Stanley is the most magical place on earth in my humble Idahoan opinion! I’ve been hiking and exploring around Stanley for years now, and made a list of the best 10 things to do in Stanley. You can experience the wonder of the Sawtooth Mountains too! This list will include easy stops, businesses to support and also some hikes.
Please respect the locals and leave no trace when you visit. This tiny mountain village must be cared for and protected, and that begins with you!
Before you continue reading, repeat after me, “I will not leave trash or belongings behind. I will make sure my campfire is DEAD OUT before I leave.” Okay, now that you’ve taken the oath…let’s continue!
10 Places in Stanley Idaho you MUST SEE
- Stanley Lake
- Sawtooth Valley Pioneer Park
- Stanley Baking Co
- Redfish Lake
- Idaho Hot Springs
- THE SAWTOOTHS
- The Salmon River
- Petite Lake
- Valley Creek
- Scenic Byway Cruise: Ponderosa Pine or Salmon River Scenic Byway
Stanley Lake
Stanley Lake is an alpine lake west of Stanley, Idaho. The views are iconic and will instantly showcase the stunning magic of Stanely! It is a quiet lake during off season, but can be busy in the summer time. Looking at McGowen Peak, I love photographing this lake. The road is paved and nice. There are rest rooms and garbage cans.
Airbnb in Stanley to stay with VIEWS! (affiliate link)
Sawtooth Valley Pioneer Park
Located right in Stanley, the easiest way to get a beautiful view of the Sawtooths is to go up to Sawtooth Valley Pioneer Park. I love to take my dogs up here to walk. There is a hiking trail that goes all the way to Redfish Lake from here. The drive from this park is about 2 minutes from downtown Stanley. People get married up here and there is a little chapel.
Pet Friendly Hotel Room in Stanley
Stanley Baking Co & SOUVENIR Shop in Stanley
Speaking of downtown Stanley…every time I visit during open season I go and buy my breakfast or lunch from Stanley Baking Co! They can be very busy if you’re ordering food. You can beat the regular line f you want coffee or a select food menu you can order at the outside. In my opinion the food is worth the wait. Nothing is better than getting down from a backpacking trip in the Sawtooths and driving to Stanely Baking Co for a refuel. They have lots of vegetarian options, some gluten free. There are other little coffee trucks in town, plus a couple other restaurants for dinner too. Support these local businesses to keep Stanley thriving!
An amazing tourist ship is Riverwear. You can get gear, t-shirts, and other Stanley and Sawtooth Mountain souvenirs. Next door is a Coffee Truck called Peaks and Perks.
Here is all my Hiking Gear, Snacks, Clothing if you need any new gear for your Idaho Trip.
Redfish Lake
Redfish is the most iconic lake in Stanley! If you’re visiting Stanely, odds are you’ve heard of this lake and have it on your list. Because of this, it is the busiest lake in all of Stanley. Park in the day use area to walk around the lake. Take a shuttle across the lake ($20-30.) This will give you access to hikes like Lily Ponds (short hike,) Bench Lakes (longer hike,) and other awesome trails. You can take the shuttle just one way if you want to hike along the lake on the way back! Dogs ARE allowed on the boat shuttle. There is also a dog beach at Redfish where you can let them run and swim. Dogs are not supposed to be on the main beach.
Idaho Hot Springs
There are so many incredible hot springs in and around Stanley. One well known that cost money to enter via a hotel is Mountain Village. It has a beautiful view of the Sawtooth Mountains. Mountain Village Hot Springs is considered an iconic Idaho hot spring!
There are a ton of hot springs along highway 75 otherwise known as the Salmon River Scenic Byway. Just north of Stanley are Boat Box (no box anymore sadly,) Cove Creek, and Sunbeam Hot Springs. You can drive on highway 21, otherwise known as the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway. Drive 45ish minutes west of Stanley to find Bonneville Hot Springs, 1 hour to Kirkham Hot Springs, and more.
The Sawtooths
There are SO many incredible back-country hikes in the Sawtooth Mountains. They are all difficult and requires endurance, preparation, and determination. Please do research before backpacking and hiking them! Use downloadable trails for these hikes as some are not marked well. Some of my favorites are Alpine Lake, Sawtooth Lake, Goat Lake, Bench Lakes, Hell Roaring Lake, Alice Lakes, Lake 9000 and so many more! These lakes are pristine and bright blue with stunning views of the Sawtooth’s pointiest peaks. Respect nature up here and make sure you pack everything out. Do not start fires in the back-country.
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The Salmon River
Idaho is famous for the Salmon River that is clear and rugged. It runs through Stanley, and the town acts as a basecamp for white water rafting adventures. I had the privilege to white water raft with Adventure Sun Valley down the Middle Fork, and flew in from Stanley! You can also camp along the Salmon River in Stanley at designated campgrounds and also dispersed camping. I absolutely love finding spots to camp at and spending time with friends here. I always see fisherman along the shore, and even horseback riders heading off to trails!
Petite Lake
Petite Lake is a quieter lake south of Stanley. It is lovely to enjoy a day with friends on the beach, paddle boarding, and hammocking. This lake has parking close to the sore and has a restroom. It can get busy so be respectful and kind to others! The parking lot can fill up on really busy days, but there is a decent amount of space. The photo above was taken at sunset, and it was absolutely incredible! Alturas Lake is south of Petite. Alturas also provides quiet and peaceful views during most seasons, but can get busy during the summer.
My hiking essentials can be found here! Hiking Gear, Snacks, Clothing
Valley Creek
Valley Creek is a cute little river with some trails that has really gorgeous views of the Sawtooths. One lookout is located across from Stanley BaseCamp where I highly recommend staying! They have a lodge and two A-Frame cabins as well as camping space. I loved staying here! Note that this particular trail is very muddy in the spring time, and more dry in the fall.
Ponderosa Pine or Salmon River Scenic Byway Cruise
Heading north or west of Stanley you have two options: the Ponderosa Pine or Salmon River Scenic Byway. Both will give you incredibly stunning views of the forest and mountains! Like I said earlier; there are tons of hot springs to stop at along the side of both byways. There is also plenty of camping, hiking trails and little cute Idaho villages and towns. The highways can close from fires some years, or in the winter time depending on the season.
When to Visit Stanley?
You can visit Stanley year round, but in the winter time the town is very shut down. Many businesses and accommodations are open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. I love to visit all seasons, but summer and fall is the best time to access the mountains! Spring time is usually still colder weather in Stanley. I usually don’t start to camp in Stanley until about end of June. I then usually start to backpack in mid July, and love it the most in August and September. Read reviews online and do research before you hit the trails to be safe! It can vary each year with snow conditions.
Where to Stay in Stanley?
There are some hotels, Airbnbs, and a LOT of camping. I usually camp or backpack in Stanley, but sometimes I’ll stay in a cute place to enjoy the amenities. My favorite little spot has been the aframes at Stanely BaseCamp (not sponsored but we did do a gifted partnership!) Mountain Village is also a lovely hotel to stay, and has one of the most beautiful hot springs! Camping wise I recommend downloading TheDyrt or another similar dispersed campground app to see where you can camp for free. If you want to book a spot at a lake like Redfish, be ready to book a year in advance as they do sell out!
Thank you so much for reading! Stanley is my favorite place in Idaho, and just one more reminder: LEAVE NO TRACE!!!!!!
Also, I sell my photography prints! It would mean the entire world if you considered supporting my small business! One of these Stanley, Idaho Photographs could hang in your living room! https://earthtosarah.darkroom.com
Affordable Airbnb in Stanley (affiliate link)
Earth to Sarah 