Boise Logo Design: Sawtooth Lodge—Leading the Logo Redesign for Sawtooth Lodge in Grandjean, Idaho

Nestled at the base of the Sawtooth Wilderness in Grandjean, Idaho, the Sawtooth Lodge is a cherished retreat with a legacy spanning over a century. Originally established in 1927, it has long served as a historic gateway to Idaho’s rugged backcountry, offering visitors access to natural hot springs fed directly from geothermal sources beneath the Sawtooth Mountains. To honor its deep roots while appealing to modern adventurers, the lodge’s logo was thoughtfully redesigned to reflect its unique identity and enduring connection to the region’s wild beauty—blending rustic heritage with the spirit of exploration.

Boise Web Design — The Sawtooth Mountains contain more than 400 alpine lakes, many of which were formed by glaciers over 10,000 years ago—and a large number of them are still unnamed and only accessible by foot, making the range one of the most remote and untouched alpine lake systems in the United States.

1. Discovery Phase

Capturing the Spirit of the Lodge and the Sawtooth Mountains

The Sawtooth Lodge rebrand began with a deep dive into the history and essence of the Sawtooth Lodge itself. Stakeholders shared stories of the lodge’s founding in 1927 and its role as a gateway to the wilderness. This exploration helped identify key elements to incorporate into the new logo: the natural surroundings, the shape of the mountains, the lodge's rustic charm, and a sense of adventure that has drawn visitors for generations.

2. Logo Design

Crafting a Timeless Visual Identity

Inspiration from Nature: The redesigned logo takes inspiration from the breathtaking surroundings, prominently featuring the towering silhouette of the Sawtooth Mountains alongside the lodge’s rustic architecture. The goal was to create a design that feels deeply rooted in nature while remaining timeless and versatile. Achieving this required meticulous study of the mountain range’s unique peaks, with numerous hand-drawn drafts capturing their essence. After careful refinement, the final illustration was chosen to perfectly embody the lodge’s connection to its stunning natural environment.
Color Palette: Initially, earthy tones like deep forest green and warm brown were selected to evoke a sense of wilderness and authenticity, reflecting the lodge's commitment to preserving the natural beauty of its surroundings. However, in the final stages, simplicity took precedence. A timeless black-and-white template was chosen for the logo, allowing it to seamlessly integrate with vibrant photo and video content that would provide the visual color palette. This approach ensures the logo remains versatile while letting the stunning imagery of the lodge and its surroundings take center stage.
Versatility: The logo was intentionally designed with flexibility at its core, ensuring it could adapt seamlessly across a wide range of applications. From physical signage to digital platforms, the design maintains its impact and clarity. Since its launch, the logo has been successfully applied to an array of merchandise, including backpacks, hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, stickers, and more, showcasing its ability to remain visually striking across various mediums.

3. Design Process

Balancing Tradition and Modern Appeal

The logo redesign involved several iterations to find the perfect balance between honoring the lodge’s history and appealing to today’s audience. Early drafts leaned heavily on rustic elements, while later versions incorporated simplified shapes and modern design principles to achieve a clean, polished look. Three initial designs were presented, and feedback from stakeholders ensured that the final design resonated with the lodge’s values and vision.

4. Deliverables

Extending the Logo Across Brand Materials

While the focus was on logo creation, the design process naturally informed broader branding opportunities:

A primary logo featuring the lodge’s name and mountain motif.
A secondary icon for use on smaller items like merchandise and social media profiles.

Project Highlights

Client: Sawtooth Lodge
Project Completion Date: November 2018
Services Provided: Brand Development, Logo Design

The new Sawtooth Lodge logo captures exactly what makes this place unforgettable. Centered around a bold mountain silhouette, it mirrors the jagged peaks of the actual Sawtooth Range—sharp, raw, and iconic. The clean circular design feels timeless, like a seal that’s been passed down for generations. “Sawtooth Lodge,” “Grandjean Idaho,” and “Est. 1927” wrap around the mark, grounding it in both history and place. The typography is simple and modern, which gives it just enough edge to feel fresh while still nodding to the lodge’s century-old roots.

What makes it sing is how it plays with the landscape. When set against the real mountains, the logo doesn’t just sit on top—it blends right in. The silhouette reflects the peaks behind it so closely it feels like part of the land itself. This rebrand isn’t trying to reinvent the lodge—it’s honoring what’s always been there: rugged beauty, history, and a place that still welcomes adventurers who want to step into something real.