Petit, Toxaway, Twin, and Alice Lake Loop/Sawtooth Mountains

 Hike in the Sawtooth Mountains

Friday, August 14, 2020

We set out for a weekend hike in the gorgeous Sawtooth Mountain Range for Andy’s birthday weekend.  We couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather. We got up early because the Sawtooth Mountains is about a 4-hour drive from our house. We did the Pettit Lake to Toxaway Lake then to Alice Lake Loop.  We went counterclockwise of the trail show below, which is the opposite way most people do this hike. Alice Lake is the destination for many hikers.

 I can understand why many hikers just go to Alice as an in-and-out,  it is a beautiful 5-mile hike.  The parking lot was VERY CROWDED so, I recommend getting there early.  Parking for this hike is at Pettit Lake campground.  The Tin Cup Trailhead is near the bathroom facilities on the far end of the parking area.  We got there a little later in the day, so we parked outside the campground area.  There is information about the hike at the beginning of the trailhead.  The beginning of the hike is a beautiful flat hike along the lake.  You take a right-hand fork up the hill right off the bat. The first little while is a steep incline, with a 28-pound pack, I definitely took it slow heading up. 

The trail flattens out a bit and meanders through a wooded forest.  There is a sign-in ledger box with take-away permits to attach to your pack.  This is one wonderful thing and yet a downfall of the Sawtooth. I will explain this later. It is definitely nice to not have to make reservations for a camping spot.  There is one major creek crossing. I wore my Treva’s, so I definitely recommend some type of water shoes for this crossing.  

There were several groups of people that we saw along the way. As we hiked the trail we hit scree and a few smaller creek crossings.  The crossings had rocks that you can strategically maneuver to the other side without stepping in water.  It did get pretty hot this first day in some areas of the hike.  For this hike, you will need some way to filter water.  It is long enough that you do not want to pack all your water. 

We began to worry in the evening as we were still hiking that we may not be able to find a camping spot with the number of people we were seeing. We asked one group that was headed down how the camping looked at Toxaway Lake and they said there were a few spots left.  We were still a good couple of miles from the Lake.  I may have panicked a little bit thinking we would have to hike the entire way out in one day about 18 miles.  Which in all reality we could have found a place to set up camp. It may not have been the beautiful spot by the lake that I had envisioned, but we could have found somewhere to put up a tent and sleep. We sped up our steps a bit even though we had gone 9 miles in the heat and boy I was feeling it! We came to the point in the trail where you have a view of Toxaway Lake and it was stunning.  There is a camping area literally right off the trail as you come to that vantage point where you can see the Lake.  I threw my pack off and laid down on the dirt.  I was so happy we found a spot to camp!  Andy wanted to venture around and see if he could find a more secluded spot with closer views of the Lake.  He came back almost running which he was tired too, so I knew he had found something good.  We left our spot and headed just a little way around the Lake to the most beautiful spot.  It was just like I had envisioned!  

There was a perfect spot for our two-person tent, rocks to cook on, and of course the most beautiful view!  We set up camp and got fresh water from the creek.  Andy wanted to attempt fishing with his new collapsible pole.  I sat on a giant rock where I could see him.  There are lots of down logs at the bottom of the Lake.  Andy thought he would walk on these. Well, that didn’t work so well because the bottom of the Lake is very sandy, and the logs sank with each step. I may have got a good chuckle from my high vantage point on the rocks of Andy trying to not go for a swim. 

 No fires are allowed but you can use camp stoves. We love our Jetboil!  We cooked Idahoan potatoes with four cheese in the packets. We added bacon bits.  It was delicious and cooked up really well. I did forget utensils, so we got creative with sticks and plastic from the packaging.  Sometimes you have to improvise if you are hangry.   We sat and watched the lake until dark, woke up in the morning to the most view of the Lake.  

I woke up the next morning with renewed energy ready to see twin lakes.  There is a bit of switchback through the beautiful white stones of the Sawtooths. The morning sun was bright, wildflowers were in bloom, the sky was clear blue.  Twin Lakes is so gorgeous.

 I am not afraid of heights, but I am cautious.  The switchbacks become a little narrow right before you come to a great view of Twin Lakes.  The rocks on the east side of the mountains were warm already by this time.  We took a break just prior to getting to Alice Lake, in the shade, near the trail.  We began seeing more people at this point of our hike.  Alice Lake is very beautiful but the crowds of people were outrageous.  We had originally planned to set up camp and spend the second night there.  We could not find a spot! We decided to hike the remainder of the way out instead of staying the night.  It was a hot day for sure by this time. 

It was disheartening seeing this many people, many were not obeying the leash law with their dogs.  We saw far too many people not caring for this beautiful place the way they should.  Garbage, we even saw a person with a fire which is prohibited here. We have one earth people, we have to be good stewards of this land! It was very hot coming down past Alice Lake. We were getting very hot and tired.  We took quite a few breaks coming out when we had the opportunity with shade. Coming out you are hiking along the Petit Lake edge.  It was so fun to see boaters out on the Lake as we were hiking on. I must admit by this point though I was getting very tired.  As we came near the campground people were swimming in the Lake.  A dad with his wife and two kids were near the Lake edge. He asked Andy if we had hiked to Alice Lake. Andy told him we had done the loop staying the night at Toxaway Lake.  The man said, “I’m impressed, that is not an easy hike.”  I was so tired I didn’t even say anything, I just nodded my head.  Anyone who knows me knows that I like to talk.  Yes, I was too tired to talk!  We made our way through the campground. The campground was full of people there for the day.  All I wanted was a Diet Coke.  As we drove out, we stopped in the town of Smiley, buying soda. I drank two Diet Cokes in a matter of minutes, I was smiley. Guess what? I talked the whole way home. This was about 18 miles total, with an elevation gain of 3,285 feet. This hike is rated as hard. I can't wait to do it again.

We also posted a YouTube video of this hike. If you like it hit subscribe to our channel. I know it's January but summer is right around the corner with tons of adventures ahead!