McCall Idaho is a rather secluded resort town on the
southern shore of Payette Lake. The relaxed pace and relative lack of
touristy hordes belies the area’s capacity to delivery a wide
variety of top-notch outdoor adventure.
Brundage Mountain is the place to go for skiing. The resort features
excellent runs covered in premium powder, the longest of which, called
Temptation Run, is over 2 miles long. Strong skiers at the intermediate
level and up can head into the backcountry and enjoy some Snow Cat Skiing
and Boarding. Rafters will have a good time at Brundage Mountain too,
thanks to the class II, III and IV rapids in the nearby Salmon River.
Water sports and recreations are ubiquitous on Payette Lake, from sailing
and water and jet skiing, to 1st class fishing. In the unlikely event
that the fish aren’t biting on Payette, there are more than 300
lakes and 4 major River Drainages to catch trout, bass and grayling
in.
Mountain Biking opportunities are abundant in and around McCall Idaho.
A high-speed chairlift takes cyclists 7,640 feet to the summit to bike
down 20 miles of hand-built single-track trails. Ponderosa State Park’s
Huckleberry Trail is a fine challenge, but more laid back bikers may
get more pleasure from the scenic paved track around Payette Lake.
There are 500 miles of groomed snowmobiling
trails around McCall Idaho. Rock and ice climbers will find many great
climbs in McCall’s vast backcountry. Ponderosa State Park is great for camping,
Nordic skiing, fishing and water sports.
