Ultimate Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking Guide (up the Iron Creek Trail)

Two stunning alpine lakes surrounded by jagged peaks mark the end of this classic hike in Idaho. This popular hiking trail is an absolute must-do hike if you are in the area and is worth the drive even if you aren’t! After the first few miles, the trail opens up and you get tremendous views in several directions. This Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking Guide will share everything you need to know to do this amazing hike.

We visited the Sawtooth Mountains during the summer of 2021 for the purpose of backpacking into Alpine and Sawtooth Lake. After waiting for a rainstorm to pass, we hiked up to Aline Lake, set up the tent, and dropped out bags, then finished the hike up to Sawtooth Lake. This was my 9-year-olds first major backpack and we saw several other kids enjoying their time at the lake. If you are looking for an amazing Sawtooth backpacking trip, add this to your list!

Below you can find information including how to hike to Alpine and Sawtooth Lakes as well as general information on camping and the best time of year to hike.

Quick Overview of the Sawtooth Lake Trail (Iron Creek Trail)

This is an out and back trail that can be done as a day hike or backpack. There are multiple camping options at both Sawtooth and Alpine Lake. We opted to stay at Alpine Lake. This hike/backpack should absolutely be on your list and you have amazing views, especially for the amount of effort it takes.

Distance: 10 miles out and back (to Sawtooth Lake) 7.4 miles round trip (Alpine Lake) - the hike takes about 5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 1240 ft (to Alpine Lake) 1873 ft (to Sawtooth Lake)

Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking: Heading out on the trail

Best Time of Year for Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking

We hiked to Sawtooth at the beginning of August. It was cool and rainy and even in August, there were patches of snow around Sawtooth Lake. The best time to backpack to Sawtooth Lake is June-Sept. If you are doing it as a day hike, you can go into October, just expect that there will be snow on the trail, especially at the end of the hike.

The trail starts at 7,000 feet and finishes at over 8,200 feet so expect cold temperatures all year long.

Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking: The View of the way to Alpine Lake

Things to Know About Hiking and Backpacking to Sawtooth Lake, Idaho

Before we jump into the details, there are a few things you should know about Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking:

The trailhead can get quite crowded. We were there midweek and had difficulty finding a parking spot late morning.
You need a permit to hike the trail. The permit is free and you can fill it out right at the trailhead
There is no cell service on this hike, so make sure you don’t rely on an online map for the hike. We purchased a map of the area before hiking at the ranger station, and there is a good map at the trailhead that you can snap a photo of. I recommend downloading a map to use offline.
There is plenty of access to water on the trail
Dogs are permitted on the trail and are required to be on a leash July 1 – Labor day.

Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking: The Iron Creek Trailhead

Getting to the Iron Creek Trailhead

The Iron Creek Trail is what you will hike to get to Alpine and Sawtooth Lake. The Iron Creek Trailhead is about 12 minutes from Stanley, Idaho. From Stanley, head west on route 21 and turn left on Forest Road 619 (about 1 mile outside of Stanley). The road is gravel and you will follow this about 2 miles to the trailhead. You will pass a campground on your way in, but just keep going. There is a small loop at the end of the road, and the trailhead is clear and on your right at the far end of the loop.

We were able to find a spot in the lot, and it looks like there is some overflow parking nearby as well.

Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking

Details of Hiking the Iron Creek Trail to Sawtooth and Alpine Lakes

Once you arrive at the trailhead, take a moment to fill out your permit and check out the signage at the trailhead for any updates. The start of the trail is obvious and well marked.

The first mile or so of the trail is mostly flat and straightforward. You will follow Iron Creek which you can hear running off to the side of the trail. The trail stays in the trees until your reach 1.7 miles, where you will come to a well-marked trail sign. At this junction, you turn left to start making your way up to the lakes.

You will start to ascend via a series of switchbacks. With every switchback, the view continues to get better and better. The trail is never too steep, but consistent. After about 3.6 miles the trail splits. The left-hand trail takes you the short distance down to Alpine Lake, and the right trail continues upward to Sawtooth Lake. We made our way first down to Alpine Lake. Even if you aren’t camping here, it is absolutely worth stopping at Alpine Lake for the view (which I think is actually better compared to Sawtooth Lake). Once you get down to the lake, you can follow the trail to the left. The trail work around part of the lake. On the way, you’ll pass several campsites. If you’re camping here, drop your packs and set up your tent.

Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking: Alpine Lake

After spending a few minutes getting set up, we packed a day pack and finished heading up to Sawtooth Lake (we considered doing this part of the trail in the early morning, but we all felt pretty motivated and it was between rain showers).

Heading up to Sawtooth Lake from Alpine Lake, the trail gets steeper and continues in a series of switchbacks. The views from here of the lake and surrounding mountains are truly spectacular. The elevation gain is about 500 feet over 1 mile so we were glad we just had day packs and not our big packs.

Once you get over the rim the first body of water you see is a small pond. This is not Sawtooth Lake. We had a moment where we were ready to turn around slightly disappointed before realizing this wasn’t the end of the trail. Continue to follow the trail and you will eventually open up to Sawtooth Lake. There were several small snowfields and since it was windy and rainy it was cold up here. There were a few people setting up tents at the campsites up here, but we were glad to be heading back down where it was more protected and warmer.

Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking: Sawtooth Lake

Once you reach Sawtooth Lake, you can continue around the left side of the lake until you are right under the 10,190-foot Mount Regan. Dave took our two older kids to the end, but by this point, Freja (our 9 year old) was tired and perfectly happy to play in the snow.

With more rain on the way, we made our way back down to Alpine Lake for the night. We cooked some ramen bowls, hung our bear bags, and turned in for the night. It easily got into the 40s (maybe lower overnight) and we were still a bit chilly with all our layers and sleeping bags. When we woke up in the morning, the wind had stopped, the sky cleared and after a visit by a friendly deer, we had a peaceful breakfast, packed up our gear and hiked out.

After completing our month-long Road Trip this backpacking trip to Sawtooth and Alpine Lakes was one of my favorite parts.

Alpine and Sawtooth Lake Hiking and Backpacking: Camping at Alpine Lake

What to Know about Alpine and Sawtooth Camping

We are very happy we decided to camp at Alpine Lake instead of Sawtooth Lake. Not only do I think it is prettier, but since it is just a little lower, it was significantly warmer on the day we were there. Both lakes have lots of sites for camping but since we were there on a weekday, I imagine that the weekends can get quite crowded. You should plan to arrive early to get a spot.

If you are camping, the best campsites are about halfway around the lake. Continue to follow the trail and you will find lots of small spots dotted along the lake. If you aren’t doing this as a backpack, there are also lots of campsite options around Stanley.