Idaho: R is for Redfish Lake

Redfish Lake in Idaho, at the heart of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area near the town of Stanley, draws visitors for its mix of water, mountains, trails and salmon. A late-August Saturday trip brought crowds despite spotty cell coverage, including activity around Redfish Lake Lodge, where the nearly century-old site offers lodging, food and boat rentals. The visitor center helped explain the lake’s name: sockeye salmon spawn there and undertake a long migration from the Pacific, traveling more than 900 miles and gaining elevation of over 6,000 feet. The article notes that damming reduced sockeye numbers from earlier tens of thousands.