We recently visited Stanley, Idaho, and were amazed at the landscape! How had we never heard of this incredible land before? We decided to spend the majority of our time backpacking through the Sawtooth Wilderness and had a blast.
How to Get There
Boise is the closest major airport, about a 2-hour drive to Stanley. Around Stanley, there are hundreds of incredible hikes ranging from 1-day to twenty depending on how adventurous you’re feeling.
The Alice- Toxaway Loop
This 19-mile loop has stunning alpine lakes, sheer mountain peaks, and absolutely stunning wilderness. There are three significant sights to see: Toxaway Lake, Twin Lakes, and Alice Lake; although, the entire trail is spectacular. The trail was relatively quiet, and camping sites were plentiful!
Our Itinerary
We decided to do a 3-day/ 2- night trek. We were looking to enjoy nature, and it really worked out. This trail is entirely possible to do in 2-days/ 1-night, but you would miss out on some epic camping and enjoying the sights.
Day 1- 8.5 miles-5/6 hours- Gradual Incline- Camping at Toxaway Lake. We started at Petit lake at the Tin Cup Trailhead. There was plenty of parking and the trailhead was easy to spot. Parking was free and we did not need a pass. We did have to get a backpackers permit about an hour in. This was also free and super easy to do. Our first stop was at Feris Lake for lunch and a swim. The water was crazy cold but refreshing. We continued on to Toxaway Lake to set up camp for the night. The first day took us about 6 hours, but we stopped to sightsee a lot. We were also testing out new gear, so we had to make some adjustments with that as well. Toxaway Lake was gorgeous and we had the place almost all to ourselves!
Day 2- 3.5 miles- 3000 ft incline- 3/4 hours- Camping at Alice Lake. This part of the journey was the hardest but had the most breathtaking views. Beginning at Toxaway Lake, you follow the trail to Twin Lakes. The incline and switchbacks are brutal, but once you come over the pass to Twin Lakes, the views are stunning. After the Twin Lakes, the trail to Alice Lake is all downhill. Camping at Alice Lake was a little more crowded, but there were still plenty of campsites. We were there over labor day weekend. Alice Lake is surrounded by sharp mountains to give it a unique look. El Capitan towers over at over 9000 feet.
Day 3- 6 miles- all downhill- 3/4 hours. We started at Alice Lake and made our way back to Petit Lake. The views for the majority of the leg of the trip were beautiful too! I found myself looking back regularly to find Alpine Lakes and beautiful Mountain Tops.
This hike was absolutely incredible, and we cannot wait to go back to the Sawtooth Valley of Idaho!
Until Next Time,
Dez and Jordan
