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Sawtooth National Recreation Area

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Overview

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (Sawtooth NRA) consists of 756,000 acres of scenic mountain country. The Sawtooth NRA has over 700 miles of trails, 40 peaks rising over 10,000 feet and 300 plus high mountain lakes that add to the spectacular scenery and vistas. Recreational pursuits include outdoor activities of camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, boating and canoeing, rafting, observing nature, photographing and bicycling.

Local Info

This area is also home to the Boulder-White Cloud mountains, some of the most stunningly beautiful mountains in the US. They were also home to some incredible mountain biking until a recently signed wilderness bill (August 7, 2015) permanently banned all forms of mechanized travel, including mountain bikes. Read about the experience of Brian Smith, an MTB Project Content Manager who embarked on a last-minute, 26 hour road trip to experience the Boulder-White Clouds by bike, literally moments before President Obama ended mountain biking in that area forever.

There are still ways to experience the area, however. One ride that's still legal is the Big-Little Boulder Loop. This big backcountry adventure gets you pretty high up in the Whitecloud mountains, with a great descent back down.

Recommended Routes in Sawtooth National Recreation Area - 18

MTB Project is built by riders like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

Favorite The big finale of Williams Creek.
Intermediate Intermediate

Fisher Creek Loop

17.7 mi 28.5 km 2,011' Up 612.91 m Up 2,013' Down 613.68 m Down

Sun Valley, ID
Explore in 3D
Favorite Great views of the Sawtooth Mountains
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Elk Mountain Loop

11.4 mi 18.4 km 1,063' Up 323.89 m Up 1,061' Down 323.49 m Down

Challis, ID
Explore in 3D
Favorite The views on Sunny Gulch are to die for!
Very Difficult Very Difficult

Little Casino - Big Casino Loop

20.3 mi 32.7 km 3,605' Up 1098.83 m Up 3,587' Down 1093.41 m Down

Challis, ID
Explore in 3D
Favorite Frog Lake early in the morning.
Difficult Difficult

Big-Little Boulder Loop

22.4 mi 36.0 km 3,466' Up 1056.33 m Up 3,500' Down 1066.65 m Down

Sun Valley, ID
Explore in 3D
Favorite Such a mellow and relaxing ride.
Difficult Difficult

Galena Grinder - IMBA EPIC

25.6 mi 41.1 km 3,056' Up 931.47 m Up 3,047' Down 928.59 m Down

Sun Valley, ID
Explore in 3D
Favorite Very steep, sometimes technical climb at the beginning (clockwise) of the route.
Difficult Difficult

Redfish Lake Loop

13.9 mi 22.3 km 1,977' Up 602.58 m Up 1,956' Down 596.14 m Down

Challis, ID
Explore in 3D
Favorite The last bit of the Castle Divide route is through open sage meadows.
Difficult Difficult

Idaho Trail Segment 5

37.3 mi 60.0 km 4,705' Up 1433.94 m Up 3,027' Down 922.7 m Down

Sun Valley, ID
Explore in 3D
Favorite Awesome scenery on Edge of the World
Difficult Difficult

Oregon Gulch Loop

25.7 mi 41.3 km 2,675' Up 815.41 m Up 2,675' Down 815.35 m Down

Sun Valley, ID
Explore in 3D
Favorite Frog Lake early in the morning.
Difficult Difficult

Idaho Trail Segment 6

32.7 mi 52.6 km 3,566' Up 1086.94 m Up 6,641' Down 2024.08 m Down

Sun Valley, ID
Explore in 3D

Sawtooth National Recreation Area Biking

  • 326 Miles 525 Kilometers of Trail
  • 18 Recommended Routes
  • 6 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 45 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 44 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
MTB Project is built by riders like you. Share what you know about this area!

Areas Within Sawtooth National Recreation Area

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Trails in Sawtooth National Recreation Area - 77

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6.7 mi 10.8 km #1Williams Creek
Intermediate Intermediate
Sun Valley, ID
Intermediate Intermediate
Sun Valley, ID 10 
6.4 mi 10.2 km #2Spring Creek Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Sun Valley, ID 11 
2.2 mi 3.5 km #3Rip and Tear
Intermediate Intermediate
Sun Valley, ID
Intermediate Intermediate
Sun Valley, ID
6.6 mi 10.6 km #4Little Boulder Creek
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
0.6 mi 0.9 km #5Mine Shaft
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
11.5 mi 18.4 km #6Germania Creek Trail
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
8.9 mi 14.3 km #7Livingston Mill - Castle Divide Trail (North Segment)
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
13.0 mi 20.9 km #8Grand Prize
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
5.5 mi 8.8 km #9Alturas Creek
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
Difficult Difficult
Sun Valley, ID
3.8 mi 6.1 km #10Elk Mountain Trail
Difficult Difficult
Challis, ID
Difficult Difficult
Challis, ID

Photos of Sawtooth National Recreation Area - 137

MTB Project is built by riders like you. Add Your Photos

Pedaling along Chamberlain Creek
Jul 27, 2014 near Sun Valley, ID
Descending switchbacks below the face of Castle Peak.
Jul 27, 2014 near Sun Valley, ID
The top of Little Casino with the Sawtooths in the background
Sep 8, 2014 near Challis, ID
The views on Sunny Gulch are to die for!
Jul 5, 2017 near Challis, ID
Such a mellow and relaxing ride.
Jul 5, 2017 near Sun Valley, ID
The views are stellar
Jul 15, 2020 near Challis, ID
Starting the ridge crossing
Jul 15, 2020 near Challis, ID
Very steep, sometimes technical climb at the beginning (clockwise) of the route.
Aug 28, 2020 near Sun Valley, ID

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