Exploring Stanley, Idaho with One of My Best Friends! Part 2 of 3

I met one of my best friends in Idaho for some girl time and adventures together. We were exploring Stanley, Idaho, and then I'd share my local area in Utah with her. I drove to Boise, met Tiffany at the airport and we hit some hot springs on the way to Stanley. If you missed Part 1, read it here: Exploring Stanley, Idaho with One of My Best Friends! Part 1 of 3

Stanley Baking Co and Cafe

We started our morning in Stanley at the famous Stanley Baking Co. and Cafe. I had been looking forward to having multiple experiences here since I began planning this trip. I already had a list of things I wanted to order. I'm a sucker for good coffee and good treats! Located in a small log cabin, with indoor and outdoor seating, you can choose a home-cooked breakfast or lunch or from various baked goods. Don’t let the line out the door scare you off, it goes fast and is worth any wait.

On this first morning, we opted for breakfast sandwiches and shared a cinnamon roll while enjoying our coffee. We sat outdoors and ended up sharing a table with two other people. It was fun to chat about where we were from and our plans for the week.

Redfish Lake

Redfish Lake is located just a few miles outside Stanley, Idaho, and is the largest lake in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The shore length is approximately 11 miles around with a max depth of just under 400 feet. Access to the lake is at the Redfish Lake Lodge, which consists of the marina, beach, lodging options, multiple restaurants, a general store, etc.

Shuttle Boat

We started the day by taking the shuttle boat across the lake to hike in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. We knew that we wanted to see Lily Pond and Redfish Lake Creek Waterfall. Beyond that, we had a couple of options. We could hike back to the resort along the lake or hike a partial trail before meeting the shuttle boat several hours later. When planning the hike, we realized that many of the hikes in this area are quite long and some require multiple days. We planned to spend a few hours hiking before choosing to paddleboard or kayak on the lake. Then we’d grab some food and probably ice cream. We also had our timed entry for the hot springs at Mountain Village Resort, where we were staying.

Lily Pond and Redfish Redfish Lake Creek Waterfall

With the whole day in front of us, we were mostly looking forward to the natural beauty of the Sawtooths and the activities planned. We explored the shoreline a bit and then began hiking toward Lily Pond. I was surprised at all the beauty we witnessed immediately off the boat. We kept pausing for pictures and just wanted to stop, look around, and let it all soak in. The Sawtooths are something special!

Arriving at Lily Pond, we were mesmerized by the numerous lily pads floating in the water. We also realized that we didn’t know much about lily pads. Both having teaching backgrounds, we suddenly had so many questions 😂 We decided to sit on some rock along the pond edge and began chatting about anything and everything… a continuation of the day before trying to catch up on family, friends, work, and everything in life.

We hadn’t realized how much time had passed when we decided to hike further to the Redfish Lake Creek Waterfall. Once again we were met with scenery that exceeded our expectations. After a photo shoot, each of us posing for various pictures near the waterfall, we continued our ongoing conversation. When we finally looked at the time, we were shocked that several hours had passed and it was getting close to the time of our return boat trip!

Change of Plans

It was quite a cool day and probably didn’t even reach 60 degrees. No one was in the water and while we were eating lunch, it was pretty cold even in the sun. This meant our afternoon plans were going to be a bust. It was a little disappointing at first, but then we noticed a crowd was gathering on the lawn as a couple of musicians set up their equipment. We knew there was live music several days a week, but hadn’t seen a schedule so this was a great surprise.

We grabbed a picnic blanket from the car and our beach towels to cover up with. It was downright cold by this point in the day. We spent the afternoon listening to music, relaxing, talking, and enjoying the crowd. Many people had their dogs, some kids were jump roping, a group had set up a slackline and everyone was enjoying the slow afternoon.

Sunset and Private Hot Springs

Things might not have exactly gone to plan, but what a magical day! It was topped off by spending an hour watching the sunset while sitting in a hot spring! The Mountain Village Resort offers a hot spring for guests only. Up to six people can reserve time each hour, so we were joined by four more people. At first, we weren’t excited about sharing the space, but it was fun to get to know them and share stories. Our day had already been quite full, but Tiffany and I were not done catching up yet! We ended up staying awake most of the night laughing about old memories, things we had done more than 25 years ago 🤯

It’s Snowing?!?

We had planned a rafting trip on this last day in Stanely, but it had been canceled the day before because of the impending weather forecast, overnight temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit! Even though it was disappointing, we knew it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience and was dangerous considering the low water temperatures. We woke up to sleet, snow, and even some hail. Our backup plan was to have a longer breakfast at the Stanley Baking Co and Cafe, hit more hot springs, visit Stanley Lake, and have a nice dinner at the Stanely Supper Club.

Hot Springs + Snow = Magic

Within a 20-minute drive, we had a list of 4 hot springs to check out; Valley Creek, Boat Box, Cove Creek, Sunbeam. The first two on the list were not easily seen so we continued driving and the parking for Cove Creek Hot Springs was easy to locate.

Cove Creek Hot Springs

We parked in the well-marked pull-off and headed down the trail with only our beach towels to Cove Creek Hot Springs.  You can't really see it from the parking so we weren't sure what to expect. Within a few moments, I stopped in my tracks seeing the three dogs we had been watching the day before at Redfish Lake. We met their owners and chatted for a while before they offered the hot spring to us.

It was another magical moment as we sat along the bank of the Salmon River in a hot spring while snow fell around us. I mean really, is there a better way to spend time with your best friend? We had some serious conversations as well as laughs. By the time a family came searching for the spring, we had been there for 2 hours!! We graciously gave them our spots and decided to find the remaining hot spring on our list.

Sunbeam Hot Springs

It was snowing quite a bit by this point so when we found several people at Sunbeam Hot Springs, it was easy to snap pictures and move along. Once again, there is well-defined parking. These springs consist of 5 man-made metal tubs and other sectioned-off pools along the river. We saw 2 of the tubs from the walkway above and some of the pools along the river. This is a place I’d want to check out more if I were in the area again.

Stanley Lake

Stanley Lake is highly recommended for a visit at sunset. Since it would be cloudy and snowing most of the day, we decided this was a good opportunity to check out the lake since sunset probably wouldn’t look too different.

We were the only ones at the Stanley Lake when we arrived. We walked out on the boat ramp to take pictures but it was cold and windy. The mountain background is beautiful and I could imagine a warm summer day on the lake. This would be a great place to paddleboard and enjoy a picnic lunch on the bank.

Stanley Supper Club

Before arriving in Stanley I was interested in eating at the Stanely Supper Club, but I wasn’t sure it would fit into our plans. It’s well known for its high-quality food and excellent hospitality.  Reservations are recommended and you can book up to a month in advance. This was the perfect place for a nice dinner and was especially cozy on a cold day. We were impressed by the dinner options, not a large menu, but each meal sounded so amazing making it difficult to choose.

First, we knew we needed to have the homemade sourdough served with warm butter. Then, for the appetizer, we chose the Asparagus Farinata, a fried chickpea cake topped with ricotta and grilled asparagus. It was delicious and didn’t last long. I didn’t even get a picture. Next, for dinner, I had the Vegan Cauliflower Pie and Tiffany had the Pierogi with Dandelion Greens, adding Kielbasa. These hearty warm meals were the perfect way to wrap up our time in Stanley and enjoy a “fancier” dinner together. Technically, we ended the meal with their famous homemade ice cream cookie sandwich!

Even More Next Week

Check back next week as we head to Utah! Keith and I give Tiffany the grand tour of the Wasatch Mountains. Then Tiffany and I spend a relaxing day at Snowbird Mountain Resort.

Have you been to Stanley and the Sawtooths Mountains? If so, tell us about your experiences and must-do list. Let us know in the comments section below.👇 💬