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4th of July LbNA #62521

Owner:Wisconsin Hiker
Plant date:Jul 4, 2012
Location:
City:Stanley
County:Custer
State:Idaho
Boxes:1
Found by: Not yet found!
Last found:N/A
Last edited:May 14, 2016
Last checked/found: 4-JUL-12

Location: ~Mile Post 174.6 on Hwy. 75 (approximately 15 miles south of Stanley). Turn east on 4th of July Road (dirt/gravel) and drive about ten miles to the parking lot at the trailhead. You may want to search online for the Forest Service’s “SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA RECREATION REPORT” for current info on road and trail conditions.

Terrain: Rocky dirt trail through forest, but easy for almost anyone.
Distance: ~3 miles roundtrip, 424’ elevation gain.

We vacationed in Idaho in July 2012 and decided that the best hike to do on the 4th of July holiday was the one that took us to 4th of July Lake! Here is a description we found on a Stanley web site:

“This is a great hike for a taste of what the White Cloud mountains on the East side of the Sawtooth Valley are like. The elevation is higher than the Sawtooths, the geology is different and the sense of being in the mountains is overwhelming for such a short hike. The hike starts in the forest and reaches Fourth of July Lake at about 1.5 miles where the lake, the meadow around the lake and the mountain views are incredible.”

We did indeed enjoy the hike and left a souvenir nearby to celebrate. If you’d like to look for it, start out on the trail, cross a bridge, and then cross an ATV track. At the intersection of 109 & 219 – stay with the low number. When you reach a “Y” at the lake you have a choice. Go left for some great views and perhaps a picnic. However go right to find the box!

Cross the creek and then stop at the “Stock Tie Area” sign just after the creek. Head to the large fallen log on the right. Behind it find a smaller forked log. Your patriotic memento is under the fork. Please rehide it well to avoid accidental discovery by muggles (or stock) visiting the area.

You can retrace your steps back to the parking lot or, better yet, continue on to find my “I Want YOU to Hike!” letterbox further along the trail.

We live quite far away, so would greatly appreciate an email to let us know if you made it to the 4th of July celebration.


Hike length: 2-3 miles