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Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
1,525.00 ft (464.82 m)
Trail type
Shuttle
Distance
8.30 mi (13.36 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

This northern portion of the Alpine Way Trail is a nice option for early-season hikers who are frozen out of the higher lake basins. As a simple thru hike, it is slightly easier to go from Iron Creek to Stanley Lake (214 feet less vertical). The route stays in the trees for most of its length but does offer several nice views along the way. The trail provides excellent access to scrambles and exploration of the McGown massif and, depending on the objective, can be hiked from either end. Creek crossings can be an issue on this hike.

There are several worthy off-trail objectives in between Iron Creek and Stanley Lake that are easily accessed from the Alpine Way trail. The southeast face of McGown Peak (Class 3) and West Ridge of Mystery Mountain (Class 2) are nice moderate routes that start from the saddle between Crooked Cr. and Stanley Lake. For those looking for a more challenging scramble, the east ridge of Mystery above Point 8482 looks like interesting Class 4-5 terrain. Photographers looking for an outstanding view onto Alpine Lake can scramble the ridge west from the Crooked Creek/Iron Creek divide until they are stopped by the craggy spires.

Most of the trail lies within the Sawtooth Wilderness. Please observe the following regulations:
• Mountain bikes are not allowed past the wilderness boundary.
• Self administered wilderness permits are required and available at the trailhead.
• Dogs must be on a leash between July 1 and Labor Day.
• Camp 100-feet from trails, lakes and streams.
• Pack out all garbage.
• Human waste should be buried in a cat hole 6-8 inches deep, buried and well disguised. Pack out all toilet paper.
• Campfires allowed ONLY in a backcountry pan or fire blanket.
• Campfires are NOT allowed at some lakes and in some drainages in the Sawtooths. Please review the campfire restrictions at individual trailheads.
• Permits required for all stock use in the wilderness. No grazing allowed in the Salmon River watershed (this includes the Alpine Lake drainage).
• No equine stock at Edith Lake.  ALL stock prohibited in the Goat Creek and Alpine Creek (Alturas Lake) drainages.


Technical Climbing

Most of the McGown massif is underlain by crumbly Idaho Batholith granite. There are a few crags on the southeast side of Mystery Mountain that look climbable. The prominent chimney and crack on the east face of McGown Peak may offer some technical rock and mixed ice climbs. Explore at your own risk! The north couloirs on McGown Peak offer some nice spring snow/ice climbs depending on the conditions and snowpack.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Access to high peaks. Remote area. Solitude. Opens early in the season.

Cons

Two creek crossings can be intimidating when hiking this trail in the spring and early summer.

Trailhead Elevation

6,710.00 ft (2,045.21 m)

Features

Backcountry camping
Mountaineering
Rock climbing
Waterfalls

Suitable for

Horseback

Location

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Our mission is to inspire adventure with beautiful, comprehensive and waterproof map-based guidebooks.  Owner, publisher, and photographer Matt Leidecker, grew up exploring and guiding on the rivers in central Idaho.  His award winning Middle Fork of the Salmon River – A Comprehensive Guide is the standard by which other river guidebooks are measured.  Printed on virtually indestructible YUPO paper, IRP guides are truly unique all-in-one resources for adventure.  Each book is loaded with full-color maps, stunning photographs, and information on the history, geology, and wildflowers.  Visit Idaho River Publications to explore our guidebooks to the Rogue River in Oregon and the mountains of Central Idaho.

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