The Rugged And Remote Hiking Trail In Idaho That Is Well-Worth The Effort
By Courtnie Erickson|Published July 19, 2023
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
There are some hiking trails in Idaho that are short and sweet — perfect for an afternoon of exploring. Then, there are others that are much longer, more difficult, and may require a few days to complete. The Tin Cup Hiker Trail is one of these. This remote hiking trail in Idaho is certainly going to challenge hikers of all skill levels as it takes you through the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. In fact, we recommend you sign up for a trial of AllTrails+, which allows you to download maps for use offline and to access other features that can help you on your way. But, with multiple lakes, dense forests, and pure Idaho beauty, this hiking trail is worth every single step.
The Tin Cup Hiker Trail is not for the faint of heart. This is an 18.7-mile-loop trail in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in central Idaho.
To reach the trailhead, you will follow Highway 75 south from Stanley until you reach Pettit Lake turnoff. You will follow this gravel road to the Pettit Lake Campground. Just past the campground, you will find a large parking area. A trailhead pass is required, which you can acquire at the ranger station south of Stanley.
This trail is rated hard by AllTrails users and it certainly has some challenging areas. You will climb more than 3,100 feet in elevation, so you’ll want to be ready.
While you can make this trail a full-day adventure, I recommend breaking it up into multiple days and backpacking. Along this route, you will come to many natural features that you won’t want to rush by.
Each lake is absolutely stunning and perfect for setting up camp for the night. If you are brave enough, you may even want to hop in the water and cool off — just be aware that the water is typically quite chilly. Also, make sure you bring plenty of bug spray.
You may also pass areas with meadows of wildflowers.
Like I said before, you may just want to break this trail up into multiple days so you can truly immerse yourself in some of Idaho's most rugged and beautiful landscapes. They are so hard to beat.
This is one Idaho hiking trail where you will be grateful you put in the effort. It may be rough, rugged, and remote, but it’s mesmerizing. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
Late summer is best to tackle the Tin Cup Hiker Trail to ensure snow is melted in the higher elevations. You can learn more about this trail, including accessing a trail map, on the AllTrails website.
Have you ever tackled the Tin Cup Hiker Trail or visited any of the alpine lakes along this trail? Let us know in the comments. Just make sure that before you head on any hiking adventure, you are prepared. Check out our ultimate hiking packing list for all of your hiking needs.
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