These Stunning Idaho Mountains Have All The Views Without Teton Crowds
By Eric James Beyer
VACATIONS
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming sees 3 million visitors annually. If you're looking for outdoor beauty without the tourist traffic, visit Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains instead.
The Sawtooths' grandeur is the stuff of legend, with snow-capped peaks that reach an impressive 10,751 feet and deep valleys that stretch across central Idaho.
The area also has 300 alpine lakes. At the Sawtooth Mountains' Redfish Lake, visitors can go fishing, kayaking, and swimming while looking up at the forested hills.
The area around Redfish Lake is also home to several hiking trails, and the park itself has 700-plus miles of trail. Guests enjoy rock climbing, hunting, and horseback riding.
The best time to visit depends on what you're looking for; wildflower blooms are best seen in late spring, while skiing and snowshoeing takes place during the winter months.