We ran a relay triathlon here in 1988 — my mom swimming, me running, a friend biking. We always meant to stay in the cabins. We never did.
Redfish Lake sits about an hour and a half north of Sun Valley, in the shadow of the Sawtooth Mountains, near the tiny town of Stanley — one of the most beautiful and least crowded alpine lakes in Idaho, and a place I visited constantly without ever once staying the night.
What Redfish Lake and Stanley Actually Are
A glacier-carved lake below the Sawtooths, and the tiny, brutally cold, gorgeous town beside it.
From Sun Valley or Ketchum
About 1.5 hours north on Highway 75 — one of the most scenic drives in Idaho, easily done as a day trip.
Sun Valley GuideRedfish Lake Lodge Cabins
Lakefront cabins we admired every single visit and never once booked. If you’re smarter than we were, book ahead — they fill up fast in summer.
Search HotelsStanley, Idaho
Population hovering around 99 — one of the coldest towns in the Lower 48 in winter, and one of the most gorgeous in summer.
Search RentalsSwim, Ski, Race
Swimming, water skiing, and hiking around the lake — and yes, we once raced a relay triathlon here.
Search HotelsThe 1988 Relay Triathlon
In 1988 my mom, a friend, and I entered a relay triathlon at Redfish Lake — my mom did the swim, I ran, and our friend handled the bike leg. It’s one of those small, perfect memories that has nothing to do with winning anything and everything to do with three people who loved being outside, taking on a lake that deserved to be raced around at least once.
I was living in Sun Valley at the time, training at altitude, and Redfish Lake was close enough to make a day of it — drive up, race, swim off the adrenaline in that impossibly clear, cold water, and drive back down to Ketchum before dark. That’s more or less how every trip to Redfish Lake went for us, triathlon or not.
The Lake We Always Visited, Never Stayed At
Redfish Lake Lodge has cabins right on the water, and every single time we drove up, we’d look at them and think: God, this would be so nice to actually stay here. We never did. It was always a day trip from Ketchum — up in the morning, a full day on or around the lake, back down before it got too late. If you have the chance to actually book one of those cabins, take it. We regret not doing it exactly zero times less than we’d like to admit.
Beyond the triathlon, Redfish Lake was a regular destination for swimming, hiking the trails around the shoreline, and occasionally water skiing when the water was warm enough and the wind cooperated. The lake sits at over 6,500 feet, ringed by the granite peaks of the Sawtooth Range, and the water is glacially clear — cold enough to wake you up fast, clean enough that you can see well past your own feet.
Search Stanley and Redfish Lake Hotels and Rentals
Redfish Lake Lodge cabins, and hotels and rentals throughout Stanley, for anyone smarter than we were about actually booking ahead.
Stanley, Idaho: Population 99
Stanley is genuinely tiny — population hovering right around 99 people, tucked into a high mountain basin at the base of the Sawtooths. It’s regularly ranked among the coldest towns in the continental United States in winter, with temperatures that can drop well below zero for stretches at a time. And then summer arrives, and it becomes one of the most beautiful places in Idaho — wildflowers, alpine lakes, hiking that rivals anywhere in the Mountain West, all inside a town small enough that you could walk the whole thing in about ten minutes.
The contrast is the whole point: Stanley in January is a genuinely brutal place to be. Stanley in July is one of the best places in the country to spend a week. Plan accordingly.
Hiking Around Redfish Lake
The trails around Redfish Lake range from easy lakeside walks to serious backcountry routes into the Sawtooth Wilderness. The Redfish Lake Trail follows the shoreline with consistently good mountain views; more ambitious hikers can push further into the wilderness toward the higher alpine lakes scattered through the range. Whatever your fitness level, it’s some of the best hiking in Idaho, full stop.
Quick Reference: Redfish Lake and Stanley Idaho
| Category | The Answer |
|---|---|
| Distance from Sun Valley | About 1.5 hours north via Highway 75 |
| Stanley population | Roughly 99 people |
| Winter climate | One of the coldest towns in the continental US |
| Summer climate | Gorgeous — wildflowers, clear skies, alpine hiking |
| Lake elevation | Over 6,500 feet |
| Best way to stay | Redfish Lake Lodge cabins — book ahead, they fill up fast |
| Activities | Swimming, hiking, water skiing, and yes, the occasional triathlon |
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Redfish Lake from Sun Valley?
About 1.5 hours north via Highway 75, making it an easy day trip from Sun Valley or Ketchum.
How small is Stanley, Idaho?
Tiny. The population hovers around 99 people, and the town is regularly cited as one of the coldest places in the continental United States during winter.
Is Stanley worth visiting in the summer?
Yes, emphatically. Despite brutal winters, Stanley in summer is one of the most beautiful spots in Idaho, with excellent hiking, wildflowers, and access to Redfish Lake.
Can you stay overnight at Redfish Lake?
Yes. Redfish Lake Lodge has lakefront cabins, along with campgrounds nearby. Cabins fill up quickly in summer, so book well in advance.
What can you do at Redfish Lake?
Swimming, hiking the shoreline and backcountry trails into the Sawtooth Wilderness, water skiing, and boating are all popular. The lake also hosts organized events like triathlons.
We never stayed in those cabins. We always meant to. If Redfish Lake taught me anything, it’s that some places are worth the drive even when you never quite get around to the version of the trip you keep telling yourself you’ll take.