Trek through the rugged and remote Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho to reach paradise. Every step on the Alice Toxaway loop brings a new terrain from wooded forests, lush meadows with wildflowers, and tall granite peaks. It’s a magical journey! ✨
Honestly, my husband and I just got into backpacking this past year, but now we can’t stop! This was one of the many trips we did this summer and it was one of the best. We couldn’t believe our eyes as we walked through the mountains with countless vibrant lakes along our way.
We spent time swimming, reading by the shoreline, and soaking it all in!
So, now I’ve created this Alice Toxaway Loop backpacking guide for you! It covers everything from a detailed trail description, tips on backpacking this loop, and a packing list of the essentials. You’ll be ready for an epic adventure. 🥾
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Planning Guide Alice Toxaway Loop
Alice Toxaway Loop Hike Stats
Distance: 18.7 miles
Elevation: 3100 feet
Type: Loop
Length: 1-3 Days (I recommend 6 miles a day)
Difficulty: Hard
Why You Should Backpack the Alice Toxaway Loop
Prepare to be wowed as you trek through the Sawtooths to a chain of stunning alpine lakes. From dark blue to milky blue, you’ll see it all. It’s the perfect place to disconnect from society and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. 😌
This is a popular backpacking trail for good reason. It takes you to some of the most remote and stunning mountains in the country. With plentiful wildlife like marmots and mountain goats, starry skies, and vibrant sunsets, you’ll never want to leave.
Despite the popularity, you’ll find a variety of places to camp throughout to stay secluded. We felt like we were all alone as we enjoyed a day at Toxaway Lake.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get out and explore!
Where is the Alice Toxaway Loop
You’ll find the incredible Alice Toxaway Loop tucked away in the Sawtooth Mountains in central Idaho. These mountains are known for their tall peaks, plentiful hiking trails, clear lakes, and plentiful hot springs. ♨️
Alice Toxaway Loop is one of the more popular backpacking routes in the Sawtooths. It’s just 3 hours from Boise, 3 hours from Twin Falls, and 30 minutes from Stanley!
How to Get to the Sawtooths
The rugged Sawtooth mountains are in central Idaho untouched by most of civilization. This means that getting there takes a bit more effort.
‘Boise and Twin Falls are the closest cities to the Sawtooth Range, but they are both around 3 hours away. If you are flying in from out of state ✈️, then Boise is usually the easiest airport to fly into with more flights.
From Boise, you’ll drive North through the Boise National Forest until you get to the picturesque mountain town of Stanley. From Twin Falls, you’ll take route 93 North until it turns into route 75 and continue North.
To get to the Alice Lake trail, you can put “Tin Cup Trailhead” into your GPS. The hike starts from this parking lot. I recommend downloading the trail on Alltrails.
Backpacking Tips
💩 There are no toilets on this loop and it’s very crowded. So, you should pack wag bags to pick up your waste, so that you can protect this ecosystem.
🗑 That being said, there are no trashcans on the trail. Which means, you need to pack out everything you bring. We often put our used food items in a plastic bag in our bear container.
⛺️ You must set up camp 200 feet from any of the water sources. Sadly, I saw people setting up right next to the lakes, DO NOT DO THAT!
🎟 There are wilderness permits on the trailhead, that you need to fill out for your group. Luckily, they’re free.
🦮 Pets are allowed, but they must be on a leash!
🔥 Campfires are NEVER allowed along this loop. Please follow the regulations and enjoy your campsite without a fire.
🐻 The Sawtooth Wilderness is bear country! Make sure to pack all of your food and scented products in bear safe containers. Always remember a fed bear is a dead bear.
🌿 As always, follow the Leave No Trace Principles. Stay on the trail and pack up after yourself!
Packing Guide for the Alice Toxaway Loop
You’ll want a 30-50 Liter backpack for this adventure. But, it’s important to try out all of your gear before you hit the trails, so that you don’t blister. Plus, on this hike you’ll want a towel and bathing suit to enjoy the water!
The Alice Toxaway Loop is a fantastic backpacking trail, but there are no facilities along the way. So, you’ll want to make sure you have space to pack trash out with you and bring water filters to re-fill.
You can read all about my favorite backpacking gear here! 🎒
Packing Essentials:
- Backpacking Tent
- Backpack
- Water Filter
- Bear Cannister
- Bear Spray
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Hiking Poles
- Jet Boil or Cooking System
- Quick Dry Towel
- Satellite Phone
Where to Stay in the Sawtooths
Honestly, what makes the Sawtooths so special is that they are not very developed. So much of the natural landscape still exists. Which means that there are tons of great free campsites and places to camp, but less lodging.
If you want to stay near before or after your trek, you can look at lodging in Stanley or stay at the Redfish Lake Lodge. Otherwise, I recommend the adorable mountain town of Ketchum!
I have visited in Ketchum for the past five years and I plan on going back every year. It’s the best. 🙌🏻
Best Lodging in the Sawtooths:
- Mountain Village Lodge (Stanley)
- Redfish Lake Lodge
- Limelight Hotel Ketchum (Ketchum)
- Knob Hill Inn (Ketchum)
Alice Toxaway Loop Description
You can do the Alice Toxaway Loop in either direction, but I recommend going clockwise towards Alice Lake.
I recommend spending at least two nights doing the loop, so you can enjoy the various lakes and split up the hike into nice chunks. That being said, you can do it if you only have one night! ⛺️
If you are doing two nights, then you can stay one night at Alice Lake and one night at Toxaway Lake or choose from one of the gorgeous areas on the way. Remember to always camp 200 feet from the lake and trail!
Trailhead to Alice Lake
Distance: 6.25 miles
Elevation: 1600 Feet
Petit Jean Lake
Start along the shores of Petit Jean Lake, a large aqua colored lake that is popular for day campers. There is a sign at the trailhead with a map 🗺, as well as regulations for the area. So, check for any new notices on the board!
Continue along the shoreline until you get to the fork for Alice Lake or Toxaway Lake. You can choose either direction, but I will be writing about heading to Alice Lake in this one.
As you get about a mile in, you will see the post for the wilderness. Make sure to fill out a free wilderness permit and attach it to your bag to continue your journey.
Alice Lake
At about 2 miles, you’ll begin your ascent up into the mountains. It continues at a steady pace with some rockier areas and multiple switchbacks.
Once you get a little further in, you get to one of my favorite parts of the whole trail! There are a few switchbacks under jagged mountain peaks. 🏔 Behind you, you can see down throughout the Sawtooths.
Finally, you’ll get over a few more rocky switchbacks and you’ll see a small body of water tucked under the summit of El Capitan. Continue past that and you’ll walk along the shores of the large and serene Alice Lake.
Find a spot 200 feet away from the lake’s edge and enjoy the wonderful scenery or go for a swim if its warm enough. I truly never wanted to leave this peaceful oasis!
Alice Lake to Toxaway Lake
Distance: 4.6-5.5 miles
Elevation: 950 Feet
Up the Summit
After you’re ready to leave Alice Lake, it’s time to head up once again. You’ll gain the first 900 feet in just under two miles as you make your way up the mountains that surround the lake.
As this part of the trail climbs, it goes over multiple switchback areas with stunning views over the blue lakes below. It’s a great excuse to take breaks and snap some photos 📸 before continuing on.
Once you get to the highest point on the trail at around 9000 feet above sea level, you’ll finally be able to see to the other side. You’ll be amazed at the views that extend beyond.
Toxaway Lake
From there, the trail descends down the mountain and you’ll pass by a couple of milky blue lakes. If I wasn’t so tired, I probably would have stopped to enjoy lunch here, but I just wanted to get to Toxaway.
At just over 4.5 miles you’ll finally come to Toxaway Lake. This lake continues on for a mile, so it’s large, which means there are plenty of spots to camp. On a sunny weekend day though, you may have to search around before finding the perfect one. We went all the way to the end of the lake to get a spot.
Once you’ve got your spot situated, you can go for a swim, try to catch some fish, or read quietly by the shoreline. It’s a very peaceful area to set up camp for the night and watch the sun go down. 🌄
Toxaway Lake Back to the Trailhead
Distance: 7.6 miles
Elevation: 600 Feet
Back To Petit Jean
We started our journey back down very early in the morning, so we got to watch the sunrise from the trail. Although your journey is ending, there are still some spectacular spots on this part of the hike.
After you’ve gotten past Toxaway Lake, you will start to head down through more wooded areas. There are a few switchbacks and rocky moments, so just watch your footing.
At about 6 miles, you’ll see a fork in the trail for Yellow Belly Trail or back down to the parking area. If you want to go straight back then take a right.
Now, you’ll get to my least favorite part of today’s trek. 😫
At the 6 mile mark, the trail goes up once again at a steady pace through the woods. You gain about 500 feet in the last mile before finally getting to Petit Jean Lake once again. I was so tired and just wanted to be at the parking lot that it felt a bit like torture.
Take a dip in Petit Jean to reward yourself once you get to the end! 💦
Final Tips for Backpacking the Alice Toxaway Loop
I truly believe this is one of the best backpacking loops in the Sawtooths. You’ll see a variety of lakes with all shades of blue along your trip.
But, it’s important to plan ahead, download your maps, and have a plan for your destinations. If you are going on a weekend in summer, I recommend heading out early to snag a good camp spot!
Please remember all the regulations and pack out all your belongings. So, people can enjoy this picturesque area for years to come!
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
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Hi Lita,
Thanks for all of this great information about the Alice-Toxaway loop. I’m planning a trip for mid-August and I’m curious about the campsite situation. Do you know if you have to stick to the designated spots or can you venture off on one of the smaller trails and find an open space? (200 feet from water, of course) I have 5+ people in my party and we’re coming from out of state, I’m worried it will be too crowded. What do you think? Thanks.
Hey! There are tons of options of places to camp around the lakes. You can even camp at the smaller lakes right near Alice or Toxaway. We saw plenty of groups of 5 or more people who were traveling together!