Amber Gulch

• Location: Boulder-White Clouds
  
• Status: Proposed Wilderness
  
• Distance: 8.5 miles round trip
• Elevation: 1,800 ft
  
• Difficulty: Moderate to basin, difficult to lakes
  
• Maps: Sawtooth National Forest, SNRA, Ketchum & Fairfield District; USGS Amber Lakes
• More information: Day Hiking Near Sun Valley
  

At the north end of the parking lot is a trailhead sign for the West Fork Big Wood trail. From there, it’s a short walk to a trail sign and a stream. Cross the stream (a log should be in place to cross it), and sign in at the registration box. 

About 1 mile from the trailhead, you come to a trail junction. Take the trail that leads down to the creek. After crossing the creek, hike the switchbacks. This trail takes you through a steep rockfall area. 

After passing through a timbered section, you can see the basin below the lakes. Some more switchbacks take you up the east side of a meadow where the constructed trail ends at a small pond.  

It's a steep climb from the basin to the lakes. To find the upper lake, go south from the pond. Find the outlet stream and follow it to the lake. To find the lower lake, head north from the pond and hike around a scree slope (a slope with loose rock debris around it). Follow the route of the outlet stream to the lake. Note: The route to the lower lake is for experienced cross-country hikers.

Directions

From Ketchum, drive north on Highway 75 for 8 miles to the main building of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Take a right onto North Fork Road and continue past the parking area for 5 miles. The road ends in a parking area by the river. Begin your hike here.