Camping at Stanley Lake

Stanley Lake is located about 15 minutes west of the town of Stanley, Idaho, at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains and offers both quietude and outdoor adventure for its frequenters. 

About 

While Stanley Lake is still busy during peak seasons, it does not experience the same craze that the beloved Redfish Lake (also near Stanley, ID) does. Unlike Redfish Lake, there are no restaurants, rentals, or general stores at this lake, making it slightly less popular for day users. However, there are still plenty of activities for outdoor enthusiasts.  

Things to Do 

Popular activities include camping, hiking, boating, water skiing, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, OHV trails and more.  

Stanley Lake Trailhead is the starting point of many routes into the Sawtooth Mountain Range, as well as a passageway for the Idaho Centennial Trail. There are an estimated 750 miles of trails within the whole Sawtooth National Recreation Area. 

Painters and photographers are also known to frequent this lake, as the Stanley Lake overlook is a popular location for capturing the lake and the towering McGowan Peak. 

Camping 

The most popular option for camping tends to be Stanley Lake Campground, where you will find “Full” signs even after peak season.  

The campground accepts reservations and will also accept campers on a first-come-first-serve basis. If visiting during peak season, I highly recommend making a reservation if you can.  

This campground has the usual amenities; campfire ring, vault toilet, picnic table, drinking water, trash station, and onsite camp host. There are no hookups available at this campground.  

Visit the website for more information and for reservations.  

On the road into Stanley Lake, you will find a number of turnoffs with dispersed camping available. These are free to the public but lack the amenities of Stanley Lake Campground.  

We opted to do dispersed camping on our visit and found a great spot near Stanley Creek (although we did miss having a picnic table).  

Getting to Stanley Lake 

Stanley Lake is about 10-15 minutes west of Stanley, and a great stop if you are planning on being in the Sawtooth area. From Boise, it will take you about 2.45-3 hours, depending which route you take. Taking Highway 55 to Banks-Lowman Road is the quickest route from Boise and slightly less windy. You could also travel via Highway 21 the entire way, passing through Idaho City, this route is longer and not advised for those who get carsick.  

Cell Coverage for Verizon Users 

You will have cell coverage when passing through Idaho City, Garden Valley and within about 5 minutes of the town of Stanley. There will be no cell coverage at Stanley Lake.  

References  

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233858?tab=info