Baker Lake Hike

Staying near Sun Valley and looking for a good moderate day hike? Look no further than the lovely Baker Lake Trail, which offers amazing wildflowers in mid-summer, great views, and a nice little lake to cool off in when the weather is hot. The Baker Lake Trailhead is off the beaten path and a little over 9 miles on a good dirt road from the highway. There is a large parking area with vault toilets. The trail starts level, passing through a fairly extensive burned area of lodgepole pines from the 2013 Beaver Creek fire, but it quickly starts climbing across several long traverse routes that alternately pass through forested areas and wide open hillsides. As in many areas of prior fires, the wildflowers can be spectacular here. The grade never gets too steep, and even younger children can manage this trail. There is no view of the lake until you are right on top of it, and there is decent tree cover for shade as well as open areas for the views. The fishing in this lake is generally excellent, though there are posted restrictions for the native trout. There are a few campsites around the lake, making this an excellent family backpack destination.