A couple years ago I was planning a road trip from CO to OR and wanted to go somewhere I’ve never been. After doing some research I came across the Sawtooth Wilderness area in Idaho and knew that’s where I wanted to go. It became one of my favorite places very quickly, and hanging out in Boise for the last week I made a quick expcape up the mountain for the night.

I took the Ponderosa Pines Scenic Highway from Boise the 125 miles to the small town (63) of Stanley. The road has it all; ups, downs, twists, turns, mountains, rivers, cliffs, peaks, old towns, trees, waterfalls and much more!! Its 125 miles of that, and takes about 3 hours to get to Stanley. Once there you get a view of the Sawtooth mountain range, lakes all over and miles and miles of hiking trails. I did a quick hike through the National Forest that led to an opening to beautiful view of the mountains (see photos below), from there you are in wilderness!! I hiked a bit further but with all the down trees I didn’t get far.

One of the great parts about the area is it does tame some work to get there. From Stanley you can go towards Montana and it gets even more remote from what I’m told, or go toward Twin Falls on the Sawtooth Scenic Byway, made famous by Ernest Hemminway, about 140 miles, which is just as beautiful as Ponderosa Pines! I mapped out the route from Boise to Twin Falls.

Idaho seems to actually be one of those secrets of America…..I’m almost afraid to write this and give the secret up : )

“Never to go on trips with anyone you do not love.”
― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

More info on theThe Sawtooth National Recreation Area and The Sawtooth National Forest

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sawtooth/recarea/?recid=5842

https://www.fs.usda.gov/sawtooth

Last modified: June 21, 2017