This iconic mountain range in Idaho is so unique. We went up for my 30th birthday weekend. 2020 was a hard year for everyone and this big milestone was hard to not do something special. Chris, my best friend Hannah and I decided to head up to Ketchum for the weekend and do an epic hike. I'd never been to the Sawtooths and it was the perfect time to get outside and enjoy a little getaway. We were 100% COVID safe and spent all of our time outside and stayed in an AirBnB where we wouldn't impact anyone if we ended up getting sick, which thankfully did not happen.
Okay, now to the fun stuff. Ketchum is an adorable town that you hit before you can continue onto the Sawtooths or head up to Sun Valley Resort. I highly recommend making this your home base while you explore the area. There are tons of fun shops and restaurants to check out. Some of my favorites are Warfield Distillery & Brewery, Ketchum Grill, and Sawtooth Brewery. If you are just looking to get a drink, I love the Cellar Pub and a new place that popped up with an amazing selection of craft beer and wine, TNT Taproom. As for where to stay, there are tons of AirBnB options, we stayed at this lovely condo. It was walking distance to town and still felt like we had a little mountain retreat. I also love the Ketchum Limelight hotel. Ketchum is very much a resort town, so it can get a little pricy when looking at hotels. It all depends on what kind of experience you want, sometimes access to a hot tub and a self serve breakfast is worth it.
The Sawtooth mountain range is about an hour and half from Ketchum. Keep this in mind as you plan what trail you'd like to do. It is a gorgeous drive, but if you are hiking in the summer you may end up hiking in the heat of the day. We opted for fall, obviously because it is my birthday, but also because we can get a little bit later of a start and beat the heat. As an added bonus the fall leaves were starting to turn, and we all know that is the most beautiful site to see! There are tons of trails to chose from, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Again, it is all about what you are looking for. We wanted to have an end destination where we could hang out and soak up the view. Alpine Lake looked like the perfect option to get a taste of the volcanic rock formations that make the Sawtooths so unique but also get to see a beautiful lake. Once you reach Alpine Lake you can stop there, or continue up the trail to Sawtooth Lake if you are still needing a bit more distance. Here is the Alpine Lake Trail information. It is a 7.4 mile out and back trail with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. It's a gradual trail, towards the end it gets a bit rough with the elevation gain, but your legs are warmed up and that is when the views start getting amazing!
The Sawtooths are so unique, I thought I'd get a little nerdy and share why. The highest peak, Thompson Peak reaches 10,751 feet. There are almost 400 lakes filled by alpine glaciers. Another fun fact, Ernest Hemingway is buried in Ketchum because he enjoyed exploring this range so much. The Sawtooths are located between Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams, both volcanoes that helped form the jagged rock spires, that are actually from an eroded ancient shield volcano. One last tip, if you have time for a road trip, you can do a quick pit-stop at Craters of the Moon National Monument. This park is remnants of lava flows, literally in the middle of nowhere. I'd recommend these trails Caves Trail and Devil's Orchard. Both are quick and easy. The Caves Trail is all about timing, it can be closed to bat activity quite frequently. We weren't able to check it out while we were there, but this is the spot to see if you can.
What You Want to Know
Take Me There!
Here are the directions from Ketchum. It is about an hour and a half from Ketchum. You will go up a dirt road to get to the trailhead parking lot. The road was in good condition, but I am sure depending on the time of year it can get rough if it is wet.
How long is the hike?
7.4 mile out and back, with 1,240 feet elevation gain.
What do I wear?
Hiking in the fall temperatures can vary quickly. I was able to enjoy the hike in shorts and a tank top, but also had a light jacket. When we weren't moving or hiking down it definitely got colder.
Are dogs allowed?
Dogs are allowed, but must be on a leash.
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