McCall (Valley County)

Located on the shore of the 5,330-acre Payette Lake, McCall is all about the water. Boaters, kayakers, SUPers, and swimmers gravitate here to explore the nooks and crannies of the deep blue glacial lake, and the area’s home to some of the best whitewater opportunities in the country. The Payette River offers everything from mellow float trips for the family to sections with class IV and V rapids. Kayakers can also work on improving their skills at Kelly’s Whitewater Park just south of town (SUPers should head to Kelly’s in June for the Payette River Games—there’s a $50,000 prize).
But McCall is probably most famous for its Winter Carnival, which takes places every February. Originating in 1965, this massive 10-day festival feature elaborate, life-sized ice sculptures, fireworks, a winter beer garden, live music, and a Mardi Gras parade. You’ll also have your choice of two nearby ski resorts: Brundage Mountain is located right in town and is an intermediate mountain known for its wide groomers and consistently soft snow. Then there’s Tamarack—Idaho’s newest—located 20 miles south of McCall on Lake Cascade, with an extensive Nordic trail system. Several commercially developed hot springs are easily accessible from McCall, including Gold Fork Hot Springs and Burgdorf, where you can stay overnight in one of their cabins. Both are open year round, although you’ll need a snowmobile to reach Burgdorf in winter.