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Hike to the Baron Lakes, Idaho

Lowman, Idaho

5.0/5
based on 1 reviews

Description

Added by Erin H.

Hiking, nature, escape, solitude, beauty, fishing, camping and exploring.

I grew up in Colorado and began hiking as soon as I could walk. I have lived all over the US and in Europe and have always sought adventure in the way of exploring nature. When I moved to Idaho, I was unsure if this rustic state would win me over. It only took one hike to have a love affair with this great state! It is my goal to make people see that Idaho is not just where potatoes come from, but has raw natural beauty to put goosebumps on the arms of even the most traveled of adventurers. Hands down, this state has stolen my heart and will do the same to any nature loving adventurer!

The hike to the Baron Lakes, starts in the Grandjean campsite about 25 miles from outside of Stanley, ID where you will begin the 11 mile one way hike to the Baron Lakes. We started this hike mid-morning on an unusually hot day. Temperatures were in the 90's, which is extremely rare in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains. I would recommend staying at the lake if it is that hot when you start! That being said, despite the heat this hike was great, the views were AMAZING and there were enough water crossings that we did not have to pack in much water. This trail has few people once you are about 3 miles from the starting point and is a great place to let hounds roam.

Begin in a wooded area and continue to climb at a moderate pace. After about 1.5 miles you will reach the a meadow which contains high brush. I would recommend hiking pants and bug spray for this portion of the hike. The meadow reveals stunning views of the jagged Sawtooths and ruminants of burnt trees from an old forest fire. As you walk through the meadow you will meander up and down in elevation and join with the crystal clear river in several spots. At about mile 5 you will have to cross the river via fallen tree trunks. If you are great with balance, you can boldly walk across a tree trunk which is about 10 feet above the river. I am not that person, so I chose a route that was about a foot from the water where I was able to balance on another fallen tree (and shockingly did not fall).

On the other side of the river you will begin to climb at a more steady pace via a zig-zagging path through a forest of tall evergreens. At mile 8 you will leave the trees and hit a part of the trail that is covered by rocks that have slid down from the jutting stone peaks surrounding you. Despite the difficulty of this part of the path, take time to stop and drink in the beauty. You are now surrounded by the stark beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains and will see a raging waterfall ahead. You will continue to climb up a zig-zag trail over the shale stones. I was very glad I had high hiking boots on for this portion of the hike because with the loose rock (as shown in one of my pictures) you could easily roll an ankle. About 1 mile on the shale trail and you reach the top of the waterfall and another meadow.

At this point the trail gets a little more steep, straightens out and enters the trees again. In the heat of the afternoon this portion was an absolute treat because it parallels the river and you cross over it several times making the whole portion cooler. After about 1.5 miles you will reach lower Baron lake. There are some great views and flat areas to camp. We decided to press on to the higher of the two Barron lakes however, because there were lots of mosquitoes at the lower lake.

The higher of the two Baron lakes is another 3/4 of a mile, again zig-zagging uphill. Once you reach the upper lake your eyes will feast upon a pristine alpine lake so clear that you can see the bottom and as smooth as glass revealing a mirror image of the jagged rock peaks incasing the lake. We set up camp about 5 feet from the water on a flat rockless area big enough for 2 tents. We had the lake to ourselves and enjoyed a very cold dip in the water (which should be on everyone's bucket list). Speaking of water, we did purify the water we collected from the lake, but it was crystal clear, cool and refreshing which was a much needed treat after the hot hike.

The next morning we packed up camp early and took the same route back to the Granjean campground. If you hustle you can make the 11 mile trek down in about 2 hours. We left at 8am and were at the Granjean restaurant by 10am to enjoy a huckleberry milkshake :-)

Hope you seek adventures, drink up nature's solitude and have love in all that you do!

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Features

Camping
Fishing
Photography
Backpacking
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Forest
Lake
River
Scenic
Waterfall
Wildflowers

Hike to the Baron Lakes, Idaho Reviews

A must for anyone who wants to escape it all and enjoy the raw beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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Idaho is a picturesque state filled with beautiful scenery and warm, wonderful people. It's an ideal destination for family travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, adventure seekers, or those just looking for a relaxing getaway.

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