Sawtooth Wilderness, and Sawtooth National Recreation Area:

Click here for my complete photo show from Sawtooth Wilderness and National Recreation Area (114 images, requires Adobe Flash in your browser).
Below I display some highlights from this Sawtooths presentation:

The mountains of Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho, are comprised of the attractive pink granite of the 50 million year old Sawtooth batholith. Both the Sawtooth Wilderness Area and the larger surrounding Sawtooth National Recreation offer spectacular day hiking and overnight backpacking in world class scenery.

Above: The sharply slanted peak of El Capitan reflects in a pond downstream of Alice Lake, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho. (Panorama stitched from 6 images.)

Above: A ranch gate frames the Sawtooth Mountains, near Stanley, Idaho, in Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

We backpack with children (two of my nephews), in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho. We highly recommend good sun hats like these.

El Capitan, Alice Lake & Twin Lakes, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area:

Above: The sharp peak of El Capitan reflects in a pond downstream of Alice Lake, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho. (Panorama stitched from 3 images.)

Above: El Capitan and trees reflect in Alice Lake, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: El Capitan reflects abstractly in shimmering Alice Lake, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: El Capitan is a striking granite monolith, a protrusion eroded from the 50 million year old Sawtooth batholith (an igneous intrusion), in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: El Capitan reflects in a grassy pond downstream of Alice Lake, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: Carol hikes along the shore of beautiful Alice Lake, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: Carol takes a picture of beautiful Alice Lake, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: Sunrise on the Sawtooth Mountains, at Alice Lake, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Twin Lakes (located upstream of Alice Lake), in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: Old twisted tree wood near timberline, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: El Capitan and a twisted root ball reflect in a pond downstream of Alice Lake, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: El Capitan reflects in a pond downstream of Alice Lake, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho. (Panorama stitched from 2 images.)

Pettit Lake, in Sawtooth National Recreation Area:

Pettit Lake is the trailhead for Alice Lake and Toxaway Lake, which can be hiked as an 18-mile loop. Alice Lake makes a great backpacking or day hiking destination.

At sunrise, peaks in Sawtooth Wilderness Area reflect in Pettit Lake, which is in Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

At sunrise, pink clouds and peaks reflect in Pettit Lake, in Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

Redfish Lake, in Sawtooth National Recreation Area:

A golden mantled ground squirrel inquires for handouts, in Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho. Please lets keep wild animals wild by not feeding them.

Above: Granite cliffs and peaks seen along Redfish Lake Creek, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: Granite peak seen along Redfish Lake Creek, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Baron Lakes, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area:

From the inlet to Redfish Lake (a boat ride saves you many miles), hike to Alpine Lake and up to a pass for this great view of Baron Lakes:

Above: Old twisted trees serve as counterpoint to the jagged peaks above Baron Lakes, Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: Carol and Tom pose for a self portrait at Baron Lakes, Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Trees reflect in a pond, in Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho.

Above: Mushrooms in Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho.

Little Redfish Lake, in Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho:

Little Redfish Lake offers nice lakeside campgrounds in view of spectacular reflections of the Sawtooth Mountain range, in Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho.

Above: A red inflatable canoe awaits paddlers on the shore of Little Redfish Lake, which reflects the mountains of Sawtooth Wilderness Area, Idaho. These muntains are comprised of the pink granite of the 50 million year old Sawtooth batholith.

Salmon River, Sunbeam Dam:

Above: The Sunbeam Dam, on the Salmon River, Idaho, was built in 1910 to make electricity for the Sunbeam Mine, which was abandoned in 1911 after bankruptcy. The cliff was breached in 1934 to allow salmon and steelhead to migrate to their spawning beds. The Salmon River is now a popular wilderness rafting destination.

Custer Historic Site, "Land of the Yankee Fork" State Park:

Formerly a gold mining town from 1879-1910, Custer Historic Site is now a ghost town, near Stanley, Idaho (adjacent to Sawtooth National Recreation Area). The city of Custer was named after General George Armstrong Custer, who was killed in battle in 1876. Custer is now part of the "Land of the Yankee Fork" State Park and Challis National Forest Historic Area.

Above: This renovated 1900 schoolhouse now holds the Custer Museum. Nearby is an old wagon.

Above: Ore stamping mill, at Custer Historic Site, a ghost town, near Stanley, Idaho. "Land of the Yankee Fork" State Park and Challis National Forest Historic Area.

Above: Old fire wagon at Custer Historic Site, a ghost town in "Land of the Yankee Fork" State Park.

Left: Old Singer sewing machine at Custer Historic Site in "Land of the Yankee Fork" State Park.

Below right: Gears to hand crank an early washing machine at Custer Historic Site.

Old egg beater and mallet in a bowl at Custer Historic Site in "Land of the Yankee Fork" State Park.

Above: Old wood burning stove.

Above: Plunge bath tub and old chair.

Above: Old lanterns are displayed in the Custer Museum, at Custer Historic Site, a fascinating ghost town, near Stanley, Idaho.

Yankee Fork Gold Dredge, "Land of the Yankee Fork" State Park:

Above: Yankee Fork Gold Dredge operated from 1940-1952. This floating gold dredge chewed a wide swath leaving tailings along 5.5 miles of the Yankee Fork, a tributary of the Salmon River, near Stanley, Idaho.