Indian Paintbrush Overlooking Twin Lakes

Horizontal orientation. Canvas prints are available with optional barnwood or hardwood floating frames hand-crafted by the photographer, making a truly unique and one-of-a-kind piece of art. Please see images for details.

The magnificent Sawtooth Mountains in central Idaho are popular for photography, as well as hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. The Alice-Toxaway Loop is one of the most popular hikes in the Stanley area, beginning at the Tin Cup Trailhead and passing Farley, Toxaway, Twin, and Alice Lakes along the way. I backpacked the loop the last week of July 2026, hiking 13 miles the first day, so that I could be at the base of the steepest climb in the morning. I packed up my campsite at 5am and started the steep climb before 6:00. The climb wasn’t quite as tough as I remembered from a few years ago, and I was at the pass at the top before 8:00. The sun was not very high yet and still casting a beautiful golden light on the mountain range to the west. The air was still a bit smoky from wildfires in the region, but the view of the lakes was clear and magnificent. There are many fantastic views along the trail, especially after cresting the peak to get to this view! In this image, I found some brightly colored Indian Paintbrush alongside the trail for the foreground.