Fire near Sawtooth mountain lake closes several popular trails, Forest Service says
A fire at a high mountain lake in the Sawtooth Range has shut down access to several popular trails as firefighters work to get the blaze under control.
The 44-acre Alpine Lake Fire is burning east of Alpine Lake in the northern part of the Sawtooth Wilderness. It’s about 7 miles northwest of Redfish Lake and 6 miles southwest of Stanley.
In a Facebook post, the Sawtooth National Forest said hotshot crews and helicopters have been deployed to fight the fire, which started on Sunday.
“We are concerned about firefighter safety due to the steep and rugged terrain,” the agency wrote.
The Forest Service has closed the Iron Creek Trailhead on Forest Service Road No. 619. The trailhead is the starting point for several popular hikes in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, including routes to Alpine Lake, Sawtooth Lake and Goat Lake.
The North Fork Baron Creek Trail is also closed between the junction with Baron Creek Trail 101 until the junction with Iron Creek Stanley Lake Trail. Access to Sawtooth Lake from the Grandjean/Baron Creek area to the southwest is also closed.
