Iron Creek-Stanley Lake Trail

Iron Creek-Stanley Lake Trail (#640) is a long out-and-back route in the Sawtooth Wilderness near Stanley, Idaho, commonly hiked as the way to Sawtooth Lake, with Alpine Lake as an early highlight.

The route starts at Iron Creek Trailhead (roughly 5.5 miles west of Stanley via Forest Road #619). It’s a wilderness access point where you pick up free, self-issued wilderness permits at the trailhead.

Early miles follow Iron Creek through dense timber at a more relaxed grade, before the climb steepens into switchbacks. As you gain elevation, the landscape opens and the route begins feeding views down toward Alpine Lake.

After the mid-trail junction with Alpine Way Trail, the climb continues through a basin with zigzags and longer switchback stretches. This section is where hikers usually feel the push: the terrain becomes rockier and more exposed.

Alpine Lake arrives after a sustained ascent; from there the trail continues toward Sawtooth Lake via additional switchbacks and a final push to the lake outlet and the shoreline area.

Sawtooth Lake is the turnaround point for most out-and-back trips. The trail stays connected with Alpine Way Trail and also links into broader trail networks beyond the lake area.

More information: Sawtooth Lake via Iron Creek-Stanley Lake Trail, Sawtooth Lake via Iron Creek-Stanley Lake Trail | Custer County