Maybe you’ve seen Idaho’s famed Sawtooth Mountains from a campground in the area.

Maybe you’ve seen spectacular 10,229-foot Mount Heyburn from a trail or one of the roads near Redfish Lake Lodge.

But if you want to get a different view of Idaho’s beautiful Sawtooth scenery, you’ve got to try it from the Lady of the Lake cruise on Redfish Lake.

In addition to a new look at the mountains, the cruise around a 5-mile-long glacial lake considered the jewel of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area is a way to learn about geology, history and why Redfish Lake is called Redfish Lake.

“Being out on the lake and having that different perspective is great,” said Lin Gray, a guide at the Redfish Lake Visitor Center. “The southern part of the lake is amazing.”

The only way to get to certain parts of the lake is either by trail or boat. The boat cruise takes about an hour and starts at Redfish Lake Lodge’s waterfront.

The Lady of the Lake pontoon boat, which can hold 12 to 14 people, cruises from the dock and along both the shoreline and the middle of the lake for different views of the Central Idaho mountain range near Stanley. The national recreation area is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Idaho.

The boat also makes a stop on land where kids have been known to take dips in the chilly lake. Stick your toe in first.

You’ll find the Lady of the Lake based at Redfish Lake Lodge on the north shore.

The lodge was built in 1929 and is the center of plenty of other activities in the area, from horseback riding to bicycling and fishing to hiking.

Forest Service campgrounds are available close by and the lodge also has accommodations and dining.

By the way, Redfish Lake is named for the bright red sockeye salmon that once came back from the Pacific Ocean to spawn in the lake in such massive numbers that the lake appeared red.

Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445, Twitter: @Zimosoutdoors