Sawtooth Wilderness
The Sawtooth Mountains have long been recognized for their exceptional beauty and wild qualities. As the name suggests, this spectacular Wilderness is comprised of hundreds of jagged peaks, 42 over 10,000 feet in height, with hundreds of high alpine lakes and tranquil basins. Within this dazzling landscape with its endless recreation possibilities, lie the headwaters of three major rivers. Deep, secluded valleys provide habitat for an abundant population of wildlife and many species of fish. Designated a Mandatory Class I air quality area by the 1977 Clean Air Act, the Sawtooth Wilderness has the clearest air in the continental United States.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Idaho |
| Size | 217,511 acres |
| Designated | 1972, by Congress |
| Center point | 44.00° N, 115.06° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 19) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 32 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
20 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 backpacking. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- under 1 miSawtooth Wilderness ↗Backpacking
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
51 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 354 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson Creek ↗ | 30.5 | |
| Redfish Creek - Baron Creek ↗ | 21.9 | |
| Alice Lake-Redfish Lake ↗ | 20.4 | |
| South Fork Payette River ↗ | 19.6 | |
| Alpine Way ↗ | 17.2 | |
| Johnson Creek ↗ | 16.1 | |
| Black Warrior ↗ | 15.6 | |
| Middle Fork Boise River ↗ | 15.5 | |
| Iron Creek - Stanley Lake ↗ | 14.4 | |
| Queens River ↗ | 14.1 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedParadise Rx
22 mi from the center point · 400 acres
- WildfireEast Fork
24 mi from the center point · 266 acres · 60% contained
- PrescribedRx Mores South
35 mi from the center point · 245 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.4 miAtlanta Historic District ↗Atlanta, ID
- 2.2 miAtlanta Dam and Power Plant ↗Atlanta, ID
- 3.5 miNiece Brothers' Store ↗Stanley, ID
- 4.2 miStanley Ranger Station ↗Stanley, ID
- 6.2 miDay, Ivan W., House ↗Stanley, ID
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Idaho
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Sawtooth Wilderness?
217,511 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Sawtooth Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Sawtooth Wilderness in?
Idaho.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Sawtooth Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1972.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Sawtooth Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Sawtooth Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 44.003° N, 115.064° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Sawtooth Wilderness right now?
3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Paradise Rx at 22 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Sawtooth Wilderness?
The National Register has 5 listings within 15 miles, including Atlanta Historic District and Atlanta Dam and Power Plant.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.