A Trail of Many, Just Outside Stanley
Sometimes the best trip is the trip unplanned. Stanley, Idaho was the next camping destination on our group's list of places to see, only no one knew much about the area other than its mystery.
Now What?
After a chilly night, our group began the day with some campfire coffee and brainstorming. Should we hike? Should we get on the lake? Should we motor around in the mountains? The day before, a local had mentioned to us that 4th of July Lake might be a solid option for a day hike. With limited information, the GAIA GPS app and the crew loaded up; we hit the road.
Getting There
Cell phone reception is a hard thing to come by, so from the quaint little town of Stanley travel south on State Highway 75 for about 15 miles, and make a left onto Forest Road 209. There is a brown sign that should catch your attention about ¼ mile from the turn off. Follow the dirt road east until you hit the trail head. You will not need a high clearance vehicle as long as it is dry out. Note: There is a restroom and a fair amount of parking at the trail head.
Hit the Trail
One can start by following the trail along 4th of July Creek or following the road farther east until the two paths merge. We opted for the creek start, which immediately begins with one of the many elevated creek crossings. This well-maintained trail winds through moderately thick forest for about 1.8 miles until you reach 4th of July Lake. Along the way there we encountered several fallen tree crossings, snow patches and small groups of hikers. There are some steep sections, but overall, it is a mild-to-moderate trail.
Time to Soak it All In
There will be a few signs as you get to the top of the trail - just follow the sign for 4th of July Lake. Once there, find a spot along the lake, pull out your lunch and enjoy the scenery. Being an alpine lake, the water is crystal clear and, as to be expected, quite frigid. The shoreline was a little mushy, so appropriate footwear is recommended. Unfortunately, we were unable to find any frogs on the shoreline, but the view more than made up for it.
The trail is all downhill from here.
Photo credits go to:
For more things to do in Stanley Idaho, check out our write up on driving to Basin Butte Lookout.
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