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Campsite Upgrades Make Roughin' It In Idaho's Sawtooth Recreation Area A Little Nicer

Matt Guilhem
/
Boise State Public Radio
The Sawtooth Mountains loom impressively over Stanley Lake.

Summer in Idaho means escaping town for the state’s abundant backcountry offerings. One popular destination is Stanley. Campsites near the small town in the Sawtooths are getting upgrades.

A new roadway winding around Redfish Lake leads to the Sandy Beach Boat Launch and other locales on the eastern shore. Part of the drive leads up a hill which offers spectacular new views of the jagged Sawtooth Mountains.

The new road, which opened last week, is part of a multi-stage improvement campaign at the popular destination. The Statesman reports one of the most ambitious projects, a new four-mile gravel trail for cyclists, pedestrians and horseback riders, will get underway in August. The so-called “Stanley to Redfish Lake Trail” should be completed by next fall.

Campsites around Stanley Lake are also getting some attention. Efforts are underway there to return the Stanley Lake Inlet Campground to unspoiled wetlands. The road to the area frequently floods, and the campsite itself is built on fill. The dirt will be removed and the site converted back to its natural state. To compensate for the loss, the Lake View Campground will be incorporated into the Stanley Lake Recreation Complex.

For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915

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