Length:  40.5 miles
Trailhead(s):  Tin Cup Trailhead
Elevation Gain:  7,152’
Trail Type:  Lollipop
Dogs:  Allowed
Difficulty:  Moderate
Permit Required?  No
Considerations:  Parking at Tin Cup Trailhead is crowded – get there early!
Season:  Late Spring/Early Summer – Early Fall

Ten Lakes Basin Lollipop: A Rugged, Water‑Rich Sawtooth Backpacking Loop for Lake Collectors

If you’re the kind of backpacker who counts lakes the way some people count summit notches, the Ten Lakes Basin Lollipop in Idaho’s Sawtooth Wilderness is your kind of pilgrimage. This route strings together a ridiculous concentration of alpine water — Edna, Edith, Ardeth, Spangle, Three Island, Virginia, and more — all wrapped in classic Sawtooth granite, deep forest, and enough up‑and‑down terrain to keep your quads honest.

Most hikers shorten the mileage by taking the official Ten Lakes Basin Trail. We didn’t. We wanted the long version — the full lollipop — to see the lakes beyond the turnoff and to explore the Benedict Trail and South Fork Payette River Trail. More terrain, more lakes, more character. That’s the real deal.

The Ten Lakes Basin Lollipop:  Route Overview

Start/Finish: Tin Cup Trailhead Direction: Clockwise lollipop Core Route:

• Day 1:  Tin Cup Trailhead → Farley Lake → Edith Lake → Edna Lake (camp)
• Day 2:  Edna → Edith → Ardeth → Spangle Lakes → Three Island Lake (camp)
• Day 3:  Three Island → Benedict Trail → South Fork Payette River Trail → Virginia Lake (camp)
• Day 4:  Return to Tin Cup Trailhead via the same approach used on Day 1

Why the long version? Because the terrain beyond the Ten Lakes Basin turnoff is spectacular — and the Benedict + South Fork Payette combo gives you a remote, forested, creek‑rich contrast to the high‑granite basins.

Ten Lakes Basin Lollipop:  Day‑by‑Day Trip Report

Day 1:  Tin Cup Trailhead to Edna Lake

Theme: Up, up, and . . .wow!

The day starts with the standard Sawtooth warm‑up: a steady climb that reminds your lungs what altitude feels like. Once you crest into the higher forest, the world opens up — cold streams, polished granite, and lakes that feel like they were placed there for hikers who appreciate a good reward‑to‑effort ratio.

• Farley Lake: A scenic appetizer.
• Edith Lake: Lunch spot perfection — clear water, granite bowls, and a sense that you’re finally in the heart of the range.
• Saddle to Edna: A grind. Rocky, steep, and classic Sawtooth texture.
• Edna Lake: Worth every step. We camped in a tucked‑away cove on the left side of the lake with a killer view and quiet water. One of the best campsites on the loop.

Trail character: Rocky. Expect to watch your footing all day.

Day 2:   Edna to Three Island Lake

Theme: Lakes on lakes on lakes!

This is the day where the Ten Lakes Basin Lollipop earns its name. The terrain rolls — up, down, up, down — but the scenery never lets up. You move through a chain of lakes so close together it feels like cheating.

• Edith (again), Ardeth, Spangle, and more: Each one photogenic, each one different.
• Trail quality: Still rocky, still rugged, still worth it.
• Climb to Three Island Lake: The least‑traveled section of the loop. Steep, rough, and wild.
• Three Island Lake: Only two campsites. Ours had a big slab of rock and a wide‑open view — the kind of place you settle into and forget the rest of the world exists.

This is the day that convinces you the Sawtooths are one of the most lake‑dense mountain ranges in the West.

Day 3:  Three Island Lake to Virginia Lake

Theme: Smoke, creeks, and quiet forest miles.

We dropped to around 7,100 feet and walked into a valley holding a layer of smoke. The terrain mellowed out — fewer granite bowls, more forest, more creekside walking.

• Benedict Creek: Gentle grade, filtered light, and glimpses of ridgelines through the trees.
• South Fork Payette River: A beautiful stretch of trail with water crossings near the junctions. Early season hikers: these crossings will be big.
• Vegetation: Thick in the first half, then opens up as you climb toward Virginia.
• Lunch spot: A perfect creekside perch a couple miles before the lake.
• Virginia Lake: Not the most dramatic lake on the loop — more marshy edges, more grass — but we found a solid campsite with excellent water access.

This day is less about drama and more about rhythm. A forest day. A breathing day.

Day 4:  Virginia Lake to Tin Cup Trailhead

Theme: Retracing steps and closing the loop.

This is simply the hike out — covering the same terrain you used to reach Edna on Day 1. Familiar, straightforward, and a good cooldown after the big miles and big scenery of the previous days.

Why The Ten Lakes Basin Lollipop Route Works

1. The lake density is absurd

You’ll pass more lakes in three days than some backpackers see in an entire season.

2. The extended lollipop variation adds depth

Most hikers cut mileage by taking the Ten Lakes Basin Trail directly. By staying high and exploring the Benedict + South Fork Payette combo, you get:

• More solitude
• More terrain variety
• More lakes
• More water features
• A fuller sense of the Sawtooth ecosystem

3. Campsites are legitimately excellent

Edna and Three Island are standouts, but even Virginia has its charm.

4. The effort‑to‑reward ratio is wildly favorable

Yes, it’s rugged. Yes, it’s rocky. But the scenery comes at you fast and often.

Final Thoughts: The Ten Lakes Basin Lollipop Is a Sawtooth Classic

If you want a backpacking route that blends rugged terrain with constant alpine payoff, the Ten Lakes Basin Lollipop deserves a spot on your list. It’s a route for hikers who like granite, who like water, who like a little suffering, and who appreciate the kind of wilderness where every bend in the trail reveals another lake worth stopping for.

Our verdict: This lollipop is a keeper — and one we’ll be talking about for a long time.

Hike on!

Scroll down to learn about the GEAR WE USE and OTHER OUTVENTURES in this area.