Things I cannot recommend:

– Hiking on an afternoon where the smoke from nearby wildfires is so thick you can barely see the Sawtooth Mountains
– Tackling Goat Lake without knowing it’s considered one of the most “expert” and dangerous hikes in the Stanley area
– Hiking down a steep mountain in a thunderstorm
– All three on the same day

That said, if it’s late summer and not a bad fire season and there are no storm warnings for the area, give Goat Lake a shot.  The unmaintained trail to the lake itself can be difficult to find and is extremely steep (and not too fun with several pounds of gear including a tripod on your back), but Goat Lake is a ghostly deserted beauty in a league of its own.  I was very disappointed to be chased away by a thunderstorm so soon – I could have stayed at the lake hours longer taking photos!  I didn’t have a chance to get all the shots I wanted, but check out a few favorites below.

Want to hike it yourself?  I found Hiking Idaho’s guide extremely helpful.  Margaret Fuller’s Trails of the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains is a great guide for Goat Lake and beyond as well.  Stay safe and enjoy!