#yankeeforkgolddredge

[stacylaughs]

August 21-26, 2018

It is possible to fly into Stanley, Idaho, but I actually recommend flying into Sun Valley, Idaho with your camping gear. It’ll be easier to rent a car ($201.62 for 5 days) there and go grocery shopping. Please make sure you have collision auto insurance (either your personal or through a credit card provider) because hitting deer are a real concern. 

I had a blast staying in the Sawdust National Forest for free and seeing the beautiful sights. I loved that I didn’t have any phone signal at my campsite and that there was fast internet at the local library each day. 

More on my favorite things here:

Peaks and Perks is a coffee hut with the nicest people to get coffee or a bagel from in the morning, but please keep in mind that it is cash only so plan accordingly.

Stanley Baking Company has the best breakfast in town and always had a wait until it closes at 2pm.

Sawtooth Hotel may have the best dinner in town.

Redfish Lake Lodge is near a small lake that you can rent kayaks at and families seem to really enjoy.

The nearby Redfish Trailhead is a beautiful hike with the mountains on one side of the trail and the lake on the other.

Stanley Lake seems to be the warmest of the lakes nearby. Great place to swim and camp. Very accessible and easy to get to.

The Iron Creek Trail is about 10 miles round trip to hike to Alpine and then Sawtooth Lake, but so worth it, and I’d consider backpacking in.

Smiley Creek Lodge is a bit further out, but has some very lovely wood carvings outside and fantastic tuna melts inside.

Yankee Fork Gold Dredge and the nearby ghost town, Custer, are worth a visit. It’s interesting to learn about the history in the area.