Experience the best of McCall

McCall sits at the south end of Payette Lake, a deep glacial lake in the pine forests of west-central Idaho, at about 1,500 metres. Ponderosa State Park fills a forested peninsula that reaches into the lake, with trails and beaches, and the lakefront has docks and a small downtown of log-trimmed shops. The base of the smokejumpers, the firefighters who parachute into wildfires, is on the edge of town.

Brundage Mountain, a ski area north-west of town, draws skiers in winter, and the Winter Carnival lights up the town with ice sculptures. The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, one of the largest wild areas in the lower forty-eight states, lies to the north and east, with the Salmon River running through it. Hot springs such as Gold Fork lie to the south.

Huckleberry pancakes, huckleberry ice cream, trout and steaks fill the menus, and Idaho potatoes appear in every form. Winters bring deep snow, and summers are warm and dry with cool nights.