Northern Rockies

 

Pettit Lake, Idaho

On your way through the Sawtooth Valley, there are several small lakes just a few miles off the main road, Idaho Rte. 75 -- Alturas Lake, Pettit Lake, and Yellow Belly Lake -- all of which lie at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountain Range.  (There's also Redfish Lake, a much larger body of water, a few miles down the road.  We'll visit that one on the next page.)   Each of these lakes is peaceful and beautiful, and you should take a few minutes to detour over to at least one of them.

Pettit Lake (as well as Arturas and Yellow Belly) are located just a few miles west of Idaho Rte. 75.  The road to Pettit Lake was well-maintained dirt, and I expect the others are the same.

I chose Pettit Lake, the middle of the three lakes I listed above.  Once you emerge from the trees, there's a serene, clear lake waiting for you, surrounded by mountain peaks. 

Unfortunately, given the cloudy skies and choppy waters, everything looks a bit more grey than it should.  I'd love to return here on a sunny, blue-sky day, when the water is perfectly still, and reflecting the nearby mountains.

This is the view from the boat-ramp area, which opens onto a small inlet on the lake's eastern side.

I've read that there is an 18 mile trail that encircles Pettit Lake, although I can't imagine the views get any better than those on the lake's eastern edge.

I stopped for this picture along the road to Pettit Lake.  This is the area where the foothills meet the valley floor.

 

Sawtooth Scenic Byway

Redfish Lake, ID

 

Idaho Attractions Map
Research Idaho Hotels
Free Travel Brochures

 

EBR-1 - The First Atomic Reactor To Generate Electricity, Outside Arco, Idaho


Craters of the Moon National Monument, outside Arco, Idaho - Volcanic Landscape


Butte City and Arco, Idaho


Idaho's Center of Population, Ironically, No One Lives Here



Salmon River, Stanley, Idaho & Stanley Lake

 


Ponderosa Pine Scenic Route, Scorched By Fire Around Lowman, Idaho


 Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - Inspiration Point, Lookout Point


Return Route from West Yellowstone to Jackson, through Ashton, Idaho


Old Faithful Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Share your thoughts!

In order to better manage your comments, TakeMyTrip now uses Facebook to allow you to leave comments for other visitors to this page, and your friends.  Please use the form above (you might need to log into your Facebook account first).  If you have a message specifically meant for the website creator, send an email to feedback takemytrip.com.  And don't forget to LIKE TakeMyTrip.com's Facebook page!


 


I grew up on that lake. My family used to have a cabin on it. You are correct about the view on the Eastern edge. Our cabin was one of the last on the other side.

--- Anonymous

Road Trip Index | Attractions By State: AL - AZ - CA - CO - FL - GA - ID - IL - MT - NC - NM
NV - OH - OR - PA - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - WA - WV - WY
Recommended Reading - Bookstore | Search This Site | Support This Site
How to Use This Site | About Me | Links | Legal Stuff | Sitemap

All content and photographs © 2008 TakeMyTrip.com / Daniel Woodrum
If you wish to use images from this page, please follow the rules listed
here.

 
         
    Sawtooth Scenic Byway  

 

Redfish Lake, Idaho