The trail to Marten Lake is a nice intermediate trail in the northern Sawtooths. The trail climbs steadily over some small sections of cobbles, before asceding several sandy hills and culminating at a nice backdrop of Marten Lake.

Trail Description

The trail starts with a gentle climb with a few short rocky sections. nothing too technical. At the halfway point, the technical aspects are ramped up a bit with a very rocky section followed by some sandy hills to climb. There is a marshy area where several streams converge, so have your bridge riding skills in practice. After a couple more loose hills, you are rewarded with a dip in Marten Lake. There is a nice network of trails here, so if you'd like to up the difficulty on the return trip, make the trek down Sheep Creek and bike along the highway back to your trailhead.

Getting There

the trailhead is 12 1/2 miles northwest of Stanley Idaho on ID-21. The turnoff is signed, but can be easy to miss as the sign is overgrown with shrubs. If you happen to spot it, turn at the "Marten Lake" sign, on the west side of the highway. The road becomes rough quickly, so park at the first obvious turnout and ride the rest of the way to the trailhead.

When to Bike

As with all high mountain areas, there is the possibility of precipitation year round, so be prepared. The season is generally short, due to the elevation and you'll likely see mud or snow during the spring or fall.