#6 - Grandjean Sawtooth Lake Loop
Sawtooth WildernessLength: 18.0 mi • Est. 9 h 55 m
This can be a "one day" loop as long as hike start at sunrise and you're in good shape, otherwise make it a two day trip. The trail head starts at Grandjean campground. If navigating counter clockwise, ensure to head up Trail creek (west) for about a quarter mile and cross the foot bridge to connect to the south bound Baron Creek trail (just after the creek crossing). The Baron trail is heavily used by horses until the trail veers east up the canyon (~2 miles). At about 4.5miles, the trail forks between the Sawtooth Lake route and the Redfish Trail. Heading NE from the fork, the trail is much less traveled and is occasionally overgrown. At about mile 8, the trail condition improves. The trail is now in the saddle heading toward Sawtooth Lake and apparently receives more traffic from the Stanley route as greater trail wear is evident. The Sawtooth lake is magnificent! Due to the rough terrain, not many campsites are available on the east and southeast sides. However, plenty of camp site exist on the northeast side. Heading over the western rim of Sawtooth lake reveals a parched landscape of burned forest. Approximately 5 miles of the trail traverse through the burn area. Though, not as scenic as the green forest, the burned area does have its own distinct beauty.
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