Sawtooth National Forest
Sawtooth National Forest spans central Idaho from Sun Valley and Ketchum to Twin Falls, offering rugged peaks, alpine lakes, and multi-use trails. The adjoining Sawtooth Wilderness offers remote hiking and passport lakes, while lower valley corridors support conservation lands, campgrounds, and recreation towns.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Intermountain West |
| Subregion | Northern Rockies |
| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Blaine County and adjacent counties |
| District | Sawtooth National Recreation Area |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 43.9166 |
| Longitude | -114.3643 |
| Maps |
7:15 PM LOCAL TIMESawtooth National Forest, part of the larger Northern Rockies ecosystem, covers approximately 4,430 square kilometers across central Idaho. The landscape is characterized by high granite peaks, including the iconic Sawtooth Range with elevations surpassing 3,600 meters; crystal alpine lakes, such as Redfish Lake and Alturas Lake; and floodplain valleys carved by snowmelt and tributary rivers. The forest surrounds popular resort towns like Sun Valley and Ketchum, which provide access to trailheads, lodging, and cultural amenities. Beyond the ski season, the area is a hub for hiking, backcountry camping, rafting on the Salmon River, and winter cross-country skiing. Within the protected Sawtooth Wilderness, restricts on mechanized access preserve primitive travel along ridgelines and deep glacial valleys. The forest’s multi-use designation supports a mix of timber harvesting, grazing, recreation, and conservation, with extensive trail networks connecting permits and trailheads across a patchwork of public and private lands.
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