, camping, and paddling on Redfish and other lakes. In winter the area offers backcountry and Nordic skiing. The granite peaks, the countless alpine lakes and the superb trails are the signature draws. The combination of jagged peaks, alpine lakes and vast wilderness makes the Sawtooths one of the premier mountain destinations in the West.

Summer through early fall (July through September) is the prime season, when the high trails are clear of snow, the alpine lakes thaw and warm slightly, the wildflowers bloom and the weather is best — though snow can fall any month at elevation. Fall brings golden aspen and crisp air. Winter buries the range in deep snow for skiing. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. Summer and early fall for hiking and backpacking are the highlights — come for the high-country lakes and peaks, start early, and watch the mountain weather.

The Sawtooth Valley and mountains were home to the Shoshone and Bannock peoples, who fished the salmon-rich rivers. Miners and ranchers later came to the valley, and the spectacular range drew growing recreation. To protect it, Congress established the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in 1972, including the Sawtooth Wilderness. The headwaters of the Salmon River — the famed ‘River of No Return’ — rise here. The Sawtooth Mountains preserve this magnificent granite high country, its lakes and its wild salmon waters, a treasured icon of Idaho.

The Sawtooth Mountains are carved from the Sawtooth batholith, a great mass of pink-and-gray granite that cooled deep underground and was later uplifted. Ice Age glaciers then sculpted the uplifted granite into the range’s signature jagged peaks, sharp arêtes, cirques and U-shaped valleys, and gouged the basins that hold the hundreds of alpine lakes; glacial moraines dam lakes like Redfish at the range’s foot. The granite batholith, the uplift and the glacial sculpting created the spectacular saw-toothed peaks and the lake-strewn high country.

The Sawtooths and the surrounding national recreation area host mule deer, elk, mountain goats and bighorn sheep in the high country, black bears, mountain lions, wolves and wolverines ranging the wilderness, beavers and otters in the streams, and a rich birdlife, while the Salmon River and its tributaries carry wild salmon and trout (and the famous sockeye that return to Redfish Lake). The range from valley to alpine supports abundant wildlife. The Sawtooths offer superb wildlife watching, from mountain goats on the peaks to spawning salmon in the rivers.

The range protects a high-mountain ecosystem of granite peaks, alpine tundra and hundreds of cold clear lakes, with subalpine forests of fir, spruce, lodgepole and whitebark pine on the slopes, aspen and sagebrush in the valleys, and the headwaters of the Salmon River system — vital habitat for wild salmon and trout. The fragile alpine zone and the clear waters are sensitive. Protecting the lakes, the streams, the forests, the wild salmon runs and the fragile high country sustains both the ecology and the spectacular beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains.

The Sawtooth Mountains hold a treasured place among the icons of Idaho — the state’s most spectacular range, a jagged granite skyline above hundreds of alpine lakes, beloved by hikers, climbers and anglers, and long significant to the Shoshone and Bannock peoples and the wild salmon that return to its waters. The headwaters of the legendary Salmon River and the gateway town of Stanley enrich its meaning. The Sawtooths embody the wild high country of the West and are a cherished natural icon of Idaho.

The Sawtooth Mountains rise in central Idaho within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, reached via State Route 75 over Galena Summit from the Sun Valley/Ketchum area to the south, or from the town of Stanley at the range’s northern foot. Trailheads, campgrounds and Redfish Lake lie along the valley. A recreation fee/pass applies at many sites, and wilderness permits (free, self-issued) are required for the Sawtooth Wilderness. Services cluster in Stanley and Ketchum. Check the Sawtooth National Recreation Area for fees, permits, trail conditions and access before visiting.

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area and the Forest Service protect the range, its wilderness and its waters. Visitors help by following Leave No Trace, camping on durable surfaces and away from lakeshores, packing out everything, storing food from bears, protecting the fragile alpine plants and clear lakes (and the wild salmon waters), preventing wildfire, and following wilderness rules (no motorized or mechanized travel in the wilderness). The high country and salmon streams are sensitive. Protecting the lakes, forests, salmon runs and fragile peaks sustains both the ecology and the beauty of the Sawtooths.

The Sawtooths are rugged high country — trails are steep and rocky, the elevation is significant (peaks over 10,000 feet), and weather changes fast with afternoon thunderstorms, lightning on exposed terrain and possible snow any month, so carry layers, rain gear, water and the essentials and start early. Stream crossings can be dangerous in high snowmelt; alpine lakes are very cold. This is bear country — store food properly and carry bear awareness. Tell someone your plans for backcountry trips. Respect the elevation, the weather, the cold water and the wilderness terrain.

A recreation fee/pass applies at many trailheads and sites; free self-issued permits are required for the Sawtooth Wilderness (and some popular areas may have added rules). Camp on durable surfaces, away from lakeshores and water, and store food from bears. Wilderness areas prohibit motorized and mechanized travel (including bikes and drones). Pack out all trash; follow Leave No Trace. Campfires may be restricted; follow fire rules. Fishing requires an Idaho license. Pets must be controlled. Check the Sawtooth National Recreation Area for permits, fees, fire rules and current conditions before visiting.

The gateway town of Stanley at the range’s foot, the resort towns of Sun Valley and Ketchum to the south, Redfish Lake, the headwaters of the Salmon River (the ‘River of No Return’), and the surrounding wilderness areas lie near the Sawtooths. The Sawtooth Valley and the Salmon River define the region. The Sawtooth Mountains anchor a magnificent region of central Idaho, a centerpiece of an Idaho mountain adventure, easily combined with Redfish Lake, the town of Stanley, Salmon River rafting and Sun Valley.

Base yourself in Stanley or Ketchum and explore from the trailheads along the Sawtooth Valley — classic hikes climb to alpine lakes like Sawtooth, Alice or the Bench Lakes, and backpackers can lose themselves in the wilderness. Come in summer or early fall for clear high trails, start early to beat afternoon storms, and carry layers, rain gear and plenty of water. Get the free wilderness permit, store food from bears, and pair your trip with Redfish Lake, Salmon River rafting and the scenic drive over Galena Summit.