Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Idaho · National Recreation Area · Rocky Mountains Region
Jagged granite peaks rising above 40+ alpine lakes in central Idaho. The Sawtooths are one of the least crowded major mountain ranges in the US, and the scenery rivals anything in the Rockies.
- Best season
- Summer Fall
- Permit required
- Varies
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Max group size
- 75 people
- Permit info verified
- April 2026
Permit Information
Managed by the USFS Sawtooth National Forest, Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), headquartered in Ketchum and Stanley, Idaho. Small elopements are usually free and do not need a Special Use Permit. The SNRA follows general USFS policy: gatherings with no commercial component (no paid wedding planner, caterer, or other paid vendors beyond officiant and photographer) and fewer than 75 people do not require a permit. For intimate elopements with just the couple and one or two vendors, no pe…
Planning Your Day at Sawtooth National Recreation Area
One-Spot Day
Sawtooth one spot days run two different directions. Redfish Lake is a drive up lake with a lodge, boat rentals, and a sandy beach at 6,550 feet, which works for up to 25 guests and a relaxed timeline. Alice Lake is a 12 mile roundtrip hike with 1,650 feet of climb to 8,596 feet, which works for fit couples and a handful of guests. Pick the one that matches your guest list before booking lodging.
Ceremony + Portraits Split
Redfish Lake splits internally. A sunrise ceremony on the beach or dock near the lodge flows into boat access to the far shore or the Redfish Lake Creek Trail for portraits with different peak angles, all in the same day. Splitting Redfish to Alice Lake means two full days because Alice is an all day hike from a separate trailhead. Most couples choose one lake and build the trip around it.
A Note on Light
Redfish Lake at sunrise gives mirror reflections before wind picks up around 10am. The jagged peaks light up from the top and roll down. Fall turns the larches gold on the surrounding slopes, peak is usually the last week of September. Alice Lake is an east facing cirque, so morning light hits the cirque wall and saturates the water color. Stars at Alice are exceptional because the range has minimal light pollution.
Ceremony Spots at Sawtooth National Recreation Area
- Redfish Lake — Pristine mountain lake with jagged Sawtooth peaks reflecting in crystal clear water
- Alice Lake — Remote alpine cirque lake surrounded by jagged Sawtooth peaks, a true backcountry gem
View full elopement guide for Sawtooth National Recreation Area