Nestled between the towering White Cloud and Sawtooth Mountain ranges, Stanley transforms from bustling summer haven to tranquil winter snow globe as the towering peaks adorn their frosty white gowns. While Stanley has held the title of coldest spot in the continental US thanks to historical temps below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, there are also plenty of milder winter days that make Stanley an ideal weekend winter destination!
One blissful sunny weekend in February, my friends and I strapped on bathing suits beneath warm layers and piled into the SUV with our snow gear. We stopped at Volcanic Farms for the best huckleberry pie in Idaho, then followed the winding Payette River north and then east until we spotted the billows of steam. Nature’s ultimate winter spa awaited us at the end of a snowy half-mile jaunt. We heard the gentle rush of water as we finally happened upon layers of glistening rocky pools dotting the river cliff-side amongst a backdrop of bright, snow-covered, tree-line banks.
Feeling invigorated, we continued onward, until just minutes from our destination, we saw an orange and black mirage that sadly did not disappear as we grew closer. ROAD CLOSED. Our hearts sank as we sat speechless. Our destination suddenly seemed unreachable — a rockslide blockaded our intended path. Left with only two choices, we chose to rally up for the LONG way around this obstacle. Winding back down to Boise via Highway 21 to the I-84, we made the most of the detour, reminiscing about past adventures and refueling with delicious shakes and burgers at the Wrangler Drive-In. As sun set in the rearview mirror, we skirted through Sun Valley and up the mountain pass. After 8+ hours of travel, visible sighs of relief escaped into the chilly night air like puffs of smoke as our feet touched down on the frozen ground next to the log cabin.
Bright sunbeams warmed our faces the next morning as we rubbed our weary eyes and peaked outside the riverside cabin. Steam rose from the icy river lined with snow-covered foliage, amongst a backdrop of majestic ivory mountains. After filling our bellies with home-cooked nourishment at the Mountain Village Restaurant, we strapped on our gear at the entrance road to Redfish Lake to head out into the winter wonderland.
Beneath the brilliant blue sky, unplowed terrain spread like a vast blanket of glittery-white, sprinkled with powdery pines. We were in a snow globe that had settled in a picture of winter perfection. Our snowshoes made a satisfying crunch as we meandered down the snowy path. Reaching the sweeping views of an ice-covered Redfish Lake, we took one daring step, then another. We were walking on water! Traversing across the thick ice and then back over bridges and across Little Redfish too, we meandered the blissful afternoon away, rarely spotted another soul in what felt like our own ethereal snow globe.
We completed our journey and set back out along the river for the best way to warm up… hot springs! Afterwards an evening of drinks, food, music, and laughter commenced until our eyelids refused to stay open. Begrudgingly, we set back in the car the next morning on the cleared road, making for a much shorter trek home. The extended journey was definitely worth the priceless time spent amongst the transcendent beauty of the Stanley Snow Globe.