Little Redfish Lake, Glacial lake in Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho, US.
Little Redfish Lake is a glacial lake in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho covering about 66 acres at roughly 6,489 feet elevation. The water connects to the larger Redfish Lake through Redfish Lake Creek, creating a linked pair of high-altitude mountain waters.
The lake was carved by glaciers during the ice age as part of the Sawtooth Mountains' geological story. The area gained cultural attention in the 1960s when writers visited and drew inspiration from the mountain landscape and its fishing grounds.
The lake gets its name from the red-scaled sockeye salmon that historically swam through the Salmon River system to spawn. This connection to the fish migration reflects how local waters shaped the region's identity and ecological patterns.
The lake is accessible year-round for fishing, with brook trout and bull trout available under local regulations. Access comes via established mountain trails from nearby settlements, and visitors should prepare for high-altitude conditions.
The lake bottom features a clay pit formation created through glacial geological processes, giving it an unusual sediment structure. This formation sets the water body apart from other alpine lakes in the surrounding area.
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