Visit McCall In The Fall!

Good Morning World! We just spent an awesome weekend in McCall. I must say, empty and peaceful! One brave soul skied by and other than that the lake was serene, the fall colors explosive. No lines, no waiting! October is a great month to visit McCall and there is so much to do during slack! The golf courses are still in full swing, Mountain biking through the fall colors is divine. As is the hiking. Fall is the best time to fish the high mountain lakes and a great time to land a steelhead in Riggins! Do not forget the awesome camping, hunting or the motorized trails and roads in the region! Cap your weekend off and relax your sore muscles with a dip in one of the world class hot springs that bubble from the ground in this scenic playground called McCall!

Mountain Biking

Ride the awesome intermediate to advanced trail system that spans the hills from town through Bear Basin right on up to the top of Brundage! There are literally millions of acres surrounding McCall all has roads and trails suitable for riding. There is something for everyone. For the beginner, I would suggest starting at the parking area for Little Payette Lake and cruising out the paved section continuing until you have had enough. It is fairly level and a perfect ride for those wanting to get a taste of mountain biking but who do not want a hard core experience. Have a diverse group? Bear Basin might be for you. There are roads that most average bikers can pedal with single track weaving every which way through out. Looming large above you is Brundage, so the hardcore in the bunch can climb till their legs freeze up. Think you are a hard core rider and want to really find out. The ride I really want to do but have not found time yet is Lick Creek Summit to Ruby meadows. Start by leaving a car at the Ruby Meadows trail head near Burgdorf Hot Springs and drive back through McCall and up Lick Creek to Hum Lake trailhead just over the top of Lick Creek summit. Ride ( you might have to push a little here) 2-3 miles up to saddle at head end of Loon Creek. Descend 15-20 miles to Loon Lake. Turn left another 10 rolling miles to the car. The awesome ride being concluded, spend a couple of hours soaking it up at the Burgdorf Hot Springs, $8.00 last time I was there!

Golfing in McCall

With 5 golf courses, tee times in the fall are a snap. Hit your favorite or try out a new course you were not able to get on in the peak season!
McCall
Tamarack
Jug Mountain Ranch
Whitetail Club
Meadow Creek Resort

Hiking Central Idaho

The variety is astounding from family friendly hikes around Ponderosa State Park, to one of the many trails in the area, it will not take long to find some nature or adventure. Like to hike along rivers? Try the trail up the Secesh River or down the old road along the South Fork of the Salmon. Combine your hike up the Bear Pete trail with a dip in Burgdorf Hot Springs. Looking for some alpine off trail? South from Lick Creek summit you will find a myriad of back country to fill your senses and warm your soul! Try a hike to Box or Louie Lake and catch one of the whoppers at these “trophy lakes” while getting in a good hike at the same time!

Fishing in McCall

Fishing in the fall is the most under rated time of year. The water is still warm enough for great activity and the trout will feed voraciously while they still have the chance. If you are going to high mountain lakes try an October Caddis. It is a large moth like fly and if the fish are keying on them hang on to your rod! For river fishing you have the cutthroats in the South Fork Of The Salmon and the Secesh. Similar to the Middle Fork of the Salmon, flies popular with the fish include, hoppers, large attractors like a Grey Wolfe and Royal Wolfe, muddler minnows fished on top or underneath. A hairs ear dropper is often a multiplier for the number of fish you will catch in a day. If 14 to 16 inch cutthroats do not get you excited, the main salmon river near Riggins has the first steelhead of the year cruising the banks just waiting for you to hook up! From 25 to 40 inches in length and weighing in at 6-15 pounds these wild and not so wild sea run rainbows will have your heart pumping and your arm hanging after a great day on the river. Hire a guide or follow your nose and feel the supreme satisfaction of your own job well done.

Camping Near McCall

Close to town there is a spot in Bear Basin that is under 3 miles from Shore Lodge. Set on the side of a meadow and accessible by 2 wheel drive vehicles! You need water and will have to plan out a latrine, but it is cute, close, free (dispersed camping) and you will have it all to yourself as there is just one spot! The camp spots along both little Payette Lake and Upper Payette lake are great too. Head out in any direction and there are camp grounds that are virtually empty, like Chinook Campground on the Secesh past Burgdorf, and Ponderosa on the Secesh over Lick Creek Road near Krassel! Both are about 25 miles from McCall and an empty spot is virtually guaranteed this time of year!

Hunting In McCall

From birds to big game there is enough to hunt near McCall to warrant buying a cabin! Grouse is open until December 31 and live on every ridge within 25 miles and then some! Combine a day of steelhead fishing with chukar hunting along the main Salmon. Deer season starts October 10, 2016 and elk on October 15, 2016. With the rebounding elk numbers it should make filling your tag, freezer and chili pot a snap! I hear they are still bugling! Not sure where to go ? Try a last week of October deer/chukar hunt above the Hettinger Ranch on the South Fork Of The Salmon. Looking for an elk? Go east from Paddy Flat, climb around the west face of Green Mountain or take the trail up either fork of Kennally Creek. There is a great campground with 400 year old pines at the trailhead.

Trail Riding

Bring the Razor, the 4 wheelers and the dirt bikes it is all here. From a quick 1 hour ride to the top of brundage to a marathon ride through Yellow Pine, on to Big Creek, back over the hill through Warren and past Burgdorf back into town. It is a trip through more than 100 miles of the best Idaho has to offer. Taking you from 4000 feet at the confluence of the South Fork of the Salmon and the Secesh, all the way to almost 10,000 feet at Elk Creek summit above Big Creek! It is awesome. More than your butt can handle? There is all sorts of single and double track to wear out even the biggest gas tank.within 30 minutes of town. Have questions on where you may want to go? Call the ranger station they are most helpful 208-634-0400. They can also send you the motorized map which will outline what trails are open to what vehicles.

Hot Springs Near McCall

Goldfork Hot Springs - Commercial, Near Donnelly
Zims Hot Springs - Commercial, Near New Meadows
Burgdorf Hot Springs - Wow- Commercial, mostly paved then gravel last 2 miles, 25 miles from McCall.
16 mile- Worth the trip but best combined with a little fishing or a hike. 16 miles downstream on South Fork Of Salmon road. You can access via Lick Creek, shorter but more dirt. 50 miles from McCall via Lick Creek.

Trail Creek (Warm Lake Highway)- Short steep hike from paved road. Worth the drive if there are not 10 cars there already. 45 miles from McCall.

In Short You Need 2 or 3 Falls To Fit it All In!