The Elk Mountain Loop trail is one of the most popular Mountain Bike rides near Stanley, Idaho. This fun single-track takes riders through mountain meadows, up and down steep terrain, and covers roughly 13 miles of trail and road (nearly all of which offer incredible views of the Sawtooths).

There are two trailheads for the Elk Mountain Loop. The most popular one is Stanley Lake, which can be reached by traveling four miles up Highway 21 from Stanley. Look for an obvious sign that points up a paved road towards Stanley Lake. Follow that road and park at the trailhead (right after the pavement ends). Another option is to continue past the road to Stanley Lake and go an additional 3.5 miles on Highway 21. Look for an unpaved road and sign for Elk Meadows Road. Elk Meadows Road will lead you straight to a trailhead.

For additional information about mountain biking in the Stanley area, contact the Sawtooth Adventure Company (SAC). SAC offers mountain biking tours and is a reliable source of information trail conditions and local information. They can be reached at 1-866-774-4644.

Loop length  — 11.5 miles   Intermediate skill level – moderately strenuous

The trailhead for this ride is located by driving about 4 miles west of Stanley on Highway 21 to the Stanley Lake road then driving about 3.5 miles on that road to the trailhead just beyond the turnoff to the Inlet Campground at Stanley Lake.

The ride starts out with a climb in the first two or three miles then gradually looses altitude throughout most of the rest of the ride.  There is some great riding though the forest and along a beautiful mountain meadow on single track for much of the ride.  The beginning and much of the end is riding on dirt road and the last mile or so is a return to the trailhead on the Stanley Lake road on pavement. There is a mile or so in knobby rocks but most of the ride is pretty easy. 

The scenery goes in and out of great mountain views, meadow views and forest.

 Joe’s Gulch/Nip-N-Tuck Loop:

Loop length  — 14 miles  Easy riding – moderately strenuous

This ride starts in Lower Stanley just downriver from Stanley on Road #633 opposite “Bridge Street Grill.”  It follows Road #644 for about 5 miles to the intersection with Road #653.  Make a right turn onto #653, ride .3 miles crossing the creek and take another right turn still following Road #653.  At almost 3 miles, Road #653 becomes Road #431.  Stay on that road for another .7 miles where it takes a sharp right and begins to climb on Road #139.  Follow this road up to a pass with some great views for

about 1 ½ miles then ride downhill on Road #328 for about 2.5 miles.  This will bring you back out on Highway 75 where a right turn and a ride of about a mile brings you back to the beginning point

The first 3 miles of the ride could be done as a turnaround trip and would offer some incredible views of the Sawtooth Mountains and the Stanley Basin and wouldn’t necessarily require a map.  The full ride should be done with a map in hand.

 Fisher Creek Loop:

Loop length  –17.5 miles  Advanced and strenuous riding

This ride starts at the trailhead for the Williams Creek Trail about 10.5 miles south of Stanley on Highway 75.  It should be ridden in a counterclockwise direction so the two miles or so will be on Highway 75.   

This is a well known and often written up ride.  It includes some beautiful views of both the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains, as well as both road and some fun and somewhat challenging single track riding with a narrow steep descent near the end. 

Start the ride by riding South on Highway 75 for about 2.3 miles.  Turn left (East) onto Fisher Creek Road #132.  At about 7 miles it will become Trail #132.  Ride about a mile or so on that trail to a junction with Trail #104.   Be sure to turn left onto

Trail #104.  Ride the last approximately 7 miles of mostly downhill back to the trailhead.  The 7 miles or so on Road #132 is mostly uphill.  This ride should be done with a map in hand.

 For more information and a great map of mountain biking and hiking trails look for “Sawtooth & White Cloud Mountains” trail map produced by Adventure Maps.  It can be purchased at McCoy’s Tackle shop in Stanley , online at www.adventuremaps.net or sales@adventuremap.net or by calling 1-800-849-6589.