Idaho is one of the most underrated hiking states in the country. In a single trip you can stand beside a granite-walled alpine lake, walk under the jagged Sawtooth skyline, and end the day in a natural hot spring. The trick is planning around season, road access, and how much driving you’re willing to do, since the best of it sits in central and southeast Idaho with a lot of empty highway in between.
This guide focuses on the high-payoff lake hikes in the Sawtooth Wilderness (and one famously short walk in the southeast) plus a hot spring hike to send you home happy. Stanley is the natural base camp for the Sawtooths, and southeast Idaho’s hot spring corridor sits a different drive away. Plan one region per trip and you’ll save yourself a full day on the road.
Quick picks if you’re short on time
- Sawtooth Lake from Iron Creek is the classic first-time Sawtooth hike, about 10 miles round-trip
- Alice Lake is the longer, quieter alternative, around 12 miles round-trip
- Bloomington Lake is a 1-mile walk to a turquoise cirque lake in southeast Idaho, ideal when time is tight
- Goldbug Hot Springs is a 4-mile round-trip hike that ends in natural pools
- A solid first Idaho weekend is one lake hike, one peak-view day, and one soak — not all three crammed into one trip
Why Idaho works so well for this kind of trip
Idaho’s best hiking days fall into two moods. The first is the high-country mood, granite peaks, clear alpine lakes, and the kind of mountain skyline that does most of the talking. That’s the Sawtooth Mountains, plus the nearby White Cloud Mountains for similar terrain with a little more solitude. Both sit within the Sawtooth National Forest and the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, with Stanley as the main gateway town.
The second mood is a little warmer and a little looser. Southeast Idaho gives you trails that pair well with natural hot springs, which is the easiest way to turn a hard hike into a full recovery day.
What makes Idaho different is the variety. You don’t have to pick between water, peaks, and a soak. You can build a trip that hits all three, as long as you’re realistic about driving time and the short July-through-September window when the high lakes are reliably snow-free.
The best lake hikes in Idaho
These are the most recommended lake hikes in the Sawtooth area, sorted from “headline” to “shorter day.” Distances vary a bit between sources, so plan for the longer end and you’ll be fine.
| Hike | RT distance | Elevation gain | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawtooth Lake | ~10 mi | ~1,800 ft | Challenging | Classic Sawtooth scenery, first time in the range |
| Alice Lake | ~12 mi | ~1,800 ft | Moderate to strenuous | A longer, quieter alpine day |
| Goat Lake | ~8 to 9 mi | ~1,800 ft | Difficult (steep scree final stretch) | A wilder, less-polished feel |
| Pettit Lake area | ~1 to 3 mi (lakeside) | Minimal | Easy | Roadside lake with quick walking |
| Bloomington Lake (SE Idaho) | ~1 mi | Minimal | Easy | Turquoise water with no real climb |
Sawtooth Lake (from Iron Creek Trailhead)
Sawtooth Lake is the most-photographed lake in the range and the one most first-timers head for. The standard route from the Iron Creek Trailhead is around 9.6 to 10 miles round-trip with about 1,800 feet of elevation gain. The payoff is a long alpine lake sitting directly below Mount Regan, with the sharp Sawtooth peaks framing the far shore.
It’s a real hike, not a casual stroll. Start early to get a parking spot at Iron Creek (the lot fills on summer weekends), bring layers because afternoon storms move in fast above tree line, and expect company on the trail. If you only have one day in the Sawtooths, this is the most reliable choice.
Alice Lake
Alice Lake is the longer, quieter alternative to Sawtooth Lake. The out-and-back from the Tin Cup Hiker Trailhead at Pettit Lake runs about 12 miles round-trip with similar elevation gain to Sawtooth Lake (~1,800 ft). The full Alice-Toxaway Loop is closer to 19 miles with over 3,000 feet of gain, popular as a one- or two-night backpacking trip.
For a day hike, the out-and-back to Alice Lake gives you a long alpine basin and far fewer people than Sawtooth Lake on a midsummer weekend. For an overnight, the loop is one of the iconic Sawtooth backpacking routes.
Goat Lake
Goat Lake also starts at Iron Creek, the same trailhead as Sawtooth Lake. It’s around 8 to 9 miles round-trip with about 1,800 feet of gain, and the last half-mile turns into a steep scree scramble that earns the “difficult” rating most sources give it.
The scenery is classic high-country Idaho, with enough rough terrain at the end to feel earned. Bring layers, watch the weather, and don’t assume the mountain stays friendly all afternoon. If Sawtooth Lake feels too crowded on a busy weekend, Goat Lake is the rougher, quieter cousin from the same parking lot.
Pettit Lake
Pettit Lake (note the spelling: two T’s, not “Petite”) is the staging area for Alice Lake and the Toxaway Loop, but it’s also worth a visit on its own. The lake itself is roadside, and the lakeside trail circling it is about a mile of easy walking with minimal elevation change.
Pettit is the right choice on a recovery day, with kids, or as the warm-up to a longer hike the next morning. It’s not the headline-grabbing destination, but the views across the lake to the Sawtooth peaks hold up.
Bloomington Lake (Bear Lake County, SE Idaho)
Bloomington Lake belongs in the “barely a hike” category, and that’s the appeal. It’s roughly a 1-mile round-trip walk (around 0.5 to 1.4 miles depending on parking) to a small, turquoise cirque lake under cliff walls. It’s in southeast Idaho’s Bear River Range near Bloomington, not in the Sawtooth area.
A few practical notes: the access road is rough, and most sources recommend a high-clearance vehicle. There’s a $5 per-vehicle fee. And because it’s so easy and so photogenic, it’s busy on summer weekends. Go on a weekday morning if you can, and don’t expect solitude on a July Saturday.
The best Idaho hot springs hike
If you’re going to add a hot springs hike, Goldbug Hot Springs is the headline. The trailhead is about 23 miles south of Salmon on Highway 93, just past Elk Bend, and the round-trip hike is about 3.7 to 4 miles with around 1,000 to 1,350 feet of elevation gain. It’s managed by the BLM Salmon Field Office and is free, with no permit required.
A few things to know before you go. The first quarter-mile crosses private property on a marked easement, so stay on the trail and don’t wander. Dogs must be leashed. There’s no bathroom at the springs themselves. And the pools are clothing-optional in practice, which is part of the regional culture but worth knowing if you’re going with kids or a more conservative group.
For other options, the AllTrails Idaho hot springs page compares routes like Stanley Hot Springs and others. Goldbug is the most-recommended for first-timers because the hike is real, the pools are well-built, and the drive is straightforward off Highway 93.
Pack sandals or water shoes for the rocks, a towel, and a dry bag for wet gear. Respect the area, pack out everything you brought in, and don’t treat a natural pool like a private spa.
Planning the trip without burning a day in the car
The two practical questions for an Idaho hiking trip are season and region. Get those right and the rest is easy.
Season
For the high Sawtooth lakes, the reliable window is mid-July through early September. June can still hold snow above 8,000 feet, and October has stunning light but short days and cold nights. Bloomington Lake and Goldbug Hot Springs sit lower and have longer seasons, but the road to Bloomington is best in summer when it’s dry.
Region
Stanley is the base camp for the Sawtooths. It’s small (population well under 200), so book lodging or campgrounds early. Redfish Lake, about 5 miles south of Stanley, is the closest large body of water and another popular base. Southeast Idaho’s hot springs corridor is a separate region, roughly 4 to 6 hours from Stanley depending on the route. Don’t try to combine both areas in a long weekend; pick one and explore it deeply.
State parks worth adding
If you want a different flavor for a layover day:
- Harriman State Park (eastern Idaho) sits in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem along Henry’s Fork, with meadows, rivers, and wildlife including moose and trumpeter swans
- Ponderosa State Park in McCall is on a peninsula in Payette Lake, with easy lakeside trails through old-growth ponderosa pines
- Bruneau Dunes State Park in southwest Idaho is high-desert dunes, including the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America at about 470 feet
- Craters of the Moon National Monument (south-central Idaho) is a lava field with cinder cones, lava tubes, and trails that feel like another planet
Gear
Water, sun protection, a light shell for afternoon storms above tree line, snacks, an offline map, and supportive shoes are the basics. For Goldbug or another hot springs hike, add sandals and a dry bag.
If you want a bigger Idaho hiking list, the Idaho Parks and Recreation site has current trail status and state park information. Cross-reference recent trip reports before you drive out, since road and trail conditions in the Sawtooths can change week to week in shoulder seasons.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best hike in Idaho for first-time visitors?
For most first-timers, Sawtooth Lake from Iron Creek is the answer. It’s the classic Sawtooth scenery in one 10-mile round-trip day. If that’s too much, Bloomington Lake in southeast Idaho gives you turquoise alpine water with under a mile of walking.
What time of year is best for Idaho lake hikes?
Mid-July through early September for the high Sawtooth lakes (Sawtooth, Alice, Goat). Earlier than that, snow lingers above 8,000 feet. Lower-elevation hikes like Bloomington Lake and Goldbug Hot Springs have longer windows but are still best in summer for road and trail conditions.
Are Idaho hot springs hikes beginner-friendly?
Some are. Goldbug Hot Springs is a 4-mile round-trip hike with about 1,000 to 1,350 feet of elevation gain, which most active hikers can handle but isn’t a casual walk. The road to the trailhead is paved and easy. Other hot springs require longer hikes or rougher roads, so check distance and access before you commit.
Can I do lakes, peaks, and hot springs on one trip?
Realistically, no, not in a long weekend. The Sawtooths and southeast Idaho’s hot springs are 4 to 6 hours apart by car. Pick one region per trip, or plan a longer week if you want both. A clean Sawtooth weekend is one big lake hike (Sawtooth or Alice) plus one shorter day (Pettit Lake or a Stanley-area trail), with Redfish Lake or Stanley as the base.
Is “Petite Lake” or “Pettit Lake” the right spelling?
It’s Pettit Lake, with two T’s. Plenty of trip reports and even some commercial sites misspell it, but the USGS, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Sawtooth National Recreation Area all use Pettit.
