Water & Forests

McCall is located on the southern end of Payette Lake and is surrounded by the Payette National Forest to the north and east and rolling meadows to the south. The best place to view the lake is from the sweeping granite cliffs at the far end of Ponderosa State Park, a verdant peninsula near downtown that also offers camping, hiking, and fishing.

At the top of the lake sits North Beach where the North Fork of the Payette River flows into the lake, an area sometimes referred to as “the Meanders.” This lazy stretch of river is perfect for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding and is surrounded by soaring ponderosa pines, lush wetlands, and a wonderland of wildlife.

Other water adventures await at Goose Creek Falls, just north of the town of New Meadows, and Zims Hot Springs a few miles up U.S. Route 95.

If you’re looking for less of a crowd, head 14 miles south to Donnelly and camp at a state park on the shores of Lake Cascade. Tamarack Resort, just up the road from the lake’s east shore, is nestled close to Mica Ridge, a difficult-to-reach but scenic peak. Visit McCall also has great resources for other hiking and mountain biking trails in the area. (Read this OTO story about mountain biking in McCall.)

If exploring the backcountry on wheels is more your style, you can rent an ATV from Mountain Meadow Adventure Rentals or drive up the rough road to the fire lookout on No Business Mountain.

Mountain Meadow also offers boat, wave runner, SUP, and snowmobile rentals in addition to snowmobile, RZR (a sporty side-by-side), and Jeep tours in the Donnelly and McCall areas.

Winter Recreation

McCall isn’t just a summer and fall destination. With Brundage Mountain Ski Resort to the north, Tamarack Resort to the south, the Manchester Ice Center downtown, and Nordic ski trails throughout the area, there is plenty of play to be had during the winter months.

Eat & Drink

Just want to cozy up in a vacation rental, enjoy some great food and drink, and soak up the mountain town life? Here are some of my favorite McCall eating and drinking establishments: McCall Brewing, Evening Rise Bread Co., Café 6 three 4, Blue Moose McCall Drive Thru, Lonchera Rosita Mexican Food Truck, Rupert’s Restaurant (for cocktails), The Sushi Bar, and Frenchie’s on Third.

For more McCall road trip resources, check out Visitmccall.org.

Find more stories about McCall in the OTO archives.

Visit the Travel archives for more adventure travel stories, recommended destinations, and travel gear reviews.

The post Adventure In McCall: Central Idaho’s Epic Mountain Town appeared first on Out There Venture.

Hikes

Hikers should head up Lick Creek Road east of Payette Lake, which provides access to a number of justifiably popular hikes, most of which access granite and lilypad-lined lakes with little effort. Just east of Lick Creek summit, about twenty miles out of McCall, the Duck Lake trailhead takes hikers to either Duck (2.4 miles round trip) or Hum (4.4 miles round trip) Lake through the ruddy color of huckleberry shrubs and sedge. 

Hot Springs

West-central Idaho is a hotbed of geothermal activity, and visitors can soak sore muscles in a number of hot springs, both commercial and natural. East of Donnelly, about twenty minutes south of McCall, Gold Fork Hot Springs features a set of hot concrete-lined pools that drain down to a pair of sandy-bottomed warm pools. Before you leave civilization, be warned: Gold Fork is cash only. For a more natural experience, take the short hike into Last Chance Hot Springs, between McCall and New Meadows. The small spring pools into a rocky alcove where swimsuits are definitely optional. 

Boats

Power boaters often ply Payette Lake, but human-powered watercraft will find calm water on the Upper North Fork of the Payette where it pours into the lake. Backwoods Adventures rents canoes, kayaks, and SUPs on-site at the inlet. 

Eats

For a post-hike/SUP/soak beer or dinner, stop in at Salmon River Brewery. Housed in McCall’s old train depot, the brewery boasts a fine view of the lake from its outdoor seating area. Pair a beer with pub fries (parmesan bacon and rosemary) for a snack or order the Black-N-Blue Elk Burger for something more substantial. 

Of course, it’s hard to beat simply sitting on the grassy lawn of Legacy Park on the shore of Payette Lake and watching the sun behind Brundage Mountain. 

For more travel stories and recommended destinations in the Inland Northwest, visit the OTO Travel archives.

The post Hiking, Hot Springing, & More Near McCall, Idaho appeared first on Out There Venture.