2 days of a ski town, a mountain valley and a black lava field

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   Morning

   Sawtooth National Recreation Area

   A national recreation area of mountains, lakes and wilderness, set up in 1972 and run by the Forest Service as part of Sawtooth National Forest. Its headquarters stand on Highway 75 north of Ketchum, a good place to ask about road, trail and bear news before you climb.

   Go when Morning, before you climb the byway.

   Local tip Stop at the headquarters to ask about the road, fires, smoke and bears. Rangers know which trails and side roads are open this week, so use them before you set off.

   

   About 1 h by car34.2 mi
2. 2
   Morning

   Redfish Lake

   An alpine lake just south of Stanley, the largest lake in the recreation area, named for the red sockeye salmon that once filled it at spawning time. The shore is open for walking and boating. If a sockeye is caught it is released, so check the fishing rules.

   Go when Morning, before the wind rises on the water.

   Local tip Walk the shore and look at the peaks across the lake. The water is cold and can turn rough, so keep boats close to shore. Store food away from bears and check ahead on the fishing rules.

   

3. Lunch

   A baked potato and a bowl of soup

   A baked potato with butter and a bowl of hot soup, a plain lunch in a small mountain town.

   Local tip Eat when you can, since services in the valley are few.

   About 1 h 9 min by car41.0 mi
4. 3
   Midday

   Sun Valley

   A resort town and ski resort beside Ketchum, in the same valley. The region came to public attention in the late 1930s, when Ernest Hemingway visited. In summer it is a town for walking, cycling and eating outdoors.

   Go when Midday, as an easy stop between the town and the mountain.

   Local tip The resort is a town to wander, not a list of sights. Take a walk or a slow ride on the paths, and ask at a visitor desk what is open that week.

   

   About 45 min by car21.6 mi
5. 4
   Midday

   Galena Summit

   A high mountain pass on the Sawtooth Scenic Byway, at about 8,700 feet. A little west of the summit a viewpoint looks over the Sawtooth Valley and the peaks beyond. It is cold and windy up here even in summer, so take a layer.

   Go when Midday, with the view clear.

   Local tip Stop at the viewpoint a little west of the pass and look over the valley. It is cold and windy even in July, and storms can build quickly. Check ahead on the road and the weather.

   

   About 51 min by car26.3 mi
6. 5
   Midday

   Stanley

   A small town in the Sawtooth Valley, a gathering place for a thinly settled region. The sky here is part of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, so the stars are clear on a cloudless night. Services are few and far between, so fill the tank and the water bottle.

   Go when Midday for a stop, or after dark (about 9:16 PM) for the stars.

   Local tip It is a small town in a big valley, so fill the tank and water bottle here. On a clear, moonless night the sky is dark enough to see the Milky Way. Check ahead on smoke.

   

7. Dinner

   Chili and huckleberry pie

   A bowl of beef chili, then a slice of huckleberry pie with a flaky crust and purple filling.

   Local tip Ask for a scoop of ice cream on the pie, ideally huckleberry.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Drive from StanleyAbout 2 h 3 min by car86.0 mi

   Where Day 1 ended.
2. 1
   Midday

   Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve

   A national monument and preserve on the Snake River Plain, with a large lava field, more than 25 volcanic cones, lava tubes and tree molds, left where trees burned in the lava. It sits at about 5,900 feet with little shade. Check ahead on the road, the weather and what is open.

   Go when Morning, as early as you can, before the lava heats up.

   Local tip It is a long road, so check the road and the weather before you set out. There is little shade or water on the lava, so carry plenty of both, wear sturdy shoes and keep to the marked trails.

   

3. Dinner

   A burger and huckleberry ice cream

   A burger and fries, then a cone of ice cream flavored with huckleberries, in a small town on the road home.

   Local tip Buy a scoop and eat it before it melts in the evening heat.