Elk Lake (Sawtooth Wilderness)

Elk Lake is an alpine lake in Boise County, Idaho, United States, located in the Sawtooth Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The lake is approximately 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Stanley and 9.5 miles (15.3 km) southeast of Grandjean. Located in the remote central Sawtooth Wilderness, Elk Lake is most easily reached from the Grandjean trailhead to the northwest and downstream along the South Fork of the Payette River.[1]

Elk Lake
Elk Lake Show map of Idaho Elk Lake Show map of the United States
Location	Boise County, Idaho
Coordinates	44.024856°N 115.071592°W / 44.024856; -115.071592
Primary inflows	South Fork Payette River
Primary outflows	South Fork Payette River
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	0.40 mi (0.64 km)
Max. width	0.16 mi (0.26 km)
Surface elevation	6,650 ft (2,030 m)

Elk Lake is a shallow non-glacial lake (in contrast to almost all other lakes in the Sawtooths) that is largely wetlands due to sedimentation. There are several glacial lakes upstream of Elk Lake, including Vernon Lake, Edna Lake, Ardeth Lake, and Virginia Lake.

Edna Lake is in the Sawtooth Wilderness and wilderness permit can be obtained at trailheads.