Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains
Stanley, ID
A tiny mountain town at the foot of the jagged Sawtooth Range, where the Salmon River flows past the main street. Drive the highway in from Galena Summit for the views and plan a walk at a nearby trailhead.
Stanley sits at about 6,300 feet (1,900 m) in the Sawtooth Valley and had just 116 residents in 2020. Captain John Stanley prospected here for gold without success in 1863-64; the settlement was not surveyed and recorded as a town until 1919. The valley is about 30 miles (48 km) long, and its main road is Idaho State Highway 75, the Sawtooth Scenic Byway. The headwaters of the Salmon River lie here, and the area is part of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, which promises a very dark night sky in clear weather.
Coming from the south, you reach Stanley over Galena Summit at about 8,700 feet (2,650 m). A little over 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the pass, Galena Overlook offers a view of the valley and the Sawtooth Range; it is worth a stop. Several lakes lie in the valley, including Redfish Lake. Winters are very cold, and summer is the easiest time to visit.
- Nearest town
- Stanley, ID
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 44.2210, -114.9363
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Sunny Gulch CampgroundCampsite3 mi from Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains · 45 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterToiletsDogs allowed
- Stanley RV + CampMotorhome stopover4 mi from Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains · 35 pitchesCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Glacier View CampgroundCampsite5 mi from Stanley and the Sawtooth MountainsTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterToiletsDogs allowed
- Sheep Trail CampgroundCampsite8 mi from Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains · 4 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterToiletsDogs allowed
- Trap Creek CampgroundCampsite10 mi from Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains · 3 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterToiletsDogs allowed
- The Sawmill StationMotorhome stopover23 mi from Stanley and the Sawtooth MountainsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in Idaho · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains?
Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains is in Stanley, ID, at GPS 44.2210, -114.9363. It is about 16 mi from Redfish Lake.
Can you camp near Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Mountain Village Resort, about 0 mi away; within 25 mi there are 49 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains?
Places worth a stop nearby: Redfish Lake (5 mi), Payette Lake (74 mi), Old Idaho Penitentiary (75 mi) and Craters of the Moon (90 mi).
When is the best time to visit Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)