Council, Idaho

Last Chance Campground is located in New Meadow, Idaho, and about 30 minutes away from the tourist town of McCall. It is a perfect location to get lost in nature, but still want to remain connected. Cell phone service was very excellent. Goose Creek slips it's way alongside the campground, bringi...

Park at the visitor center for Ponderosa State Park to start. If you don't want to pay for parking you can park in the residential area outside of town or even in town, which is only a mile away from the park and has bike friendly roads to get to the state park.  If you want more challenging down...

Lake Cascade sits at about 4700' above sea level, the starting point for this snowshoe (or light nordic skiing). To arrive, follow signs on hwy 55 in Cascade for Lake Cascade State Park. Any car will do, including the Prius, to get to Lake Cascade, but watch the weather for snow storms. Pay $5 do...

It takes almost two hours, when you leave from Boise, Idaho to Gold Fork Hot Springs. You will feel like you’re at a resort without paying the expensive resort fees. You can stay all day, tan on tanning chairs, and relax. I have visited this destination more than a handful of times and I'm excite...

Blue Lake is a great spot to spend a night next to the lake but is also the perfect escape if you're looking to get away for just the day. The stars at night are worth the trip alone, as it's far away from light pollution. It gets a little windy sometimes but there is plenty of cover and trees to...

The thinking spot isn't a secret spot but it will seem like it when you arrive at an empty crag with dozens of routes all to yourself. There are climbs ranging from 5.7 to 5.11 so there's something for most. Though directions to get to the crag exist on Mountain project, there is practically no b...

Trail 169 starts out of a small campground off Hazard Lake road. To get to the trailhead, you leave paved roads for about 15 miles of travel on a gravel road, fit for any vehicle - no worries Prius. The campground seems like a suspiciously unofficial campground (nothing wrong with that) but also ...

Idaho is known for its pristine rivers and countless geothermal pools. The Rocky Canyon Hot Springs epitomizes both of these and will leave you begging to stay. From Boise, hop in the car and head north, I'll see you in Crouch. Take Hwy. 55 to Banks, which doubles as a landmark town to remember t...

Starting at 6,490' in elevation, you get to experience all the benefits of hiking high up in the Eagle Cap Wilderness without the long, steep ascents typically found in the Wallowa Mountains. The trail starts in a forest that burned in a 1989 fire. You will soon reach your first of many stream cr...

This pretty simple hike is just outside of Burgdorf, though it is fun enough that my friends and I hike it every year. The trailhead starts out at Chinook Campground where there is free parking if you are making the hike; you can also camp there for a small fee. There are two trails you can take ...

Burgdorf, Idaho's backcountry oasis, features several rentable cabins located about 30 miles north of McCall. Each season provides its own outdoor opportunity, and Burgdorf provides an epic hub in which to enjoy them.To get there from Boise, drive through McCall and hang a right after the Shore L...

The Wallowa Mountains are one of Oregon's best-kept secrets, and this overnight backpack into the Eagle Cap Wilderness will deliver you into the heart of the range. Following the East Eagle Creek through a valley filled with meadows and the occasional aspen, you will be surrounded by towering gra...

The top trip in Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness takes you in a loop around Eagle Cap, Oregon's 13th tallest peak and through three high mountain passes. East Eagle trailhead has two main parking lots, the first one you come to is a trailer parking lot meant for horse trailers, but make sure you dri...