Redfish Lake
4.8(292)google
4.2(131)yelp
LakeMountainCampingHiking
Overview
Redfish Lake is an alpine lake in Custer County, Idaho, just south of Stanley. It is the largest lake within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The U.S. Forest Service has developed some facilities for hiking, camping, and water sports on Redfish Lake while largely maintaining the natural landscape of the Sawtooth Mountains.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration4-8 hours
Best TimeThe high summer months from July to early September are prime for alpine boating. The single most legendary photographic window is sunrise from 5:45 AM to 7:30 AM. As the first rays clear the eastern rim, they perfectly strike the sheer, jagged granite spires of the Sawtooth Range across the water, turning the peaks a blazing, glowing crimson reflection.
Getting ThereTucked inside the Sawtooth National Recreation Area just south of Stanley; a car is mandatory. From Highway 75, turn right onto Redfish Lake Road and follow it through the pines for 2 miles until it terminates at the historic Redfish Lake Lodge marina. Several large paved free day-use parking fields line the shore, though they fill rapidly by 9:00 AM.
Travel Tips
- The premier lakeside lodge lot fills entirely by 09:00 daily in summer; late arrivals face non-negotiable diversion to secondary gravel lots 1 mile out.
- The wilderness canyon ferry operates on raw first-come queueing; the final return launch departs at 17:00 sharp, with zero late-night emergency sweeps.
- Sitting near 7000 feet, water temperatures are freezing; the inlets are critical sockeye salmon spawning streams where use of any chemical detergents is a felony.
Reviews
Positive
- The crystal blue lake perfectly mirrors the snow-dusted Sawtooth Range, delivering a world-class, breathtaking visual asset.
- Features premium historic log cabin lodge services; renting a boat or walking the sandy beach offers unmatched wilderness fun.
- Campgrounds are highly modern, featuring spotlessly clean restrooms, hot showers, and carefully designed accessible wooden ramps.
- No park entry fee required; the public sand strips are free for all, flanked by clearly marked back-country trail markers.
Heads up
- Peak summer cabin and camp rates spike sharply and sell out half a year in advance, presenting a high budget barrier.
- Serving as a viral local getaway means summer weekends swamp the beaches with trailered boats, disrupting the quiet.
- Fed strictly by alpine glacier snowmelt means water remains bone-chillingly cold in August, restricting swim times for kids.
- The lone onsite resort restaurant experiences long peak-hour queues, carrying high pricing with severe remote premiums.