Twin Lakes, Glacial lakes in Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho

Twin Lakes are two glacial lakes in the Sawtooth Wilderness of Blaine County, Idaho, separated by a strip of land less than 30 metres wide. They sit at about 2,701 metres, just upstream of Alice Lake and several miles above Pettit Lake, and drain toward the Salmon River. Snowyside Peak rises about 1.2 km to the east.

The area was protected when the Sawtooth National Recreation Area was established to preserve these lakes and their mountain surroundings. Since then, both lakes have remained part of this protected landscape.

The lakes lie in the Sawtooth Wilderness, where visitors must obtain a wilderness permit from a registration box at trailheads or wilderness boundaries. Sawtooth National Forest trail 092 leads to the twin lakes, and the lakes are just upstream of Alice Lake and several miles upstream of Pettit Lake.

Access is via marked hiking trails through Sawtooth National Forest, and checking current conditions before arrival is important. At this elevation, weather can change quickly, and trails may have snow into late spring and early summer.

The two lakes sit less than 30 metres apart, separated by a strip of land under 100 feet wide. Sawtooth National Forest trail 092 reaches them, and they lie just upstream of Alice Lake, several miles above Pettit Lake. A wilderness permit is available at registration boxes at trailheads or wilderness boundaries.