Lake Marie - Backpack and Hike near Island Park, Idaho
Sawtell Peak Rd, Island Park, ID 83429, USA,Island Park,Idaho
44.55414835601429, -111.44517973065376
9.7 miles N of Island Park, Idaho
Address: Sawtell Peak Rd, Island Park, ID 83429, USA
GPS: 44°33'14.9"N 111°26'42.6"W
Maps | Directions
State: Idaho
Trail Length: 9.00 miles
Trail Type: Out & Back
Hike Difficulty: Beginner
Trails/Routes: 4.2 mi

Backpack and Hike

Lake Marie sits on the North slope of Mount Jefferson in Fremont County, Idaho. The trail to get there cuts back and forth across the Idaho Montana border 4 times. Much of the trail is fairly flat along the ridge of the Continental Divide with mild ups and downs going each way. When the ridge begins to ascend toward Mount Jefferson, the trail vears North as it works it way across Jefferson. You'll go down some switchbacks through the trees which is about the only real shade on the trail. Then you'll travel West through a meadow full of wildflowers of all colors. After the meadow, you'll follow along the rocky trail across the Northern slope until it does a sharp turn to go back East. From there, there are a couple of options but essentially, you just need to head North until you see Rock Creek and ultimately drop in to Lake Marie.

Once you reach the lake, there is a beautiful meadow. with the trickling rock creek coming into it and another small stream leading out of it. Because Lake Marie is so freshly fed by the snowmelt from Mount Jefferson, the size varies dramatically between spring and fall but one thing will be constant: the water is cold.

38.2K Written by endovereric

More Information

Add Resource

Link to another great resource

Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.

Read More
  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From Island Park, Idaho

  1. Head north on US-20 E toward Forest Rd 139 (7.1 mi)
  2. Turn left onto Sawtelle Peak Rd
    Destination will be on the left
    (9.7 mi)
to add photos & videos and suggest edits

Guest Review/Comments

/5
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

endovereric

9/1/17 11:50 am
31 Aug 2017 "ATTENTION... CHARGING GRIZZLY BEAR NEAR ISLAND PARK. A hiker on the Lake Marie Trail south of Sawtell Peak near Island Park Idaho was charged twice by a grizzly bear. The hiker deployed bear spray and was able to safely get away from the bear. Hikers are warned to use caution if you go on this trail or avoid the trail for the next week or so to prevent another encounter with this bear. The bear could be defending cubs, or its food." https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=773079676187527&id=389421041220061
Reply

endovereric

6/30/17 11:19 pm 6/27/15
This is a beautiful hike and a great one to run. I came up later than the rest of my group and had to catch up. The ups and downs were great. I'm not a real trail runner but it wasn't too bad to run the downs and walk the ups. It would have been great if I would have realized it was 4.5 miles in rather than the 2-3 that I thought it was. The lake was pretty muddy but still great. Rock Creek was pretty cool as was the outlet. I walked to the other side to look out the North end of the range. The forest North of the lake was actually really refreshing.
Reply
Edit Review Delete Review
Reply Cancel
Lake Marie courtesy of katiemia Lake Marie courtesy of katiemia↗
Wildflower Meadow courtesy of katiemia Wildflower Meadow courtesy of katiemia↗ Route Distance Route Distance Lake Marie, island park, idaho march 26th by IPBoondocker

Trails

Distance ?

4.2 miles

Elevation Gain ?

-303 feet

Real Ascent ?

902 feet

Real Descent ?

1,205 feet

Avg Grade (-1°)

-1%

Grade (-22° to 24°)

-40% to 45%

Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.

Other Hiking Trails and Backpacking Trails Nearby

Add Location 7.6 mi

Mount Jefferson

Island Park, Idaho

0.0 miles S

Mount Jefferson, at 10, 203 feet is the highest point in the Centennial Mountains, a small, local range on the border of Idaho and Montana a little west of Yellowstone. These mountains consist of a...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

5.8 mi

Box Canyon Trail

Island Park, Idaho

10.0 miles S

Various species of tress and wildflowers can be seen on the trail, as well as songbirds, waterfowl and occasional wildlife. The trail is open for the following uses: Motorcycle Trail Riding, Off...

Hike, Mountain Bike

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

Big Springs

Island Park, Idaho

10.1 miles SE

There's also a great little walking trail along the river with placards that tell about the ecosystem and history of the area. There's about a 1/2 mile that's paved and then a 1/2 mile...

Camp, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

0.6-4.7 mi

Harriman State Park

Island Park, Idaho

16.0 miles S

Harriman State Park is found 38 miles from Yellowstone along Henry's Fork. This 11,000-acre wildlife refuge is open year round for most activities. In addition to having beautiful scenery and...

Cross-country Ski, Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike, Snowshoe

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

cross-country ski Cross Country Ski Trail

horseback Horseback Trail

snowshoe Snowshoe Trail

4.8 mi

Aldous Lake and Hancock Lake

Kilgore, Idaho

19.8 miles W

A pair of alpine lakes near Kilgore, Idaho. Good road all the way to the trailhead. Easy to moderate 1.5mi hike to the first lake (Aldous) and another mile of moderate hiking to Hancock. Beautiful...

Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

horseback Horseback Trail

backpack Backpacking Trail

Sheep Falls on Henry's Fork

Island Park, Idaho

24.6 miles S

Sheep Falls cascades approximately 25' through a narrow basalt chute on the North Fork of the Snake River near Island Park, Idaho. Compared to nearby Lower and Upper Mesa Falls, that height may...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

14.8 mi

Biscuit Basin to Fairy Falls and Firehole Meadows

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

25.9 miles E

Freight Road trail is a almost 15 mile hike that leaves from Biscuit Basin or Fountain Flats Drive. This hike is a beautiful remote hike that passes several unique landmarks, breaking up this hike...

Backpack, Camp, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

backpack Backpacking Trail

Mesa Falls

Ashton, Idaho

25.9 miles S

Upper Mesa Falls, aka Big Falls, is an absolutely awesome waterfall on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River. The falls drop 114 ft. and measure 300 ft. across. To get to the falls from the parking lot...

Cross-country Ski, Hike, Kayak

hike Hiking Trail

cross-country ski Cross Country Ski Trail

kayak Kayaking Area

Pine Butte / The Caldera

St. Anthony, Idaho

27.4 miles SW

This is about as close to an oasis as you can get in the deserts of Idaho. It's an old volcano in the middle of the sagebrush desert. As soon as you start down the path, you can feel the air...

Camp, Hike, Horseback

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

horseback Horseback Trail

17.5 mi

Tear Drop Lake

Ashton, Idaho

27.7 miles SE

Nestled in the Targhee National Forest just off of Ashton's Fish Creek Road, this tear drop shaped lake is a family adventure waiting to happen. The lake isn't very big but it is teeming with...

Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

0.8 mi

Harlequin Lake Trail

Madison, Yellowstone National Park

28.1 miles E

Harlequin Lake Trail is a beautiful short hike that can be taken in under an hour. This scenic hike is easy and family friendly, making it the perfect activity to add to any Yellowstone visit....

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

0.3-0.6 mi

Bear Gulch

Ashton, Idaho

28.9 miles S

Bear Gulch is an abandoned ski hill out of operation since 1969. While the vegetation is beginning to take over, there's still some great sledding to be had. It's just far enough into the...

Camp, Cross-country Ski, Hike, Sled

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

cross-country ski Cross Country Ski Trail

sled Sledding Hill

0.3-0.5 mi

Mystic Falls

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

29.6 miles E

Mystic Falls is a 70-foot cascading waterfall on Little Firehole River. The area around the falls is quiet and beautifully forested. Mystic Falls is a lesser known spot in Yellowstone National Park....

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

6.1 mi

Purple Mountain Trail

Madison, Yellowstone National Park

29.7 miles E

Purple Mountain Trail is a 6 mile out and back trail to the peak of purple mountain. This is a beautifully forested trail with little foot traffic is a quiet respite from the crowds of...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

Sentinel Meadows & Queen's Laundry

Madison, Yellowstone National Park

30.0 miles E

The hike to Sentinel Meadows and Queens Laundry gives you a level trail with wide open meadows, hot springs, ponds, birds, and a little bit of Yellowstone National Park history. The trail can be done...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

0.7 mi

Grand Prismatic Spring

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

30.1 miles E

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world, after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

0.3-5.0 mi

Fairy Falls

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

30.3 miles E

Fairy Falls is something out of a fantasy novel. Fairy Falls is a wonderful portion of Yellowstone. It has stolen the hearts of many who have had a little pixie dust sprinkled on them...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

2.0 mi

Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

30.3 miles E

The Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail gives hikers an opportunity to see the famous aerial view of the Grand Prismatic Spring. The vibrant rainbow waters of the Grand Prismatic Spring are...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

3.2-47.0 mi

Yellowstone Branch Line Trail

Ashton, Idaho

30.7 miles S

Yellowstone branch line trail runs from Warm River to the Montana border totaling 39 miles. There are a few places to jump on and off the trail as well as a few smaller trails that branch off of this...

Backpack, Cross-country Ski, Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

cross-country ski Cross Country Ski Trail

horseback Horseback Trail

backpack Backpacking Trail

Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

31.1 miles E

Old Faithful is a cone geyser located in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States. It was named in 1870 during the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition and was the first geyser in the park...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

More Similar Arenas Near Lake Marie:

Hiking Trails Backpacking Trails Things to Do

Nearby Campsites

Add Location

Upper Coffee Pot Campground

Island Park, Idaho

5.8 miles SE

Upper Coffeepot Campground stretches along a floatable section of Henry's Fork of the Snake River. A mixed growth lodgepole pine forest provides partial shade and summer wildflowers are...

Camp, Canoe

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

0.9 mi

Buffalo River Campground

Island Park, Idaho

9.6 miles SE

The float here is nice and easy. It's a great early season float. Later in the season the shallow spots will force you to walk a good chunk of the float. The water is super clear and often pretty...

Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

Big Springs

Island Park, Idaho

10.1 miles SE

There's also a great little walking trail along the river with placards that tell about the ecosystem and history of the area. There's about a 1/2 mile that's paved and then a 1/2 mile...

Camp, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

Wade Lake

Cameron, Montana

18.5 miles N

Camp, Canoe, Kayak, and Swim near Cameron, Montana

Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

4.8 mi

Aldous Lake and Hancock Lake

Kilgore, Idaho

19.8 miles W

A pair of alpine lakes near Kilgore, Idaho. Good road all the way to the trailhead. Easy to moderate 1.5mi hike to the first lake (Aldous) and another mile of moderate hiking to Hancock. Beautiful...

Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

horseback Horseback Trail

backpack Backpacking Trail

14.8 mi

Biscuit Basin to Fairy Falls and Firehole Meadows

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

25.9 miles E

Freight Road trail is a almost 15 mile hike that leaves from Biscuit Basin or Fountain Flats Drive. This hike is a beautiful remote hike that passes several unique landmarks, breaking up this hike...

Backpack, Camp, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

backpack Backpacking Trail

Pine Butte / The Caldera

St. Anthony, Idaho

27.4 miles SW

This is about as close to an oasis as you can get in the deserts of Idaho. It's an old volcano in the middle of the sagebrush desert. As soon as you start down the path, you can feel the air...

Camp, Hike, Horseback

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

horseback Horseback Trail

17.5 mi

Tear Drop Lake

Ashton, Idaho

27.7 miles SE

Nestled in the Targhee National Forest just off of Ashton's Fish Creek Road, this tear drop shaped lake is a family adventure waiting to happen. The lake isn't very big but it is teeming with...

Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

0.3-0.6 mi

Bear Gulch

Ashton, Idaho

28.9 miles S

Bear Gulch is an abandoned ski hill out of operation since 1969. While the vegetation is beginning to take over, there's still some great sledding to be had. It's just far enough into the...

Camp, Cross-country Ski, Hike, Sled

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

cross-country ski Cross Country Ski Trail

sled Sledding Hill

Madison Campground

Madison, Yellowstone National Park

29.1 miles E

Madison Campground is named for its proximity to the Madison River, which runs through the area in a lush mountain setting rich in wildlife. Madison Campground is at an elevation of 6,800’ and...

Camp

camp Campsite

Warm River Campground

Ashton, Idaho

30.7 miles S

Warm River Campground is located nine miles northeast of Ashton, Idaho, along the slow-moving Warm River at an elevation of 5,200 feet. Willows line the riverbanks and pine trees offer partial...

Camp

camp Campsite

Horseshoe Lake

Ashton, Idaho

32.0 miles SE

Horseshoe Lake is hidden back in the Targhee National Forest. It's a beautiful lake with plenty of lily pads. The road to get there is well maintained and there are many options for pull-outs...

Camp, Canoe, Dive, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

dive Diving Platform

Porcupine Creek

Ashton, Idaho

34.1 miles S

Porcupine Creek is a hunting, fishing, camping, and swimming spot near Ashton, Idaho in Fremont County within Targhee National Forest.  It's surrounded by forests, meadows, and a creek...

Camp, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

camp Campsite

Cave Falls of Yellowstone

Ashton, Idaho

36.0 miles SE

This campgrond is situated on the banks of Fall River in Wyoming along the south border of Yellowstone National Park. Cave Falls Campground has 23 single site units and a terrific area for...

Camp, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

Sheep Falls on Fall River

Ashton, Idaho

37.1 miles SE

The lesser known Sheep Falls on Fall River is a local treasure off of Cave Falls road. There are primitive campsites and beautiful views for a great picnic spot. The water splits and comes down in...

Camp

camp Campsite

Norris Campground

Norris, Yellowstone National Park

38.9 miles E

Norris campground is centrally located in Yellowstone National Park and offers a good spot for those planning to visit many of the most famous features in Yellowstone. Norris is a relatively short...

Camp

camp Campsite

Loon Lake

Ashton, Idaho

39.1 miles SE

Camp, Kayak, and Swim near Ashton, Idaho

Camp, Kayak, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

camp Campsite

kayak Kayaking Area

Stoddard Creek

Spencer, Idaho

39.2 miles W

Stoddard Creek Campground is located just 1 mile off I-15 and 17 miles north of the town of Dubois, Idaho. Visitors come to the area to enjoy the abundance of trails, wildlife viewing opportunities...

Camp

camp Campsite

Indian Creek Campground Yellowstone

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

41.5 miles NE

Indian Creek Campground is a quiet and secluded wooded campground within Yellowstone National Park, ideal for tent campers. It’s close to lots of hiking and fishing, and only a few miles to...

Camp

camp Campsite

1.5-3.8 mi

Little Gibbon Falls

Norris, Yellowstone National Park

41.6 miles E

Ice Lake and Little Gibbon Falls Loop is a 4.5 mile loop trail located near Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The trail is good for all skill levels and primarily used for hiking, but there are...

Camp, Canoe, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

More Campsites Near Lake Marie:

Campsites

Embed Arena

Where do you plan to embed this code?

<script src="https://www.freearenas.com/embed/a5a722399"></script>

Copy
×
loading...

New Collection

Donate to the Cause

Help us inspire and inform every person to enjoy life and the great outdoors in a responsible way. There's a lot of ways to do this. Here's a few ways we're working on our mission right now: Providing information, Building and maintaining local trails, Helping and teaching kids to fix their bikes, Cleaning up local parks to provide safe and clean places to enjoy nature. Learn More

Add an Arena

Just some quick info about this location to get started...

Edit Your Experience

Log Your Visit to This Location

We've logged that you went. Is there anything else you want to add?

Thank you for your review/comment

We've recorded your comments. Is there anything else you want to add?

By recording your visit on FreeArenas.com, you'll have a collection of all the great places you've been and provide valuable information for yourself and others in the future.

Have you been to this location?

/5
Cancel

Update Review

/5