Big Boulder Lakes, Idaho

The White Cloud Range is the neighbor range to the Sawtooths, and the WCs have some places that equal or surpass the more famous Sawtooths. The Big Boulder Lakes are a gem in any range, and Sapphire might be the most beautiful lake I have seen in Idaho. The photo below is of Sapphire Lake, the nicest of the lakes that make up the Big Boulder Lakes.

Walker Lake, below, is the first lake you hit, about 7 miles from the trailhead at Livingston Mine. The topo doesn't show a trail to Walker, but there is a signed trail all the way.

From Fish Hook, its a short walk to Sapphire Lake, where I camped near the outlet.  Below: Sapphire Lake

Sapphire Lake

Outlet of Sapphire Lake

Elephant Heads after a mid July snow storm

Sapphire Lake after the storm clears

Cirque Lake during the storm.

Cove Lake

Cove Lake

Above: looking down the valley to Island Lake.  There is no trail here, but its very doable.

Island Lake. its probably 2 miles to Island Lake from Sapphire, and another 1.5 miles from Island lake to the trail junction with Walker Lake