Fourth of July in Goat Creek

Goat Creek Meadow July 2025

Goat Creek in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) and Sawtooth Wilderness is a treasure of the State of Idaho and the United States of America.  It is a trail-less region with indirect access for the public. Most people know it for the jewel named Goat Lake situated at high elevations. Others know it as a terrific hunting grounds in the fall-time.  Goat Creek runs through our home. Our property is surrounded by the SNRA and Sawtooth Wilderness.  Our property line is the SNRA Boundary.  Goat Creek, in short, is home territory for the Lubeck’s.  The meadow is effectively the back yard.

Sage

Willow

On most days, a 10K out and back into the Wilderness (with about 1,000 feet of vertical) is our walk. The meadow sits at about 7,000+ feet elevation.

Water Flowing

The Fourth of July holiday is upon us.  The temperatures have reached the 90’s (fahrenheit) the past five days. The implication is runoff from Goat Lake, down over Goat Falls is peaking.  The result is the on the Eve of Fourth of July, the meadow has about 1-2 feet of standing water throughout versus being dry to mushy (as it was last Saturday). Sage and Willow take advantage of the the condition.

Flowers Abound

Flowers are sprouting up throughout Goat Creek.

Shooting Star in Goat Creek meadow.

Indian Paint Brush on Goat Creek.

***Jeff’s Thoughts and Other Worthless Trivia ***

Goat Falls is 650 feet in height.  On this day the water is flowing in a big way.  The route to Goat Lake (which is sketchy) includes 1,750+ feet of vertical gain most of which is in the last 1/2 mile, straddling the falls to the right. Most descriptions of the 8.1 mile round-trip say the approach qualifies as anywhere from Challenging to Brutal.  The dogs and I would say the route is tricky and steep.