BEST UNKNOWN HIKE IN THE SAWTOOTH MOUNTAIN RANGE: HIKE TO AN UNNAMED LAKE BELOW THOMPSON PEAK, IDAHO

If you're in the mood for an all day nature soaked adventure, this hike is for you! Just below Thompson Peak (Sawtooth's highest) and Williams Peak lies an unnamed lake. This could be the best hike in the Sawtooths. Idaho's Sawtooth Range is known as a backpackers paradise. It is difficult to find a short hike with a big payoff in this area. One will have to put in a good amount of effort (without camping) for an out and back in these mountains. Enjoy complete solitude after climbing nearly 6 miles and 3000 feet to this crystal clear turquoise masterpiece. Thompson Peak will be in view nearly the entire hike but don't stop until you reach the lake. Refresh yourself and take a dip in its freezing water or fish for trout that are visible well below the surface. Sit at the top of a waterfall and gaze over the valley upon Redfish Lake and the best mountain town of Stanley. After this monster hike you'll wonder how this lake could possible be unnamed.
*NOTE* AllTrails has this lake marked as Profile Lake but there is much confusion as to where exactly Profile Lake is located. There seems to be a Profile Lake up near Sawtooth Lake and McGown Peak and also near the Alice Lake loop.
More Sawtooth Mountain videos links below👇🏼
Alice Lake: • ALICE LAKE TRAIL VIA P...
Goat Lake: • GOAT LAKE VIA IRON CRE...
Cramer Lakes: • CRAMER LAKES: INCREDIB...
Alpine Peak and Sawtooth Lake: • SAWTOOTH LAKE TRAIL AN...
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Follow along on Instagram as well! Feel free to ask any questions through the comment section of any video or message me directly on Instagram.
- Matt
#hiking #sawtoothmountains #idaho #stanleyidaho

[@TheMountainMatt]

If you like big peaks and incredible vistas check out this video here 👉🏼 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGTdqHhmaL2saqs

[@theotherguy254]

This channel is so underrated!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thank you 🙏

[@J.D.Supreme]

Awesome hike and great footage! Good to see you and Dalton out smashing trails together! Love the one liner at the end. Good comedy!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching 😁

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

That was absolutely incredible! Sometimes it takes a lot of effort and fortitude to reach beautiful places and sights like that, but the reward always seems to outdo the pain involved. Awesome video!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Couldn’t say it any better myself my friend 😁👍🏼 thank you!

[@NationalParkWild]

That is beautiful! I hope I get to the Sawtooth Mountains some day. Keep up the great work!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thank you kind sir🙏🏼! Idaho truly lives up to its name "gem state"👍🏻

[@patticarey9016]

Wow! That's breathtaking! Awesome hike!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thanks Patti! The Sawtooths are incredible. You don’t even have to go that far up into them to really enjoy them 😁. I might be going back this next September for some peaks I’ve had on my radar for a few years now. Cheers 👍🏼!

[@BluegrassBackcountry]

Awesome video, Matt!! That’s so cool that you got to spend that time with your son on a hike like that, that’s got to be a super special memory! You’re always killing it with the drone footage, man, I need to get me one of those! Can’t wait to see what you got cooking in the editing lab next!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thanks Sam! It’s always better out there with loved ones😁. I appreciate the nice comment sir! You’re love that awesome flying toy😉

[@SignalOutdoors]

Wow epic adventure man! That lake was unreal. Take care 🤙

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thank you!

[@CampNWildWithTheDragon]

Thanks for sharing, really enjoyed your content. Hi from Wales 👍

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thanks for watching sir!

[@ConsidertheWonders]

Dang what an epic hike and that lake payoff...amazing! That uphill climb looked legit, I'm sure ya'll ran down that thing too. Great shots with the drone too. Well done.

[@TheMountainMatt]

It was one of the best 😁 you’re spot on👍🏼 we ran the entire woods section to not make the wife angry😬😉

[@JerryArizona]

Another stunning video. I’m seriously jealous at how good they are. Keep at it. And damn, that bokeh...

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thanks Jerry! I truly appreciate that, you got a good thing going as well 👍🏼

[@SlonesWildernessExpeditions]

Whenever I make it to that part of the nation, the Sawtooths are a must, thanks to you! This one looked like a true adventure with some route finding required, love it!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thank you! I’m lucky to have such an awesome Wife and family 😁

[@boingdaggit]

There's a trail the entire way- the climbers trail used to be somewhat obscure in places but this lake has absolutely exploded in popularity the last few years. If you go, no worries with route finding, just follow the crowd.

[@cwalton56]

Thanks!

[@woollychaps]

So cool, Matt. Nice job! Can't wait to get out in it again. Only a couple more months!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thank you! We’re getting close now👍🏼, just snowblower like 5 inches of snow🥶😫

[@woollychaps]

@@TheMountainMatt 😂. Not laughing at you. Just wishing I had a snowblower for my driveway!

[@TheMountainMatt]

@@woollychaps luckily I have two young snowblowers called Lola and Sloane 😉

[@feelmountain]

[We~FeelFriends💎] It's just amazing~~~ a lake on that high altitude ?? , even you had a swim there, unbelievable !! Thanks a lot for sharing the great hike, take care my friend and have a beautiful week ahead

[@TheMountainMatt]

You would love it there my friend! Come and hike the Rockies one day😁👍🏼 thank you!

[@carlossuarez2404]

Guauuuu great 🥾

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thanks Carlos! Someday Dalton and I will get up to Thompson Peak, put money on it 👍🏻

[@gavinfredrichs9057]

I just tried reaching Thonposn Peak a week and a half ago... lots and lots of snow and I was breaking trail. Unfortunately, I had to turn around just before the uphill before the lake but I will come back when weather permits! Great video!!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thanks for watching Gavin! With all the snow this past winter it might be deep far into summer. I’m headed to the high sierras in a few weeks and I might be doing the same thing you did going up. The summit is actually relatively close to that lake, kinda wish we would have went for it and then went back to the lake but Emily would have killed me later 🤣! I hope you get a chance to tackle Thompson later this summer. Depending on the weather this fall, I might be headed back to the Sawtooths with a buddy👍🏼 super pumped about that! Cheers!

[@Mikiibiza]

Enjoyed watching my friend. Like nº4 👍🏼. Have a nice day. 👋🏼🙋🏼‍♂️ Greetings

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thanks Miki! I’m glad you’re watching my friend😁

[@tacchellahome9662]

Cool video! My 10 year old and I went up there last summer. Lot of locals call that Profile lake, despite the fact that there’s no name on the map. (There’s another Profile lake in the sawtooth too). Ironically we hiked to goat lake the day before that one too! Goat lake is over the saddle above that lake, but there’s a basin with a bunch of little lakes above it, I’d love to make it up there sometime!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thanks for the info! We met a guy at Goat Lake who told us about the hike. He pointed out Thompson Peak from where we were explained how to get there. What an awesome area! Definitely heading back for more Sawtooth adventures! That’s awesome that you’re getting out there with your young one 👍🏼. Nothing better than going on adventures with our kids😁

[@samanthareuter9860]

Awesome video. I’m headed to Redfish Lake area for Labor Day. I’ll have two days for hiking and this looks like it would be worth one of the days. Can you provide basic navigation instructions (what trail did you start on, when do you peel off, etc?) I will have a gps with downloadable maps. Thanks!

[@TheMountainMatt]

You start at Redfish Lake, the trailhead for Marshall Lake, I believe it’s called Redfish Lake trailhead. It’s a parking lot at Redfish Lake near the Redfish Lake resort. Take Alpine Way Trail as if you are hiking to Marshall Lake towards Thompson Peak. You’ll be on a ridge line for 4 or 5 miles heading towards Thompson. When the trail starts to peel away from Thompson Peak look for a faint single track trail to the left, there is a downed tree hanging in a 45 degree angle right by the faint single track trail. Take that up towards Thompson. The lake is on the left in that canyon. If you use AllTrails search Marshall Trail Idaho. Fallow that downloaded map until you peel off and up towards Thompson. If you get on Alpine Way trail and know where Thompson Peak and Williams Peak are located you should be able to find it. Have a great time!

[@300wsmshadow1]

GF and I are heading out that way in August. Thinking about spending the night up there. Do you think that iys a good place for an overnight. Thanks for the awesome videos.

[@TheMountainMatt]

That would be a sick place for a sunset and sunrise! I can’t remember if you need backcountry permits to camp or not up there. That lake would be ideal to stay at if possible. You’ll have a water source views and seclusion. Let me know how it goes!

[@danbump1616]

Awesome video Matt! How does this hike compare to the hike into Alice lake? Wife and I will be there the last week of July and are looking for 1 good 10-12 mile round trip hike to a lake to fish. I would prefer this one to avoid a lot of people if it isnt too much more difficult than Alice lake. Thanks and keep up the awesome hike videos!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Dalton was nailing trout like crazy out of that lake! He didn’t catch anything out of Alice. Alice is extremely busy where as that unnamed lake we saw two people all day. We were in the Sawtooths the first week of August last year. The hardest part of this hike is a little route finding after peeling off of Alpine Way trail. Look for the half down tree shown in the video. If you know where Thompson peak is you’ll find it. I think the views on this hike were the best I saw. When you get closer to the peaks you’ll see why. The morning light was amazing! You feel way out there but you have cell service most of the time, it’s weird. I think you’d like it more for fishing and it has more adventure to it. Let me know if you need help finding it😁👍🏼

[@danbump1616]

@@TheMountainMatt Thanks Matt! Im pretty sure I can find it, I do a lot of back country hiking. (Wife has never been west of the Mississippi!) How was the elevation gain vs the hike to Alice lake?

[@TheMountainMatt]

@@danbump1616 Alice is just under 2000, I think that unnamed lake was around 3000 but we’ll worth it! Can’t go wrong with that hike👍🏼

[@Sam_Ho]

Hi Matt, how long did it take you to hike to the lake from the redfish trailhead?

[@TheMountainMatt]

Gosh, I don't think it was that long. I believe we started around 7 or 8. We swam and fished at the lake for a good hour and we were down by 2 or 3. It's not a tough hike just long if I recall correctly. Very beautiful and well worth it though! We did run the last few miles so that helped with our time getting down.

[@Sam_Ho]

@@TheMountainMatt Great thanks. I’m planning on doing this hike June next year.

[@TheMountainMatt]

@@Sam_Ho You will love it! Heads up, there might still be a ton of snow up there in June. Come prepared 👍🏼

[@JMan-24]

What time of the year did you film this? We are wondering how much snow will be remaining at altitude in June? I have seen some other videos shot in August with quite a bit of snow remaining up high in the STs.

[@TheMountainMatt]

That was the first part of August last summer. I did see today that Stanley (valley below) doesn’t have any more snow. You’ll probably run into a decent amount up high in June still😬. Unless it was a low snow total winter this year. If you’re hiking around lakes and not peak bagging you should be alright. Nothing some decent gaiters couldn’t handle. I’d love to know😁, please message me when you get done with your trip👍🏼.

[@JMan-24]

Memorial Day weekend. The snow line was at about 7500 feet. The valley between Thompson and Williams was completely iced and snow covered. All the high lakes are iced over. Locals said you cannot go up there without winter gear, crampons, ice axes, etc. at that time of year. We instead summited Horton Peak in the Southern end of the valley. It’s 10k feet and was snowy making the trail impossible to follow up high. But we made it with no issues. It wasn’t Thompson, but was still breathtaking!!

[@TheMountainMatt]

@@JMan-24 we’re in the Wasatch range and White Pine Lake is still mostly frozen down here, I’d bet Sawtooth lakes will be frozen for a while still 😳. Did you hike this past (memorial day) weekend?

[@JMan-24]

@@TheMountainMatt yes. We were there the week before the holiday weekend. We summited Horton Peak on May 26th.

[@TheMountainMatt]

@@JMan-24 thanks! I’m planning on the Sawtooths next year and trying to gauge when peeks are accessible 😁👍🏼

[@SoloHiker1]

Someone has thier Aunt Floe from Red Creek visiting.

[@lucymelancon6534]

Awesome shots, but I thought this was a drone-free zone. Would hate to see you get fined in the future!

[@TheMountainMatt]

Unfortunately that was before I was aware of all the drone rules out there 😬… Much more aware of when and where I can fly now.

[@lucymelancon6534]

@@TheMountainMatt No worries!

[@USATAZZILLA]

You give drones a bad name follow the laws and respect the sawtooth mountains

[@milkaaguilera7704]

I tried this morning to get to the lake, not the peak, and I got lost 😢 please tell me how can I get there

[@TheMountainMatt]

Dang! It's a long hike up there. It's been a few years but we started at the trailhead near Redfish Lake right off of Redfish Lake Road. Take the Alpine Way trail up on the ridge shortly after the trailhead. You'll take Alpine Way for a few miles. You'll see Thompson Peak and a few others right in front of you while you are on Alpine Way. Take Alpine Way until you see a little spur trail towards the peaks. I believe there was a downed tree where you get off of Alpine Way and head towards Thompson Peak. Try downloading AllTrails app and searching Thompson Peak. It will show you the exact location 👍🏼. You are able to download the map to your phone. Follow the link in any video description for a discount on AllTrails😁

[@ryanshuman2456]

Awesome video! What drone do you use?

[@TheMountainMatt]

Thanks Ryan! I currently use a Mavic Air.

[@jonschmidt1709]

Sweet! Always enjoy watching.....did you let just the young lad hop in the water?! :)

[@TheMountainMatt]

I should have GoPro’d my jump for proof😂... my girls asked that also. I gotta start recording the rinse off at the tops of mountains😁👍🏼

[@jonschmidt1709]

@@TheMountainMatt Just checking that you're not slacking! You've got more ***** than I do....that water would be WAY to cold for me...

[@TheMountainMatt]

@@jonschmidt1709 I jumped in Delta Lake in the Tetons, coldest thing ever! Now I’m always terrified 🤣. But it’s good video😉

[@jonschmidt1709]

@@TheMountainMatt lol!

[@shelbynjakesdad]

Great video! My wife and I climbed Thompson Peak a few days before you did this hike (I can see the date you did it in the log book in your video). That’s a great hike, I love Thompson, there’s a video of our climb on my channel if you are interested in seeing that lake from high above!😁

[@TheMountainMatt]

That’s pretty sweet! We might have walk by each other sometime around that area that week. We initially talked about Thompson but Dalton wanted to fish more than suffer that day🤣. After seeing the range from Alpine peak a couple days later there’s no doubt we’re headed back😁👍🏼. My wife’s maiden name is Krueger😁

[@shelbynjakesdad]

@@TheMountainMatt we climbed Alpine Peak last year as well (vid also on my channel😁). Thompson is much longer and harder, but I like it better. The scree on Alpine is a bit of a pain, Thompson is great, no scree sliding!

[@TheMountainMatt]

@@shelbynjakesdad can’t wait!

[@destinhoward7378]

How steep was the hike??? And how high is the elevation?

[@TheMountainMatt]

I believe it was around 10 miles total to the lake and back and close to 2600 feet of elevation gain. The lake sits at around 9,000 feet. It’s incredible up there!

[@zeroinjack4380]

Looks like Cramer?

[@TheMountainMatt]

Wonderful alpine lakes up there 😁👍🏼 Cramer lakes chain was gorgeous as well !!! Heading back to Idaho next June 😁

[@stevestewart3905]

I thought it was called lake 9000 or Profile lake.

[@TheMountainMatt]

I thought that as well but there’s an actual Profile Lake just to the north I believe. I figured it out after some research and Alltrails app reviews.

[@mattandersao]

So Goat or this lake (8865)?

[@TheMountainMatt]

Goat Lake is much more popular than that lake below Thompson Peak. Both lakes will blow your soaks off! Let me know which hike you choose and how it went 😁👍🏼

[@TheMountainMatt]

Also, ridiculous fishing at both lakes!

[@gorilic1adventures]

Not unknown anymore.

[@TheMountainMatt]

Yep, Sawtooths are undeniable