Stanley Lake

The Satwooth Mountains of central Idaho have no shortage of lakes, yet of all the ones you can drive to, Stanley stands among the nicest. This smallish lake (about a mile across) sits at 6,500 feet about 7 miles west of Stanley, which is the hub and gateway for travelers into the Sawtooth. Two campgrounds line the shore and several trails begin from here. There’s a boat ramp and fishing. Plenty of people show up during the day to boat, swim, and fish, but most clear out in the afternoon, leaving a sublime all-to-yourself feeling. While the trails heading into the mountains from here see fair use,