Hiking

For those who like to travel on foot, there is beautiful scenery in the mountains of central Idaho, excellent fishing, abundant wildlife, and solitude to match the needs of even the most hardened loner. Whether you choose to spend half a day or half a season in the backcountry, there is ample terrain to explore.

Taking day hikes is a good way to scout the countryside in preparation for later overnight trips and to assess your physical condition for longer treks. Weekend or longer backpack trips allow hikers to get a better feel for the country and a longer-lasting escape from the pavement and power boats. Naturally, long trips require more careful planning than do short hikes.

Gear Up
National Forests
History: The 1994 Wildfires
How to Get to the Backcountry
Goose Creek Falls Trail
Loon Lake Trail
Josephine Lake Trail
Twenty Mile Trail
Grass Mountain Lakes
Victor Creek Trail
Box Trail
Snowslide Trail
Duck Lake
Hum Lake
Louie Lake
Boulder Lake
Kennally Creek Trail

Gear Up

It is essential to have the right equipment and to be prepared for whatever you might reasonably encounter, such as bad weather, rough terrain and other natural hazards. To make you trip an enjoyable experience, here are a few time-proven tips:

To avoid hypothermia, frostbite or just the chills, take warm clothes that are preferably made from fabrics that will keep you warm even when wet. These fabrics include wool, and synthetics like polypropylene or polyester fleece. Take along light rain gear, a hat and lightweight long underwear if you're wearing shorts, even for short hikes.
A sturdy pair of hiking boots is recommended since many of the trails will be steep and rocky in sections. On short hikes, it is wise to take food and water in case you decide to stay longer than planned. Bring a water filter or iodine to ensure water found in lakes and streams is safe to drink.
Don't forget a map, compass, matches and mosquito repellent.
For overnight hikes, warm sleeping gear and a good tent are a must. On many hikes, you will gain elevation and nights can be cold, even during the height of the summer. Also, bugs can be a problem year round, a tent is a great place to escape from them.
Bring a reliable cook stove and plenty of food. Cooking over an open fire may be romantic, but it also scorches the ground and leaves a telltale mark that you were there. During the hot summer months, open fires are often restricted, so a stove is a safe, reliable alternative to "roughing it."
Boil all drinking and cooking water taken from streams or lakes, or bring a water filter.
Binoculars, fishing gear and a camera will also make the trip more memorable. Many of the backcountry lakes and streams provide good to excellent fishing. You may also want to consider a book for identifying birds, plants and animals.
Pack out everything you pack into the wilds and remember to always practice no-trace camping.

National Forests

If you're going into the backcountry around McCall or the surrounding areas, chances are good you will be on Payette or Boise National Forests. Every Forest Service ranger station can provide information for the backcountry traveler.

On weekdays, stop at Forest Service offices in McCall, Council, New Meadows, Riggins, or Cascade for general information. If you're unfamiliar with the areas, the Forest Service has travel and recreation maps that will give you a good idea of what is out there. These can be cross-referenced with topographical maps of specific areas that give you a better idea of what terrain you will encounter.

History: The 1994 Wildfires

The mountains surrounding the McCall area offers a variety of hiking opportunities, and hikers can witness first hand the aftermath of the largest fire season in the history of the Payette National Forest. Approximately 290,000 acres burned on the Payette in 1994, but people expecting a charred wasteland may be surprised. The fire did not burn a solid swath. Rather, it burned in a mosaic pattern, scorching some areas and leaving others undisturbed. The mosaic pattern creates textbook cases of natural fire rehabilitation where young, vigorous plants grow in the burned areas. Those who are curious to see the aftermath of the fires will be able to get a natural history lesson in how a forest renews itself. Hikers can expect to see sega lily, fireweed, bear grass, lupines and penstemons, among many other native plants.

Some areas will recover more slowly than others, especially areas that burned extremely hot, but no one should avoid the area completely because of the burns. People who have a favorite hiking area are likely to see a radically different place than the one they last visited, but the experience can still be a rewarding one. Your chances of seeing wildlife is improved since the fires opened up areas, and the new plants provide excellent forage for big game, especially elk and deer.

In or around burned areas, hikers should also avoid camping near dead or dying trees, especially during storms or high winds. For those wishing to avoid burned areas completely, south and west of McCall was mostly spared from fires.

The areas hardest hit were north of McCall around Upper Payette Lake and the South Fork of the Salmon River drainage. The corridor from Burgdorf to Warren was mostly spared, as were the forests north and west of New Meadows. Although the fires were the largest in Payette history, there is still a lot of acreage out there, so don't be afraid to head into the backcountry.

How to Get to the Backcountry

Access to the Patrick Butte and French Creek areas north of New Meadows is easiest by way of Brundage Mountain/Goose Lake Road that branches off Idaho 55 between McCall and New Meadows. The area will give you access to dozens of lakes and trailheads. You can drive all the way to the breaks of the Salmon River and access several natural roadless areas, including those around Patrick Butte and the French Creek drainage.

Another access to the back country from McCall is by way of Warren Wagon Road, which leaves Idaho 55 at Shore Lodge, or by taking the Lick Creek Road, which heads west from the McCall Golf Course.

Access to the South Fork of the Salmon River country can also be had out of Cascade via the Warm Lake Road.

Here are few of the favorite destinations in the backcountry:

Goose Creek Falls

This trail head is located on Goose Lake Road about half a mile before the entrance to Brundage Mountain Ski Area. A two-mile (one-way) hike will take you to the falls, and the trail splits past the falls to provide more hiking.

Loon Lake

Travel north on Warren Wagon Road to the Chinook Campground a mile beyond where the road crosses the Secesh River. Enjoy a five-mile trek to beautiful Loon Lake.
This is a 10-mile round trip hike with only a 200-foot elevation gain. It can be a long day hike or a casual overnight trip. A pleasant, shorter trip would be to walk the 3.5 miles to the suspension bridge that crosses the Secesh River.

Josephine Lake

Take Warren Wagon Road past Upper Payette Lake. Turn left at the road marked Josephine Lake. The road is a rough three miles to the trail head but is passable with an ordinary passenger car. The trail is a steep one-half mile hike to a small 13-acre lake surrounded by a granite cirque. This is a favorite fly fishing spot.

Twenty-Mile Trail

The trail head is 18 miles north of McCall on Warren Wagon Road. A short dirt road to the right leads to the trail head, which has a horse unloading ramp, hitching rails and an outhouse by the large parking area.
At the beginning of the trail is a bulletin board with trail information. This trail is an easy hike for approximately the first five miles. After that it begins to climb steeply into the high lakes area. This trail is a recommended overnight trip for most hikers. This is a good trail for seeing wildlife, especially deer, and the fishing is excellent in the four Twenty Mile Lakes.

Grass Mountain Lakes

Nearly five miles north of Goose Lake on the Goose Lake Road, a trail leaves the west side of the road and heads 1.5 miles to Grass Mountain Lakes. There are several good campsites near the lakes, but this area is also a choice destination for day-trippers. Beyond Grass Mountain Lakes, the trail rises to a ridge, which affords a scenic view of the rugged countryside, then forks to two other turns. A short distance past Big Hazard Lake, a road branches off toward Hard Butte Lake and Warm Springs Saddle. At the end of this road, trails lead to Upper and Lower Twin Lakes, Hard Butte Lake, Rainbow and Black lakes. Depending upon the amount of time and tenacity you have for backpacking, you may want to continue on into the Partridge Creek drainage and loop around Lava Butte and Lava Butte Lakes before returning to the trail head. Other day-hike possibilities in this area are Scribner Lake and Bruin Mountain.

Victor Creek Trail

The trail head for Victor Creek is three miles past the Twenty Mile Trail head. This area was hard-hit by the 1994 fires and the trail may be obliterated in some areas, or prone to wind-fallen trees. Caution is advised. There is limited parking right at the trail head. Although this trail is 12.5 miles long, a short hike of slightly over a mile through heavy timber brings the hiker to a large meadow which offers an impressive view of the mountains on the opposite side of the North Fork of the Payette River.

Box Lake

The trail head is 11 miles up Lick Creek Road from McCall. The trail is called Black Lee Trail after the creek it ascends. This trail is 3.5 miles long and usually recommended for an overnight hike. The trail has a series of switchbacks for 800 feet in the first mile and continues to be steep for another mile. The trail makes several crossings of a stream as it passes through meadows. After passing through a short meadow the trail again climbs to arrive at Box Lake. Because of the steepness and the loose rock in the trail, this is not recommended for young children. It is one of the larger lakes in the area and has good fishing.

Snowslide Lake

Follow Lick Creek Road past Lake Fork campground. As you drive along this area, observe the 800-foot dome of granite known as Slick Rock. To get into the Snowslide Trail it is necessary to ford Lake Fork Creek, so in early spring it is not recommended due to high water. The trail to Snowslide Lake is rugged, steep and rocky. The trail angles through brush, aspen groves and crossings. Granite knolls overhang the emerald-hued Snowslide Lake and flank the forest and grassy area. There are several nice camping spots around the lake.

Duck Lake

This is a short, pleasant walk of about two miles round trip. This is one of the few flat trails in the area and makes an ideal hike for most ages and abilities. To reach the trail head, drive out Lick Creek Road past Slick Rock and up the summit. About 1.5 miles beyond the summit is the trailhead sign and a small parking area. The trail is well marked, it crosses a creek on makeshift bridges and leads through a forest of fir trees and granite boulders. Duck Lake sits in a wooded area with a meadow at the upper end and several campsites at the lower end. Other longer hiking trails take off from here.

Hum Lake

The Hum Lake Trail head takes off from Duck Lake. Both Duck Lake and Hum Lake are at approximately 6,800-feet elevation, but to get to Hum Lake it is necessary to climb to almost 7,800 feet, cross a saddle and drop down again to 6,800 feet. This nearly 1,000-feet elevation gain (and loss) in 1.5 miles means a steep climb, but you are rewarded with great views of both lakes that are usually only seen by mountain goats and other hardy climbers.

Louie Lake

To reach the trail head, turn east off Idaho 55 at the Farm-to-Market Road. Stay on this road until you see a sign for Boulder Lake and turn east again. The Louie Lake Trail head is about four miles up the road just before the Boulder Meadows Reservoir. Walk through the trees to Boulder Creek, which is crossed on logs. The trail then climbs 300 feet through huckleberry bushes to intersect with the Louie Lake jeep trail at one-half mile. Louie Lake is one mile further up the trail and affords some good views of Long Valley far below and makes for some excellent picture taking. Louie Lake is a beautiful deep-blue lake with the gray cliffs of Jughandle Mountain overlooking it. The lake contains two small granite islands.

Boulder Lake

Boulder Lake is a popular destination for fisherman. To get to the trail, park you car below Boulder Meadows Reservoir. The trail goes along the north side of Boulder Meadows Reservoir. The trail is two miles long with an elevation gain of about 700 feet. The trail climbs slowly until just before the lake, where you follow a few steep switchbacks among the rocks. Boulder is a good fishing lake, shaped like a figure-eight.

Kennally Creek Trail

To reach the trail head at Kennally Creek Campground, turn east off Idaho 55 onto the graveled and dirt Paddy Flat Road. Drive 14 miles to the campground. The beginning of this trail borders Kennally Creek as it froths over granite boulders. In slightly less than a mile, the trail crosses the North Fork of Kennally Creek on a wooden bridge. At 2.5 miles, the trail crosses a creek. This is a flat, easy trail and the 2.5-mile trip makes a nice day hike.