There’s something about the mountains of Idaho that makes you breathe a little deeper. Maybe it’s the scent of the pines, or the way the peaks catch the evening light, or the stillness of the lakes that seem to stretch forever. Maybe it is the friendly people that seem to populate Idaho. Whatever it is, we felt it the moment we parked the RV at the Alpine Lodge Motel and RV in Cascade. With mountains rising around us and Lake Cascade just a short drive away, it was the perfect home base for our adventures.
Lakeside Living: Payette and Cascade
At McCall
Two sparkling lakes set the stage for your adventures here. Payette Lake in McCall is surrounded by pine forests and mountain peaks, perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply watching the sunset from a lakeside patio. Hiking the Peninsula Trail at Ponderosa State Park gives you amazing views and a great workout. The hike starts out easy, but does start to climb as you get to the tip of the peninsula. Bring a lot of water as a good portion of the hike is sunny. From the top, you can continue onto Huckleberry to see the other side of the peninsula or I suggest taking Ridgeline Trail. You are quickly enveloped in a thick inner forest offering cool shade and a very different view.
Along the route, you pass several beaches where you can get in the water or just enjoy sitting by the water. In September, the water was chilly but felt so good on my feet after that long hike. The town of McCall also has a lovely green park with benches on the water. Located behind Salmon River Brewery, the park includes a beach and an area cordoned off in the water for swimming.
At Cascade
Further south, Lake Cascade stretches wide with sandy beaches, fishing coves, and plenty of space for boating. Here you can take a very easy walk on the Crown Point Trail, a former railway route. The flat packed dirt trail follows the shape of the lake and passes beaches, campgrounds and even a few houses. Along the way are a few interpretive signs and easy access to the beach. If you want less walking and more water, there are a number of day camps where you can picnic, put in your kayak or SUP. Go down to the furthest area and kayak across the lake for great views of a bird habitat. At the right time of year, you can see several osprey nests.
We also went through Donnelly to get to the western side of the lake to get out on our boards and enjoy a sunset. Actually, we went for the moonrise, but it all happened together. The water had a good current and we floated for a while talking. Before we knew it, we were a good ways from our shore and got more exercise than I bargained for on the return!
Both lakes capture that quintessential Idaho mix of adventure, serenity and play. Plus their towns make it easy to grab lunch or a drink after you are done.
Trails That Call You Outside
As we mentioned, Ponderosa State Park in McCall offers a little bit of everything—lakeside strolls, shaded forest loops, and ridge-top overlooks with sweeping views of Payette Lake. The Lily Marsh Trail offered us a totally different view. Circling a lily padded marsh, you can see its evolution as it slowly turns to land. There are many other areas offering hiking trails including a few more in Cascade. Barry went a little north of McCall and hiked Goose Creek Falls, which was a bit harder but paid off with a waterfall. Another great hike was to Blue Lake on Snow Mountain. Best part, most of the scenery can be seen without a hike, just a few steps from your car. But the Lake offers a great view and then a steep climb back up.
Mountain bikers will find their bliss on the trails, too. Ponderosa does have a trail or two that are designated as mountain biking, but the majority of our friends when to Jug Mountain Ranch. It offers some flowing singletracks with serious elevation gain and fun downhill payoffs. Tamarack Resort does lift-served downhill in the summer until Labor Day. You can ride the trails without the lift as long as you are up for climbing that mountain or just enjoy the trails nearer to the golf course. And if you aren’t in the mood to ride, you can just walk around the resort shops or stop in for a bite. Bear Basin offers a classic forest ride just minutes from downtown McCall. No matter your pace, there’s a trail here with your name on it.
Drinks and Bites Worth the Stop
Satisfy that Thirst
Adventure works up a thirst, and luckily the local breweries are ready to deliver. Salmon River Brewery in McCall is a favorite for its craft beers and wonderful patio. With several levels offering seating, you can choose to sit in shaded garden, on the patio or atop the roof. The food is great too and I enjoyed their nonalcholic cocktails which were reasonably priced. Our favorite was Broken Horn Brewing Company in McCall. With its laid-back vibe, great patio, rotating taps and super food truck, it was a hit after our big hikes. Here I recommend the blueberry cider which was the first cider I enjoyed!
To Help Your Hunger
A bit away from the lake but just off the highway is another favorite – Bistro 45. Located in an old gas station, this cute spot has one table inside but lots of outdoor seating. With an excellent selection of drinks and food, we had a great time here! Try their mussels and flatbread!
In Cascade, don’t miss the Mercantile! It looks like a clothing store and it is! But it is also a wine bar with a great selection of canned beers and cocktails. The intimate bar area inside is very cozy, but the patio out back offers great space! Across the street is the North 55 Social, another great stop for a cocktail, beer or bite. And the food at Mision Mexicana was fantastic. Great food with a great cause as the family who owns it use the proceeds to support their charitable work. And in the morning, this restaurant is a breakfast spot!
Last but certainly not least was Casa Rosso Wine Bar in Donnelly. Located about halfway between McCall and Cascade, Donnelly is a cute “don’t blink or you’ll miss it” town with several great offerings. Casa Rosso was our favorite. Maybe not surprising as it is owned by the same person as Bistro 45! We shared an excellent bottle of wine and yummy tapas (try the dates!). We sat outside on Adirondack chairs around a table top fire pit (without a fire) so stop even if it is cool. Check their calendar for special wine tastings that they hold in a yurt in the backyard. We missed the, but I bet they would be fun!
Something Sweet?
In addition to these great stops, you can also enjoy a tasty sweet in all of these towns. For ice cream, everyone goes to Ice Cream Alley in McCall. When they say they give you mountain sized scoops, believe them! Order down from your normal serving – trust me! The people behind us each ordered a double and I am not exaggerating when I say it the scoops were as big as their head. There was no way they would finish it before it melted!
For a baked good, Mrs. Tibs in Cascade is excellent! We first had her scones at Brew 55, a great drive through coffee stand outside our campground. So I naturally wanted to see what else she had. Well! First the scones were wonderful, and she had gluten free! The bread smelled delicious, but my all time favorite was the lemon bars. Hands down the best I have ever had! She baked a birthday cake for a friend of ours while there – a maple cinnamon with candied bacon decorated with pine trees. The heaviest cake I have ever carried but also so delicious!
And another great coffee shop/bakery is Flights of Fancy in Donnelly. We enjoyed a breakfast burrito and chai tea here before one of our hikes. This quirky little building decorated with wings, airplanes and all manners of spinning things turns out delicious items!
Life on the Strand
We stayed at Alpine Lodge Motel and RV in Cascade. This proved to be a great base as we explored the Valley area and also took a couple of scenic drives down to Boise and along the Snake River. One of our favorite discoveries was The Strand, a mostly paved path just behind the campground. It meanders along the Payette River, with spectacular views of the valley and surrounding mountains. We biked it almost daily—sometimes just to enjoy the ride and most days to get to the Cascade Aquatic and Recreation Center. This is the kind of gym you wish you could find in all your camping spots. With water aerobics classes, yoga and a full gym, we had not excuse not to work out. Across from the gym was the Kelly Whitewater Park where we enjoyed watching people practice their kayak and SUP skills among the rapids.
The best part of the Strand? The osprey! Several osprey nests lined the river and over our time there, we marveled as the young ones grew bolder each week, stretching wings and testing the skies. With a couple nests actually above the trail, we also enjoyed our daily chirps as the parents warned us away! It became a rhythm of our trip, a reminder that the mountains don’t just invite you to play—they invite you to slow down and notice.
Why You’ll Love It Here
The McCall–Cascade corridor is the kind of place where one day can take you from a mountaintop bike ride to a brewery patio to a glass of wine by the lake. It’s rugged, beautiful, and welcoming in all the right ways. Yes, the lakes and trails are stunning. Yes, the breweries and wine bars add flavor to the journey. But what really lingered was the balance: the mornings spent pedaling The Strand under the watch of osprey, the afternoons on mountain trails, and the evenings spent by the campfire, cold drink in hand and a friendly camp friend stopping by. We felt like part of the community and that is always a win.
And I haven’t even gotten into the live music or hot springs. You just have to experience it yourself! Let me know if you have visited the area and what you enjoyed in the comments below!
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