Cover photo courtesy of Adam Gebauer

When I tell people I’m going shed hunting there is a pretty good chance I get a quizzical look. “Like a Home Depot run for a tool shed?” No, I am referring to a woodsy treasure hunt. When I say shed hunting, I mean looking for those boney bits that deer, elk, and moose grow each year and then discard, or shed: their antlers.  

I was definitely one of those kids that came home with pockets full of nature’s treasures, but I started really shed hunting as a byproduct of my job and recreational pursuits. Wandering around the woods in early spring as the snow recedes from the landscape I would spy the white tine of an antler among the forest floor. After this happened a few times, my eyes started to cue in, paying more attention to the ground and taking note as to where I was actually finding these little (sometimes big) forest treasures. 

Antlers are bone protrusions from the skulls in mostly male animals in the Cervidae family—deer, elk and moose in our region. They are the fastest-growing mammalian bone. They are technically different from horns (although many people use them interchangeably). Horns grow throughout the animal’s life and have only two parts: bone and a keratin cover (keratin is what makes up your fingernails). Antlers are grown seasonally to be fully mature for the fall breeding season. They consist of bone, cartilage, blood vessels, and are covered by a velvet skin that carries blood and oxygen to these fast-growing bones. As antlers mature, they lose their velvet cover, which cuts off the blood flow. This allows them to shed their antlers throughout the winter and early spring.

  

There is a tremendous amount of energy needed to grow these antlers every year. Their size can be a sign of a mature animal, metabolic fitness, and food gathering ability. They are used as visual sexual attractant, in combat with competing males, and defense from predators including off leash dogs. 

Part of the appeal for many shed hunters is paying attention to where animals are moving and spending time—overgrown forest roads, fence lines, game trails, or dense stream-side habitat that would knock off an antler. There are many shed hunters who spend a lot of time planning and preparing for shed season. They train their dogs, glass areas with their binoculars, and track animal movements. It has gotten so popular that some states have instituted seasonal closures. These regulations are to protect wintering feeding habitat in times when food sources are scarce.  

I am more of an incidental shed hunter, but over the seasons of slowly wandering off trail I have acquired a good collection of deer and elk antler, not to mention skulls, feathers and other forest booty. But finding a moose antler, known as a paddle because of its shape, had been a goal for a long time. I have walked miles and miles of timber harvests as part of my job, no moose paddle. I traipsed around wetlands and moosey habitat, swamping my boots, but didn’t find a moose paddle. Last year, however, my luck changed as I was out collecting morels after a burn. I was heading back to my truck along a grown over forest road along a creek that had escaped the burn. While climbing over and ducking under countless trees, there it was, the forest treasure that I had been seeking.  

As with all my time out in the woods, I try to be aware that I am a visitor in someone else’s home. I don’t pick up every shed I find. They no doubt play a more important role on the forest floor (cycling nutrients for one) than on my mantle.  

As the snow starts to melt, Adam Gebauer will be out looking for those shed antlers on the trail as he trains for a foolhardy half marathon. He is also looking forward to some equally foolhardy spring skiing. 

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By Rich Leon

Morels are among the best-known wild mushrooms in North America. They grow in forests under both hardwoods and conifers, in abandoned orchards, around tree trunks or wood piles and in landscaped areas. Two of my favorite places to look for morels in eastern Washington are the cross-country ski trails and trail 100 on Mount Spokane. The end of May to the first part of June seems to be the prime time to find them.  

I would like to make two very important points before I go any farther. One: never, ever eat any morels raw, and two: make sure you never undercook your morels. Having a good mushroom guidebook can be very helpful when you are out looking for morels or any other wild edible. I recommend a book called “Fruits of the Forest” by Daniel Winkler. 

If you are lucky enough to find some morels, you can either use them fresh, as with this air fryer recipe below, or dry them for later use. This recipe serves four. 

Ingredients: 20 medium to large morel mushrooms // 4-6 blocks of cream cheese // 3/4 cup breadcrumbs. 

Instructions: Gently wash your morels and cut the stems off. Mix softened cream cheese and 2 T of the crushed cracker or breadcrumb mixture. Gently, using your fingers, stuff the mushrooms with the cream cheese mixture. Gently roll the stuffed mushrooms into the remaining crushed cracker mixture. Place the mushrooms into the air fryer basket. Air-fry the breaded mushrooms at 370 degrees F for 5-6 minutes. (Rich Leon) 

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The Wenaha River Trail in northeastern Oregon has long been a popular spring backpacking destination, but, following the loss of the bridge over Crooked Creek during the 2015 Grizzly Complex Fire, access became extremely difficult until spring run-off subsided. This left hikers facing a tricky and potentially dangerous ford or an early turn-around at the 6-mile mark. Fortunately for hikers and backpackers alike, the bridge was rebuilt last fall. 

The new bridge is a steel structure with wooden decking and high railings, restoring safe early season access to the remote and rugged Wenaha River canyon. The trail follows the river upstream for 30 miles, so backpackers can choose a turn-around point for trips of various distances. It’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway or a full week of adventure on this designated Wild and Scenic River. 

The years without safe bridge access also created a backlog of maintenance needs along the trail, so early visitors to the trail system may find increasingly difficult conditions farther up the river drainage. Already this year, both USFS and volunteer crews have made it as far as the 8-mile mark. Conditions beyond that point are potentially quite brushy. Take it from someone who learned the hard way: wear pants, not shorts, to hike this trail. Crews will be following up with more maintenance, including completing the approaches to each side of the new bridge. It may take several years to complete the full backlog of maintenance needs, and additional trees continue to fall within the burn zone. Plenty of green trees remain, and spring wildflowers put on a fantastic color display. Don’t forget to pack binoculars to spot wildlife in the canyon, where bighorn sheep and elk herds are frequently seen along the trail. 

Maps: Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness map, USFS 

Getting There: The Wenaha River Trail is accessed from a small trailhead on the outskirts of Troy, Ore. When entering Troy from the east, turn right at the stop sign and drive a short distance up Bartlett Road. The trailhead is located on the outside edge of the first switchback in the road. 

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Region Senior Coordinator for Washington Trails Association and will be alternating morel hunts and trailwork trips this spring.  

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The first thing I look for when we start our edible walk is to check out the fir trees for new growth. It is easy to find the new growth, because the needles are a pale green. I call them nature’s breath mint, because they have a refreshing lemon taste to them, which goes away very quickly. 

Some wild plants taste good and are easy to digest. Others, not so much. Still others are unpalatable or can be poisonous. Plants, like animals, are products of thousands of years of adaptations. Many wild plants have survived over the years and even thrived due to the fact they are poisonous or very bitter to the taste. That being said, there are many wonderful edible plants here in the woods of the Inland Northwest. You should always be 100 percent positive a wild plant is edible before you try it and should try only a small amount the first time. If you find something you like, please avoid over-harvesting. You should always leave some mature plants to produce seeds for the next season.

One of the first edible plants of the season is miner’s lettuce. The early season variety is normally found in early spring, depending on when our snow has melted. (One year I found some in February growing near the Little Spokane River.) There is a later variety that can be found in late spring and early summer. This plant was very popular during the gold rush to California, hence the name. The young leaves of this plant can be eaten in a salad or as a trailside snack. They are very tasty and an excellent source of vitamin C. 

Another of the wild edibles that go well in a salad are yellow violets. All violets are edible, including the garden variety, with no objectionable flavor or bitterness in any of them. The leaves can also be used to make a substitute for tea. Violets are often used to thicken soup, especially in the southern part of the U.S. where they may be called “wild okra.”

A few other plants worth trying are the flowers and leaves of the shooting star, the flowers and leaves of the trillium, flowers of the sticky geranium, flowers of the fireweed, flower petals of the daylily (they have mild onion flavor), and the root of wild ginger, which can be eaten raw. Most of these plants can be found on Mount Spokane, but some can also be found in Riverside State Park and along the Little Spokane River.

Don’t forget the dandelion, which can also be found at lower elevations. Most people think of it as just a plain old weed, but it’s much more than that. The whole plant is edible. The leaves and flowers can be used in a salad, while the root can be roasted and ground into a coffee-like beverage. You can also dry the leaves, which can then be used to make tea.

As the season progresses, be on the look for berries. On just about any of the many trails on Mount Spokane, you will find huckleberries. The best areas to look are on the cross-country ski trails. That is also a good place to find thimbleberries. Eat them by the handful or save them for a salad topper.

Don’t forget to check for wild, edible mushrooms. There are plenty of great edible mushrooms to be found on Mount Spokane. Besides everyone’s favorite, morels, there are also yellow coral, king boletes (porcini), wood ears, puffballs, honey mushrooms, lobster mushrooms, and bear’s head.

Pick up a copy of “Plants of the Inland Northwest and Southern Interior British Columbia” at your local book store and see what you can find while foraging on Mount Spokane or your local natural area this late spring and summer. Make a salad of your wild edibles. It’s so much better than anything you can buy in the grocery store!

Rich Leon

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It’s been almost two decades since I made North Idaho my home, and, from day one, I noticed people speaking fondly of the St. Joe River and the time spent there year after year. Originally called the “St. Joseph” by Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, the Flemish Jesuit Catholic priest who established the Sacred Heart Mission in Cataldo, Idaho, this unique river and the surrounding area is now affectionately and officially termed the “St. Joe.” In 2022, I had the opportunity to finally experience this captivating river for myself through a whitewater rafting trip.

About the St. Joe

There is much to love about the 140 miles of St. Joe River: blue-ribbon cutthroat trout fishing, extensive roadless public lands, trails for varying recreational pursuits, wildlife, campgrounds, scenic roads, floating, the nearby Route of the Hiawatha, and some of the most exceptional beginner and intermediate whitewater rafting you can find in the Northwest.

The headwaters of the St. Joe are rooted in the Bitterroot Mountains at an elevation of 6,487 feet. The river flows swiftly through the upper, largely roadless stretch and then meanders slowly through the “shadowy” section down to its terminus at Lake Coeur d’Alene. For about a few weeks each year, from early June to early July, the rush of melting snow offers a short window where the river is deep enough to enjoy a series of sometimes surprising, always delightful whitewater runs.

Natural Water Navigation

Using rivers, streams, and other natural waters to travel and navigate forests and other terrain is an ancient undertaking. You could say that indigenous mountain people were the first American whitewater rafters. With a history of six permanent winter villages near its mouth and temporary summer camps along its upper shores, the St. Joe was called “the Gentle River” by Coeur d’Alene Tribes. Steamboats and gold prospectors traveled up the lower part of the river during the 1880s, and the timber industry moved into the upper “swiftwater” at the turn of the century, aggressively working the extensive stands of white pine and cedar for more than 40 years. Then, Idaho Senator Frank Church instigated what we now know as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act aims to protect the “outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural,” and other similar values of rivers across the country. In 1978, 39.7 miles of the St. Joe were designated as “wild” and 26.6 miles as “recreational.” Today, about 74 percent of the river basin is owned, protected, and managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or the State of Idaho. The rest is privately owned.

Whitewater Rafting The Joe

What we know as whitewater rafting today quickly became an outdoor pursuit when surplus inflatable military rafts became available to the public after World War II. The Northwest itself is steeped in rafting history. In 1940, the Salmon River was the site of the first commercial whitewater rafting trip. In the 1950s, John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s float trips down the Snake River through his establishment of the Grand Teton National Park helped make this particular outdoor pursuit popular.

The upper St. Joe offers a stretch of Class II-III whitewater during late spring and early summer. Experienced whitewater boaters frequently take on this stretch of the river, but for those without the skills and gear, ROW Adventures is the only rafting company licensed to operate commercially guided trips there. Since ROW Adventures’ first St. Joe trip in 1986, the Coeur d’Alene-based outfitter has been opening up the exciting magic and serene beauty of this North Idaho river to locals and visitors year after year.

My Adventure on the St. Joe

Driving to the designated meeting spot at Gold Creek Campground near Avery, Idaho, in 2022, I felt a sense of anticipation. This was not only my first time visiting the St. Joe, but it was also my first time whitewater rafting. The group of passengers was diverse in age, experience, and gender. Our guides Johnny and Noah impressed upon us the risks involved in what we were about to do, but imbued their instructions and information with a sense of humor that put us all at ease. After donning wet suits, life vests, and helmets, we pushed off into the crystal-clear water.

Having spent many years recreating in Colorado, I think I expected whitewater rafting to be like a series of jump moments in a scary movie. But rafting the Joe was deliciously thrilling, infused with whiffs of damp cedars warming in the sun as well as a lively camaraderie in our raft and with the other rafters and guides. We stopped midway at a campground for lunch and listened to the entertaining story of The Ridge Runner, William Moreland, an “elusive loner and social misfit” who lived along the Joe, “borrowed” necessities from the Forest Service and logging companies, and mostly evaded law enforcement from 1942 until he was last seen in 1961.

Fed and enlivened, we continued our float through waves, splashes, holes, rocks, and rapids to our final destination at the Eagle Creek take-out. Boarding the bus that would take us back to our cars, I could still feel the paradox of warming sunshine and frosty water on my skin. The Joe was gently spirited with me as a first-time rafter. It now holds a special place in this resident’s heart and has whet my appetite for more rafting adventures. //

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Have you ever wondered what you can eat in the forest? In the Inland Northwest, we are lucky, for we do not have very many poisonous plants. But you wouldn’t want to go foraging without knowing these sometimes-deadly ones. It is this lack of knowledge that causes many to stay ignorant and go to the store. However, If you were to look out at the landscape, about 95 percent of the plants you see are either edible or medicinal. Some plants are delightful to eat, such as miner’s lettuce, morel mushrooms, and fiddleheads. I like to classify wild foods on a continuum from yummy, palatable, survival, yucky, and deadly. Learn about poisonous plants first. When you know these plants well, then the rest is a grand experiment for the taste buds.

Some plants are utilitarian, meaning that they can be used for other things such as making cordage, weaving baskets, or creating arrows for your bow. These plants are long-forgotten in modern times. My favorite plant that is prolific during this time of year is Urtica Dioica, more commonly known as stinging nettle. It is edible, medicinal, and utilitarian.

Stinging nettle is associated with being obnoxious and one to avoid because of its nasty sting when you touch it. I remember when my great grandmother tripped and fell into a large patch of stinging nettle. She was a screaming mess! I may have learned my first swear words that day. She told me that using the juice of a fern can be used to soothe the infliction. Typically, that is the case in nature; the antidote for a toxic plant is usually growing nearby. Nature in perfect balance as the creator intended.

Stinging nettle is our local superfood. It is very high in vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamins A & D, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. It has the highest amount of protein of all the plants. Nettles with purple stalks signify that there’s a high amount of magnesium in that particular plant.

Every part of the plant has a different purpose. The leaves are good for eating like spinach or can be dried for later use to be sprinkled on food or make a tea infusion. The oil made of dried nettle seeds can be mixed with rosemary or lavender oil and rubbed into your scalp to stimulate hair growth. Soak in a bath of nettle root tea for rheumatic pains and joint stiffness. Stinging nettle is your friend.

As a medicine, stinging nettle is a tonic, pectoral, astringent, and mild diuretic. It becomes a synergistic decongestant when mixed with other herbs, such as yerba santa, yerba mansa, goldenseal, and California bayberry. It’s great for expelling mucus from the lungs and sweeping out toxins from your lymph nodes.

And then, there are the flowers. Have you ever looked up close to the flowers of stinging nettle? The first part of the plant’s Latin name, Urtica, means ‘to burn’. (That connection is obvious.) The second part, Dioica, means ‘of two houses,’ which signifies that this species has both female and male representation in separate clusters on the same plant. How they procreate is a beautiful love story that I’ll share sometime around the campfire.

The energetic essence of the female flower is nature’s estrogen that heals at an emotional level. It helps you to be receptive and nurturing. The male flower essence is nature’s testosterone, helping you with procrastination and getting things done. We all need a little of both in our lives to maintain a healthy internal balance.

The stalks of stinging nettle also make wonderful cordage. You can strip the fibrous strands from the outside of the stem. The fibers are twisted into cordage, or rope. For a nettle enthusiast, fibers can be carded and spun into yarn like wool. Nettles have been used for ages to make fine clothing. (And, no — the shirts do not sting.) I hope to someday make an article of clothing out of stinging nettle fiber.

The key to survival and a better diet is knowing the landscape and unlocking the wisdom of the plants. Come join me for foraging fun at my Wild Edible & Medicinal Foraging class on June 10, 17, and 24. //

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness/primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show “Alone,.” Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to Karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke

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The King Bolete mushroom has a large following in many parts of the world and goes by many different names. Boletus edulis is referred to as Cep in France, Pennybun in England, and Stenpilz in Germany. In the U.S., it’s known as the King Bolete or Porcini.

If you were to make a list of the world’s most prized mushrooms, the King Bolete would be right up there at the top along with Morels and Chanterelles. The King Bolete is the most sought-after mushroom in many parts of the world by many different people.

Nowhere is that more evident then the countries of Europe. After the summer and fall rains, people take to the forests in droves in the hope to fill their baskets with these prized mushrooms. The King Bolete can be found locally in the Colville National Forest, Mount Spokane State Park, and the mountains of North Idaho.

There is no one time in the fall that is best to find King Boletes. A lot depends on when we get our fall rains in the Inland Northwest. I have found them as early as September and as late as November, and it can vary widely from year to year.

As far as where to look, Kings favor conifers (pine, spruce, hemlock and fir) but also grow with hardwoods such as oak and birch.

The Bolete mushroom family contains many other fine edibles besides the King Bolete, but there are also a few that are poisonous. The best ones to avoid are the ones with red pores that stain blue when cut.

Experienced mushroom hunters may try a small quantity the first time to see how their system reacts after identifying an edible bolete.

If after a full day of mushroom hunting you are lucky enough to bring home a basket of Kings, then you need to decide what to do with them. Fix them fresh or dry them to be used at a later date.

If you are going to fix your prized mushrooms fresh, you need to be aware that bugs are also fond of them. They tend to start at the base and eat their way up the stem and into the cap. I have a friend that says he doesn’t mind a few bugs; it just adds a little extra protein to the meal. I don’t think I will be joining him for a meal any time soon.

If you choose to dry your mushrooms, you can use a dehydrator or put them on screens in a warm, dry room. Do not use an oven, because they can become too hot and a lot of flavor can be lost.

When dry, store them in glass jars and they will last for several years. You can rehydrate the mushrooms by placing them in a bowl of warm water. Save the water as it makes a flavorful stock.

In case you are wondering, the King does have a Queen. You won’t find her in our local woods though. You will probably have to go to Northern California where she is off visiting other Boletes. Some say the Queen has a better flavor then the King. That is if you are able to find her.

Happy hunting.

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No single wild mushroom has captured the hearts and minds of the American public like the morel. Finding the first one of the season is just as exciting as finding the first buttercup after a long winter. Morel season can start as early as January in California and go into July in the Rocky Mountains as spring marches north.

Here in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, the peak time can be anywhere from April into June, depending on temperature and moisture. I have found morels to be very fussy mushrooms. They don’t like it hot or cold or too wet. They are almost like a three-year-old child in that regard. I have been in areas where they will do really well one year and then the next year, nothing.

How to Identify

There is plenty of debate about the number of morels in the genus morchella. The two most common in our area are morchella elata (black morel) and morcella esculenta (yellow morel). We do have a few other ones around, so a good guide book would be helpful to have when you go on your fungus foray into the woods.

In early spring, we can also find verpa bohemica (early morel). A verpa looks like a thimble stuck on a finger. This species is not considered to be a true morel since the cap hangs from the apex of the stem, whereas in a true morel the cap is attached to the stem. Verpa is edible with caution; it should be eaten in moderation and must be well cooked. Verpa usually show up a week to a month before the regular morels.

Before you go out mushroom hunting, make sure you know the difference between the morels and the false morels. That is where a good book will come in very handy. A great paperback to have for your backpack is “All That The Rain Promises and More,” by David Arora.

where To Find

Morels can occur singly or in small clusters. They can blend in with their surroundings very well. When out looking for these mushrooms, the first one is always the hardest to find. Once the image is burned into your brain, it makes it easier to find other ones.

Keep looking in the area where you found the first one, and you more than likely will find others. It has been said that the best place to look for morels is the year after a forest fire. That may be true for some areas, but I have found over the years that it is not a 100 percent guarantee of finding them.

Best place to find morels in the Inland Northwest? This is one question you never want to ask a serious mushroom hunter, because they will never tell you their perfect spots, much like an angler or huckleberry picker not wanting to reveal the location of her secret fishing hole or berry patch.

How to Prep and Cook

When cleaning your morels for either cooking or drying, be sure to cut them in half lengthwise to check for any bugs within the hollow confines of the stem and cap. You probably won’t find any, but it is always better safe than sorry. You don’t want any little hitchhikers ruining your meal.

Morels dry really well and retain their rich, full flavor. Slice them in half and put them on a screen in a warm room, use a dehydrator, or even place them outside on a warm sunny day. Once they are fully dried, they can be put in glass jars and their flavor can last for many years.

This mushroom hunter will wish you happy hunting, and remind you to make sure you are 100 percent certain of a mushroom’s identity before you try any wild mushroom.

A yellow morel (left) versus a false morel (right). // Photos: Rich Leon

Find more stories about foraging for morels in the OTO archives.

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Welcome to The Trailhead, where the first stop should be the kiosk with important information that affects recreationists in our area! This new column, replacing the long-running “Hike of the Month” column, will serve as a round-up of interesting projects and plans for trails in the Inland Northwest.

Here’s what trail and recreation related news we have for his spring and early summer, along with a recommended hike!

Steptoe Butte State Park Closure

Park will be closed for road and parking lot repairs for up to 16 weeks this spring. The exact closure window is dependent upon weather conditions, so be sure to check the state parks website before a spring visit.

Great American Outdoors Act Funds Local Projects

Funding for the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law August 2020 and will begin to address deferred maintenance needs on United States Forest Service (USFS) lands beginning this summer. Search the US Department of Agriculture website for a deeper dive into how this legislation will be enabling projects across the country. Some of the local projects slated to begin in 2021 include:

• Funding for 1,500 miles of deferred maintenance on backcountry trails across both Washington and Oregon through “shared stewardship” partnerships with USFS partner organizations.
• Trail maintenance on 110 miles of recreational trails within Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and the Eagle Cap Wilderness, along with the replacement of two 60′ bridges on the Snake River National Recreation Trail.
• A combination project on South Fork Boulder Creek Road north of Highway 20 on the Colville National Forest, including relocation of the current road and conversion of the former roadbed to a year-round multi-use trail (snowmobile in winter; non-motorized access to Taylor Ridge Trail in summer).
• Trail maintenance on 50 miles of trails near Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
• A trail resurfacing project and tunnel improvements on the Route of the Hiawatha Trail near Lookout Pass.
• Trail maintenance in the Mallard-Larkins and Upper St. Joe River areas.
• Improvements to both vehicle access and trails within the Ross Creek Ancient Cedar Grove, including a boardwalk to help protect tree roots from soil compaction while granting better accessibility for all visitors.

New Trailhead for Antoine Peak Conservation Area

Spokane County Parks will be building a new trailhead for Antoine Peak Conservation Area’s Etter Ranch addition over the course of the summer. The new access point will be located less than 1/4-mile from Trent Ave. in the Spokane Valley. Until the new trailhead is complete, access to this portion of Antoine Peak is only available under special permit for the trail construction crews who are busy building the new connecting trail to the existing trail system. Check the Washington Trails Association and Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance websites for volunteer opportunities that will grant a sneak peek!

Northeast Washington Trails Website

Northeast Washington Trails has a new page devoted to ways non-motorized trail users can get involved with trail maintenance projects stretching from the Okanogan Highlands to the Idaho Panhandle. Lend a hand to one of several nonprofits offering volunteer opportunities across northeast Washington, or share a conditions report about a trail issue you discovered while exploring an area. Learn more at Newashingtontrails.com/volunteer.

Hike of the Month for the May-June 2021 issue:

Holly Weiler is a long-time contributor to Out There Venture. If you know where to look, you’ll find her deep in a morel patch this spring.

[Feature photo: Mountain wildflowers in northeast Washington overlooking the Pend Oreille River valley. // Courtesy of Kalispell Tribe.]

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And autumn is an ideal time to ride here, when Payette Lake has traded summer crowds for fall color, and frosty mornings precede mild, dry days. Regardless of the season, McCall is a laid-back mountain town, where polo shirts and padded shorts live in harmony.

Each of the trail systems below will treat riders to smooth, satisfying singletrack, the fat-tire equivalent to a scoop at Ice Cream Alley downtown. It’s good enough you’ll be asking for seconds.

Brundage Mountain Resort

At Brundage Mountain Resort, northwest of McCall, you’ll quickly realize why walk-on riders and wedding parties vie with bikers for the top of the mountain: open beargrass meadows and the snow-stunted whitebark pine of the upper mountain allow for expansive views over Payette Lake and the Salmon River Range.

From the top of the Bluebird Express lift, the loose rock and tight turns of double black diamond Hidden Valley will keep experts on their game, while the loping green descent of Elk Trail gives beginners a safe spot to practice small rollers and stream crossings.

Where Brundage really shines is its cross-country trails, which comprise a quarter of the 26 miles of old-school singletrack on the mountain. A beginner loop on the west side of the main parking area will ease first-time riders into switchbacks; the 3-mile Black Bear loop incorporates mellow single and doubletrack trails for a slightly longer introduction to pedaling. And when the lift isn’t spinning, Elk Trail makes for a solid 6-mile climb to the top, with views as good on the way up as they are on the way down.

Bear Basin

Only five minutes from McCall, the Bear Basin trail system is the closest to the busy lakeside community. But even in the height of summer, when traffic slows to the crawl on Lake Street, Bear Basin remains refreshingly quiet.

Most of the immaculately buffed, machine-built trails clock in at no more than a mile, with few big commitments in either time or elevation gain. Mix and match depending on your time and ability level; the figure-eight loop of Baby Bear – Sleepy Hollow – Blue Ridge Loop – Too Short – Polar Express makes for a fast, swoopy, after-dinner ride.

For a longer ride, pedal the Payette Rim trail, which parallels the lake high above its shore with near-constant views of McCall’s main attraction. It’s also the entry point to the west side of the Payette Lake trail—a route that, once fully complete, will circumnavigate the lake on roughly two dozen miles of singletrack.

Jug Mountain Ranch

Pulling up to the clubhouse at Jug Mountain Ranch and parking next to a golf cart, you’d be forgiven for not knowing the private golf course community boasts one of the region’s best singletrack systems. Then the shuttle vehicle—a World War II-era open-air artillery carrier—shows up, and you realize that biking is serious business here.

Tucked up against the foothills on the east side of Long Valley, Jug Mountain Ranch has constructed nearly two dozen trails ranging from two-track cruisers to drop-and-gap double blacks.

From the top of the bike park, drop into Doe Joe on a beginner-friendly flow trail or amp up the difficulty on Double Shot’s rocks and wooden features. Groms will gravitate toward the pump track, gravity riders to Stitches and Double Shot. Cross-country riders can pedal up to the Shoreline Trail for some flowy singletrack through expansive aspen groves.

Although privately owned, the trails are free and open to the public to pedal. Jug Mountain Ranch also offers a shuttle service in its artillery-turned-bike carrier if you’re into maximizing your bombing runs. The shuttle, which costs $20 for three hours, books up quickly; it’s a good idea to call several days in advance of your visit to ensure a spot.

Tamarack Resort

Tamarack Resort, outside of Donnelly, about twenty minutes south of McCall, earned its reputation among downhill racers in the mid-aughts as one of the region’s gnarliest tracks. And while the bike park made the most of its 1,700 feet of elevation loss on its rocky, fall-line double blacks, there’s plenty to appeal to the modern—and mortal—rider. 

Like Brundage, Tamarack excels at cross-country, with a sizable trail network departing from the base area that’s free and open to the public. For a fast lollipop loop, connect Morel – Lower Pinnacle – Merlin – Wild Turkey on buff, duff-covered trails through forest and field and aspen grove; it’s one of the best fall-color rides in the region, and it’s accessible well after the lifts have stopped spinning for the season.

Originally published as “Mountain Biking In McCall, Idaho” in the September 2019 print issue.

For more stories about Northwest mountain biking trails, gear, and travel destinations, or other recreation and places to stay and eat in McCall, Idaho, visit the OTO archives.

Visit the Biking archives for more articles about Inland Northwest ski mountains, snowboarding, alpine and Nordic skiing, destination recommendations, gear reviews, and more.

[Photos by Aaron Theisen]

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