Things To Do
Redfish Lake Lodge
Redfish Lake Lodge is a great place to spend an afternoon! It sits right on the shore of Redfish Lake that offers plenty of lake activities with hiking trails nearby. At the marina, you can rent pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks and paddle boards. Also, there are multiple beaches where you can just sit back and relax. The lodge has a full service restaurant, an outdoor bar and grill, and a food/cocktail truck. The lodge is only 7 miles from town.
Mountain Village Resort
Option to reserve hot springs. Reserve in advance! They also have a restaurant with Gluten Free options.
Stanley Baking Company & Cafe
Stanley Baking Co. opened in 2000, and has been a favorite gathering place for tourists and locals alike ever since. From mid-May through October, the little log cabin with a kitchen produces the finest homemade meals and baked goods around. Frequently, the line to order stretches outside the door. They have solid Gluten Free options.
Sawtooth Hotel Restaurant
The dining room of the Sawtooth Hotel is a special place to enjoy a meal. The food is all homemade and prepared using fresh, local, ingredients.
Kasino Club
Iconic restaurant, bar, and music venue.
Papa Brunee's Pizza and Subs
This local favorite offers a mouthwatering selection of pizzas, calzones, salads, wings,
Sawtooth Luce's Restaurant
Sawtooth Luce’s serves up an eclectic mix of American favourites with a gourmet twist.
The Rod and Gun
Established in 1931, The Rod and Gun is Stanley's oldest bar and has been a favorite of locals, river and backcountry guides, and folks of all stripes ever since. The owners moved from Nashville.
Salmon River Fly Fishing and Stanley Fly Shop
Fly fishing is incredibly popular, and many guides have boats specially made to take you fly-fishing on the Salmon River. Most of Stanley is public land, so you can also find a spot along the road and fish for hours!
Mountain Village Resort Hot Springs
Man-made pool that is large enough to seat eight people. It sits within a small log building that is situated on the banks of Valley Creek. It has amazing views of the creek and the Sawtooth Mountains. Call for a reservation or the link below. If you are staying at Mountain Village Lodge, you may visit this hot spring for free.
Boat Box Hot Springs
A riverside hot tub and pools below the highway but these stay busy with limited seating in the tub. Boat Box is 3.4 miles on highway 75 north of Stanley. It's a very unassuming pullout on the side of the road. Caution - Can get very hot! Buckets provided to add river water to cool down the tub.
Sunbeam Hot Springs
Hot spring pools created at the edge of the Salmon River, where 170-degree water mixes with the cool river water for a delightful, soothing dip. Restrooms and dressing rooms on site. 12 miles N of Stanley on the river side of Hwy. 75 (15 minutes). Between mileposts 201 and 202.
Fishhook Creek Hike (Easy)
4.6 miles roundtrip, 288 ft elevation gain. Located next to the parking lot of Redfish Lake Lodge, you follow the rushing creek for a 4 mile round trip. There's minimal elevation gain, so this would be great hike for beginners or if you aren't used to the elevation! Beautiful, picturesque meadow at the end.
Titus Lake Hike (Easy)
3.7 miles roundtrip, 670 ft elevation gain. Pretty hike through the forest, ending at an emerald lake.
Alpine Creek Trail (Easy)
Before miners and sheep ranchers arrived in the 1860s, Native American tribes like the Shoshone-Bannock used these forests for hunting and gathering. It is a fantastic trail to learn about Idaho's wild past while enjoying a calm, scenic walk through the woods. Please do not confuse this with Alpine Lake via Iron Creek Trail. Alpine Lake via Iron Creek Trail is a much harder hike.
Alpine Lake via Iron Creek (Moderate)
7.7 miles roundtrip, 1,000 ft elevation gain. This epic trail leads hikers out from Iron Creek Campground to Alpine Lake. It's a steady and sometimes tough climb through the forest to reach the lake, but it's well worth it once you get there. Alpine Lake is a stopping point to get to Sawtooth Lake.
Sawtooth Lake via Iron Creek (Moderate)
9.7 miles roundtrip, 1,700 ft elevation gain. Sawtooth Lake is one of the best day hikes in the Sawtooth Mountains. This hike is 10 miles round trip starting at the Iron Creek Trailhead and you’ll gain an elevation of 1,700 feet. Stop at Alpine Lake for amazing lake views.
Lily Pond and Redfish Lake Creek Falls (Moderate)
Take the boat shuttle at Redfish Lake lodge. Leaves on demand with 4 or more people. Moderate hike with waterfalls and a lily pond. After lily pond, continue 5 minutes up a more challenging section to the waterfall. Use caution. Shuttle costs $28 per person roundtrip. Shuttle departs on demand with 4 or more people. Shuttle picks up hikers at scheduled times: 10:00 AM, 1:00PM, 3:30 PM. The shuttle occasionally comes by to drop off hikers, but these times are unpredictable.
Stanley Lake to Bridalveil Falls (Hard)
8.3 miles, 810 ft elevation gain. If you’re looking to see some of the gorgeous waterfalls the area offers. This easy hike is a 8 mile round trip, and each step will grant you even more magnificent views.
Lake 9000 (Hard)
This route goes to the top of the highest peak in the Sawtooths. Class 3 scrambling through talus and loose scree is required on this hike. Many sections are exposed to steep drop-offs. Narrow, challenging trail.
Stanley Salmon Festival (Aug. 27-30)
A free community celebration of the 900-mile journey of Idaho’s salmon from the ocean to Redfish Lake in Stanley, Idaho. It features live music & bands, salmon tours, tribal dancers, speakers, kid's activities, crafts & activities, local artists, and more!
