Sawtooth Traverse Backpack, Idaho

The Trip

Known as “the crown jewel of the Gem State,” Idaho’s Sawtooth Range should be on every backpacker’s bucket list.

Sawtooth is a deserving moniker, as glaciers carved the highly fractured pink granite into strikingly sawtooth-like sharp ridges, pinnacles, and towers, separated by narrow, pine-forested valleys. Frothy cataracts tumble from the more than 300 lakes the glaciers left behind, forming the headwaters of some of Idaho’s major rivers such as the Salmon and Payette.

The Sawtooths are a compact range, measuring about 32 miles long by about 20 miles wide, including the crest and several impressive subranges. Despite their glaciated granitic character, the Sawtooths don’t have quite the elevation and extreme relief characteristic of, say, the Sierra Nevada, which makes for ideal backpacking.

No grizzlies are known to inhabit the Sawtooths, but a wide range of wildlife does, from pikas and marmots to moose, mountain goats, black bears, and even a few grey wolves. Seeing a megafauna would be a rare treat, but there will be a veritable cornucopia of wildflowers to admire and grace our photos.

Our point-to-point route through the heart of the Sawtooths starts with a bang with perhaps the most iconic of views, that of Sawtooth Lake backed by Mount Regan. From there we travel along tumbling streams, through glaciated lake basins, and across scenic divides via well-maintained (and traveled) trails. We will camp alongside a subalpine lake almost every night and enjoy some layover time. Camp activities can include fishing for cutthroat, rainbow, and brook trout; exploring the surrounding area, or just enjoying a nice swim and laying out on a warm rock.

We will invoke the old Sierra Club axiom of traveling “high and light” by scrutinizing the group equipment and simplifying the menu. We will also travel “high and light” by learning and practicing Leave No Trace principles in all of our operations.

We will hike and camp on the ancestral lands of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, ceded under duress in the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868. This treaty created the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, upon which many descendants now live.

A chart providing daily mileage, elevation gains and losses, camp elevations, and a graphical profile of the route can be found here.

Pre-Trip:  We will meet the afternoon of the trip starting date at the leaders’ vacation rental in Hailey, Idaho for introductions, safety talk, gear check, and commissary distribution. Those who wish can join the group at a nearby restaurant for dinner. 

Day 1: We will rendezvous at the Hell Roaring Creek exit trailhead, drop off some vehicles, and then proceed to the Iron Creek starting trailhead.  We quickly enter some of the most dramatic terrain in the Sawtooths, hiking to Alpine Lake and then up to the breathtaking views of Sawtooth Lake and Mount Regan. The impressive terrain makes for poor group camping, so we will proceed over a low saddle and camp near some small lakes on the far side of Mount Regan.

Day 2: We descend along the North Fork Baron Creek then turn up the main fork and find a suitable streamside camp along the forested and meadowed canyon floor, positioned well for the next day’s climb.

Day 3: After a prolonged, switchbacking climb, backdropped by several striking waterfalls, we reach the magnificent Baron Lakes area.  We will seek out an unoccupied camp in the vicinity, refresh ourselves with a dip in one of the lakes, and hopefully relish in the evening’s alpenglow on the surrounding peaks.

Day 4: With our packs a bit lighter, our hikes will become a bit longer.  Today we begin by cresting the Baron Divide then descending past the imaginatively named Alpine Lake (#2) to a wet crossing of Redfish Creek.  Then we steadily climb up another alpine valley to our stellar camp in the Cramer Lake basin, complete with a waterfall.

Day 5: We continue climbing south to a high divide that may still hold a lingering snowfield or two. After soaking in the views, we switch back down past Hidden Lake – presumably “hidden” by the surrounding tall, jagged peaks. We cross the upper headwaters of the South Fork Payette River, then climb up to our next camp along the shores of Edna Lake, with its stellar view of tall Payette Peak.

Day 6: Layover day! Options include exploring more of the Ten Lakes Basin sans backpacks, taking a dip, just relaxing, or all of the above!

Day 7: We climb over the twin ridgetops on either side of Edith Lake and descend to our last night’s camp along the convoluted shoreline of Imogene Lake.

Day 8: We follow the Hell Roaring Creek drainage downstream, past Hell Roaring Lake, to our exit trailhead and a few waiting vehicles. Drivers of vehicles up at the Iron Creek Trailhead will need a ride. We will pass through some recent burn areas and observe how fire is an essential element of montane forest ecosystems.

This itinerary should be viewed as a plan, not a promise. Weather, trail conditions, progress of the group, campsite availability, and several other factors may require the leaders to change the plan. 

Getting There

The initial meeting location is in Hailey, Idaho, which is located about 20 minutes south of Ketchum and the world-famous resort of Sun Valley. It is home to Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN), which provides service to Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Denver. Boise Airport (BOI) is about 140 miles from Hailey and provides more flight options, including Southwest Airlines. The Hell Roaring Trailhead is about an hour and 15 minutes from Hailey via Highway 75 over Galena Summit. The Iron Creek Trailhead is about 21 miles further along Highways 75 and 21 through Stanley and takes about 35 minutes. Both Trailheads are reached via good quality gravel Forest Service roads from the highway.

The leader will provide a trip roster with contact information to facilitate ride-sharing and other logistical details in advance of the trip. Due to the uncertainties inherent in a trip of this magnitude, return flight reservations must not be made any earlier than the day after the trip ends. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

Accommodations for the night of the trip start date are the responsibility of the participant. Hotels can be found in Hailey, Ketchum/Sun Valley($) as well as Stanley, north of, and closer to, our trailheads.While the USFS maintains quite a complex of campgrounds in the Sawtooth Valley, campsites are extremely popular, and reservations for the reservable campsites are difficult to secure. First-come, first-served campsites may be available. Dispersed camping is permitted in the Sawtooth Valley. Consult the Sawtooth National Recreation Area for regulations.

Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are provided and included in the trip price, beginning with lunch on day one on the trail to lunch on day six (the last day). To accommodate a wide range of food tastes and restrictions, participants are responsible for providing their own drinks and trail snacks, limited to two one-quart zip-closure bags. Specific instructions will be provided before the trip.

To store all food in bear canisters, we will strive to reduce bulk, as well as weight, wherever possible. Therefore, the backcountry menu will consist of low-bulk, non-refrigerated, lightweight foods that have a high calorie-to-bulk ratio.

The menu can accommodate vegetarians, but accommodating more restricted diets can be difficult. If you have a food allergy or other critical food restriction, please contact the leader before signing up to determine if we can accommodate your specific needs without adversely impacting the group.

Generally, we'll have hot or cold cereal for breakfast, and dinners will usually consist of soup, a one-pot entrée, and a small dessert. We will provide plenty of hot water for your drinks and clean up at breakfast and dinner.

A gravity water filter may be available in camp. However, participants are responsible for bringing their water treatment for all of their personal use, whether chemical, filter, or UV-based. Additional information will be provided in pre-trip correspondence.

The leaders generally prepare the meals with the assistance of participants, including fetching water and pot washing.

Trip Difficulty

This trip difficulty is rated 3 per the Sierra Club Outings system of rating trips on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult. Document 24 Sawtooth Traverse Trip Metrics and Profile [Link to be provided later] tabulate daily mileage, terrain, and elevation gains and losses.

Elevations on this trip range from a low of just over 5,700 feet to a high of 9,500 feet. All camps are between 6,200 feet and 8,500 feet.

We plan to carry our packs for almost 48 miles over 7 moving days. Some stream crossings will be rock hops requiring balance and coordination, especially wearing a pack. Some will have log bridges while a few will require a full wade across a strong flow.

Participants must be in good physical condition to qualify for this trip. You should follow a regular, well-rounded fitness program that includes cardio and strength training. We have found that backpacking stresses your body in some very unique ways, like lengthening your foot from the extra weight. Therefore, we highly recommend supplementing your workouts by wearing your footwear and carrying your loaded pack on hikes up and down hills (or staircases) for a couple of hours several days a week for at least a month before the trip. Changes in conditions and events may require rerouting, so a flexible attitude is a must.

This is a group trip whose success relies upon the cheerful, active contribution of all participants. As stated before, this trip will emphasize a Leave No Trace ethic in all of its operations. For example, we will “be considerate of other visitors” and “respect wildlife” by setting up tents near each other while exceeding the minimum separation regulations from water and trails.

Equipment and Clothing

“Light is right!” Pre-trip communication will include a recommended equipment list and provide much more detailed elaboration on the range of equipment choices available, as there is no one correct answer for a particular need. Some clothing fundamentals include good quality raingear, dressing in layers, and avoiding duplication. We highly recommend trekking poles to contend with rough terrain, descents, and stream crossings carrying a loaded pack.

The Sierra Club provides group equipment such as cooking pots and utensils, stoves, fuel, hand-wash station, commissary tarp, and bear canisters. Each trip participant will bring his/her eating utensils and carry one loaded bear canister, along with a share of the other group items, bringing each participant's total share of the commissary to about 10-12 pounds at the start of the trip.

The total weight of your gear, including the pack, should not exceed 20 pounds, and in no circumstances exceed 25 pounds. Many participants have been successful in reducing their “base load” to well below 20 pounds! This is important not just to increase your stamina and comfort, but also for safety. Generally speaking, packs should have a capacity of at least 65 liters, but with scrupulous attention to weight reduction, some participants have been able to use slightly smaller packs. A small pack will not relieve you of carrying a bear canister!

Backpacking footwear has seen quite a revolution of late, with many people choosing to use low-top hiking shoes or trail runners. The most important thing is that footwear should be well broken in and field-tested under expected loads, terrain, and weather well before the trip.

The weather can be quite pleasant in the Sawtooths in late August, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s, but be prepared for extremes. Extended rain or even snow can occur at any time of year. A tropical depression moved through the area in 2023!  Overnight lows can occasionally dip below freezing. Thunderstorms -- with sudden cloudbursts of wind, rain, and hail -- are common and can be followed by a spectacular sunset. High-quality, rugged, and proven raingear and insulation layers are a must! On the other hand, temperatures can also soar into the high 80s and low 90s if a heat wave moves in. So, some light layers are also warranted.

References

 Maps:

•  "Sawtooth Wilderness Hiking Map and Guide,” Earthwalk Press
• “Sawtooth National Recreation Area,” National Geographic/Trails Illustrated 

Books:

• Fuller, Margaret, Trails of the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains. Trail Guide Books.
• Lorain, Douglas, Backpacking Idaho: From Alpine Peaks to Desert Canyons. Wilderness Press.
• Marchant, Scott, The Hiker’s Guide Idaho’s Sawtooth Country. Hiking Idaho.

Conservation

The Sierra Club is the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. Our motto is “Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.” We are concerned about conservation and the sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club.

The two issues we plan to discuss in detail are the restoration of salmon in the Salmon River system by removing four dams on the lower Snake River in Washington and the campaign to relist the gray wolf on the Endangered Species list to stop their unchecked slaughter in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal opportunity provider and employer and operates under a permit from the USDA Forest Service, Sawtooth National Forest.