Redfish Lake Recreation Complex

The numbers that decide it

Redfish Lake Recreation Complex

Redfish Lake is at the headwaters of the Salmon River, whose waters flow north to meet the Snake River and continue to the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. As late as the 1950’s, more than 4,000 sockeye salmon made the annual 900-mile (1,440-km) pilgrimage from the ocean to their spawning grounds in the Sawtooth Valley. However, in recent years only between 2-20 have returned each year. In an effort to save the endangered fish, whose bright red color gave Redfish Lake its name, the National Marine Fisheries Service established a local hatchery. Since 1999, the lake has been stocked with sockeye salmon. Bull trout, steelhead and Chinook salmon can also be spotted in the area. There is a visitor center and Redfish Lake Lodge. Between Little Redfish Lake and Redfish Lake there are commercially operated showers, a gas station with propane, a dump station and horse rentals. Little Redfish Lake does not allow motorboats. Redfish lake campsites that accept reservations include: Sunny Gulch campsite, Glacier View, Outlet campsite, Point, North Shore picnic area and Sunny Gulch Pavillion picnic area. Reservations can be made by going to www.recreation.gov or by calling (877)444-6777. First-come, first-serve campsites include: Chinook Bay, Mountain View, Mt. Heyburn, Sockeye, Red Fish Inlet, Outlet Day Use Area, and Sunny Gulch campsite offers some as well. Double-sites are available at Sunny Gulch campsite, Sockeye, Glacier View and Outlet. Picnic and day use areas include North Shore picnic area, Sunny Gulch Pavillion and picnic area, and Outlet day use area.

Before you go

Scenic drives that pass close

• Sawtooth Scenic Byway2 mi
• Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway5 mi
• Salmon River Scenic Byway11 mi