Granite spires above 700+ alpine lakes — and free national forest camping all around Stanley.
The Sawtooth Range from Stanley, Idaho looks like the Tetons without the crowds. The Sawtooth National Recreation Area allows dispersed camping in much of the surrounding NF, and small towns like Stanley and Lower Stanley sit on the Salmon River with hot springs and trailheads in every direction.
Why it's special
Mountains that look like the Tetons, rivers that look like Montana, and prices that feel like 1995. Stanley has fewer than 100 year-round residents.
Best time to go
July through early September. June is buggy, October starts to freeze.
Getting there
ID-75 from Sun Valley north to Stanley.
Know before you go
- Dispersed camping must be at least 1/4 mile from established campgrounds in the SNRA.
- Black bear country, no grizzlies south of the Salmon.
- Mosquitoes in early summer can be biblical.
- The Salmon River is COLD year-round.
Pro tips from boondockers
- Redfish Lake and Stanley Lake are stunning but established sites only.
- Free natural hot springs along the Salmon River north of Stanley.
- Stanley to Galena Summit drive at sunrise is unforgettable.
- Resupply in Ketchum; Stanley is tiny.
Combine with
Sun Valley, Frank Church Wilderness, City of Rocks (Idaho).