About Riding in McCall:
Nestled in the high country of west-central Idaho McCall has the trails to match just about any mountain town in the country. With two chairlift accessed bike parks nearby and various trail networks maintained largely by the Central Idaho Mountain Biking Association (CIMBA), such as Bear Basin and Jug Mountain, McCall has trails to challenge everyone from the novice rider to the expert.
Bear Basin:
Bear Basin is a network of trails east of Brundage Mountain Resort accessed by two trailheads off the road to the Brundage ski area from McCall. It has a variety of beginner and intermediate cross-country trails that serve as an excellent introduction to mountain biking. There is also a downhill only trail dubbed 'The Drain' which features banks, ramps, and jumps. All the trails are well-maintained and marked with signs. There is a large map at the main junction.
I have ridden the trails at Bear Basin on both my hard-tail 26" and my Uncle's full-suspension 29" and you can ride most of the trails on either one, but there are definitely a lot of places where the full suspension helps significantly. One time I took the hard-tail down the Drain and and wrecked hard when I took an optional feature at the end of the run. Fortunately, I was unscathed and I returned on another day riding my Uncle's full-suspension 29er and did fine. Below is footage of the crash.
Jug Mountain Ranch:
McCall is also fortunate to have the trails at Jug Mountain Ranch. Jug Mountain Ranch is mostly known as a golf course, but their club house sits right next to the trailhead for a network of trails heading up Jug Mountain, and it is all owned by the ranch. Jug Mountain Ranch allows riders to use the trails free of charge and offers a shuttle to the top for a minimal fee. The two main descents are Vandelay, a tight and technical cross-country trail, and Double Shot, an advanced free ride trail.
The website for mountain biking at Jug Mountain Ranch
Huckleberry Loop Trail:
The Huckleberry Trail is a relaxing loop trail in Ponderosa State Park. The trail is 9 miles long and its halfway mark is the Narrows Overlook from which you can see all of Payette Lake. This trail can be done on either a hardtail or a full-suspension bike. The trail is mostly singletrack, with a double track portion on the Fox Run Trail, and there are a few sporadic roots and rocks to liven things up. Overall, it is an enjoyable ride just minutes from downtown McCall. Beginners can gain experience on the easier Peninsula Loop Trail instead.
Payette Rim Trail:
The 9 mile Payette Rim Trail is a classic McCall area advanced intermediate ride. It begins with a sustained 60 minute climb on dirt road and single track and then takes you on a 45 minute descent back to the car. The views of the Payette lake from the top of the rim are splendid and the ride is one of the top ways to kill two hours in McCall. It was definitely the best ride I did this season.
Directions to Trailhead:
Directions to Trailhead:
From the intersection of 3rd & Lake on Hwy 55 head West on Hwy 55 for 2.6 miles to a right turn onto Bear Basin Rd-Old Brundage Mtn Rd-USFS Rd 451. Follow this road for 1.3 miles to a parking area on the left.
Brundage Mountain Resort:
Brundage Mountain has a well planned downhill trail system that takes you down the entire front side of the mountain. They have trails ranging from the beginner Elk Trail to the expert Hidden Valley. I have ridden advanced trails at other mountains such as Schweitzer and Jackson Hole which would probably be intermediate trails at Brundage. Recently, they added a new intermediate trail called Growler that flowed very well despite some major ruts that had developed (which were responsible for breaking my Uncle's collar bone that day).
The website for mountain biking at Brundage Mountain Resort
Tamarack Resort:
Tamarack Resort also offers downhill mountain biking in the summer. I have not had the chance to ride Tamarack, however I have heard many positive reviews of the trails.
The website for mountain biking at Tamarack
For more information on mountain biking opportunities near McCall, I recommend the book Mountain Biking in McCall by Steve Stuebner. Here is the website from which you can purchase and download individual trail descriptions. http://stevestuebner.com/books/mountain-biking-in-mccall.htm
