Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Sawtooth National Recreation Area
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
Location	Idaho, USA
Nearest city	Ketchum, Idaho
Coordinates	44°N 115°W
Area	778,000 acres (3,148.45 km²)
Established	1972
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) is a National Recreation Area located in central Idaho, within the Boise, Challis, and Sawtooth National Forests. The recreation area was established in 1972, is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and includes the Sawtooth Wilderness. Activities within the roughly 778,000-acre (3,150 km²) recreation area include hiking, backpacking, White water rafting, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, fishing, and hunting.

The SNRA headquarters are about seven miles (11 km) north of Ketchum on Highway 75, and the SNRA also has a ranger station in Stanley, near its northern boundary.

Geology

Sawtooth Mountains

Stanley Lake

Much of the SNRA was heavily glaciated, especially in the Sawtooth Mountains where remnants of these glaciers exist as glacial lakes, moraines, hanging valleys, cirques, and arêtes. The Sawtooth Fault stretches 40 mi (64 km) long, and runs through the Sawtooth Valley, while the two past large earthquakes likely took place on the fault around 7,000 and 4,000 years b.p.

Mountains

Idaho's most famous mountain range, the Sawtooth Mountains are located within the SNRA, along with the White Cloud, Boulder, and Smoky mountains. The highest point in the SNRA is Castle Peak at 11,815 ft (3,601 m) in the White Cloud Mountains, while the second highest point is Ryan Peak at 11,714 ft (3,570 m) in the Boulder Mountains. However, 10,751 ft (3,277 m) Thompson Peak, the highest point in the Sawtooth Mountains, is perhaps the most popular summit to hike to.

Rivers

The headwaters of the Salmon River, also known as the "River of No Return" are in the SNRA and the river flows north through the Sawtooth Valley before turning east in Stanley and following the northern border of the SNRA. The headwaters of the Big Wood, Boise, and Payette rivers are also in SNRA.

Lakes

There are hundreds of lakes in the SNRA, most of which have been created by alpine glaciers. The largest lakes are Redfish Lake, Alturas Lake, Pettit Lake, Yellow Belly Lake, Stanley Lake, and Sawtooth Lake.

• List of lakes of the Sawtooth Mountains
• List of lakes of the White Cloud Mountains

Wildlife

Gray wolves were reintroduced in the 1990s and plans to reintroduce grizzly bears have been abandoned. The SNRA contains prime habitat for wolverines and the endangered Canada lynx, but no recent sightings have been reported. Bull trout are the management indicator species for the SNRA and population monitoring efforts are undertaken every year.

• List of animals of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
• List of birds of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Popular culture

Sawtooth National Recreation Area license plate

Clint Eastwood's 1985 film Pale Rider was filmed in the SNRA, mostly in the Boulder Mountains in the fall of 1984.
The opening credits scene was shot south of Stanley in front of the Sawtooth Mountains.

This national recreation area was be one of the settings of the 2010 3-D computer animated film Alpha and Omega.

The Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles also created a license plate depicting the SNRA (see right).

Gallery

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  Sawtooth Mountains

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  Sawtooth Lake

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  Parks Peak

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  Washington Lake

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  Fourth of July Lake

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  Fisher Creek Trail

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  Warms Springs Creak Meadow

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  Sawtooth Valley and Sawtooth Mountains

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  Grand Mogul and Redfish Lake Creek Valley

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  Stanley Ranger Station

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  Smith Falls

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  Falls Creek Valley

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  Sawtooth Valley

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  Redfish Lake (from Boundary Creek)

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  The SW end of Redfish Lake (Redfish Lake Creek Canyon)

See Also

• Sawtooth Range (Idaho)
• Lakes of the Sawtooth Mountains (Idaho)
• Sawtooth National Forest

External links

• U.S. Forest Service - Sawtooth National Recreation Area
• Sawtooth Camera