Take a spin on McCall's biking trails

A trail disappears into the forest as you start your ride into the forests near McCall.

A breeze keeps you cool as you push against the pedals, which feel heavy as you fight gravity. Every pedal stroke is interrupted by some kind of obstacle in the trail.

McCall’s trails can be summed up in three R’s: rocks, roots and ruts.

You feel your bike's suspension working and your knobby tires biting into the soft, dark dirt.

You top out after a brisk climb and know you've just put a deposit in the gravity bank, and it's time to redeem it on the downhill.

Your bike seems to chatter as it rolls over the bumps and drops, then you pick up speed and nervously thread the front tire through a maze of obstructions.

You develop a rhythm and start popping the front tire over each rock and root and flex your legs to absorb the bump as the rear tire passes over.

Your speed increases with your confidence as you glide through jade forests and grassy meadows.

"You feel like you're riding in the wilderness when you're out here," said Suzie Bohme of Boise, who recently rode McCall's trails.

The area's mountain biking trails are an exciting antidote to the buffed and scorching-hot trails of the Boise Foothills. Cool air, shady forests and a million shades of green await. Here are some trails to check out:

1. BEAR BASIN TRAIL

This is one of the newest additions to McCall's trail network. It's a great place to get started because it's not as steep or rugged as some of the other trails in the area.

Bear Basin is a mix of forests and meadows with lots of stately ponderosa, aspen groves and young evergreen thickets. There are also some great views of the surrounding mountains.

The trail goes about 2.5 miles. This is a good turnaround point for novice riders, or you can continue another 1.5 miles and come out at the North Face parking area near the turnoff to Brundage Mountain. Expect some steep and rough terrain.

Those sections are a sample of what's to come. More trails will be built over the summer, and eventually Bear Basin could get about 12 miles of trails for all abilities, according to John Groom, trail coordinator for the Payette National Forest.

Getting there: Take Idaho 55 west from McCall about 2 miles from Lardo's Restaurant. Ignore the first sign to Bear Basin and turn right at the second one. The trailhead is a half-mile up the road.

2. HUCKLEBERRY TRAIL

Head up the main road in Ponderosa State Park to Osprey Point. After soaking up the sparkling blue Payette Lake scenery, head back on the looped gravel road to Huckleberry Trail, where you will have a little more than a mile of prime McCall singletrack.

There are tight switchbacks, steep descents with trees like slalom gates and roots galore.

At the end of the Huckleberry Trail, gravel paths will take you back to the main road.

Getting there: From downtown McCall, follow the signs to Ponderosa State Park on the east side of Payette Lake. Start your ride at the visitors center.

3. EAST FORK OF LAKE FORK

This is a 9-mile, out-and-back trail (4.5 miles each way) that alternates between smooth and technical.

In the first couple of miles you will face several rocky areas and steep switchbacks that will probably have you pushing your bike. The trail gets smoother and the climbing less steep, but don't expect a buff trail. About 1.5 miles out, there's a junction; veer left.

The trail has smooth sections where you will pick up speed, but beware: Right around the corner there are usually rocks, roots, water crossings and other obstacles.

Most of the terrain is shady forest, but there are some open meadows with great views of the mountains. For most people, the ride ends where the trail crosses East Fork of Lake Fork.

When you ride back, gravity is on your side and you will lose about 1,000 vertical feet.

Getting there: From McCall, follow the signs toward Ponderosa State Park. Turn right on Lick Creek Road and take it 9 miles to where the road crosses East Fork of Lake Fork, which is improperly marked on a Forest Service sign as the North Fork.

Park in an unmarked primitive camp site on the right side of the road. The trailhead is in the back of the primitive camping area.

4. TWENTYMILE TRAIL

This trail is named after Twentymile Creek, not the length of the ride, which is about 10 miles depending on your skill level.

This is like a sister trail to East Fork of Lake Fork, but a little longer and a little more technical. Start at the trailhead near Upper Payette Lake and cruise through the lush regrowth and burned tree trunks from the massive fire that burned through the area in 1994.

The trail climbs for a mile or so before the gradient mellows and you make a gradual climb up the Twentymile valley.

Keep your eyes on the trail and watch for obstacles; there are plenty. At the 3-mile point, the trail forks. Stay right. Continue up the trail as far as you can. Most riders go up about 5 miles and turn around.

You will be descending on the return trip. Watch out for those technical sections, especially the bridges. They've been known to toss a few riders.

Getting there: From McCall, take Warren Wagon Road on the west side of Payette Lake to the marked Twentymile trailhead about 18 miles from McCall.

5. LOON LAKE

This is the quintessential McCall ride. It features a tumbling whitewater river, a crystalline mountain lake and a challenging trail.

Starting at Chinook Campground, cross the river on the bridge and ride directly to the lake. Most riders prefer to head down the Secesh River about 4 miles to the next bridge. Cross there and be prepared to push your bike up several switchbacks, then ride a couple more miles to the lake. Take trail No. 081 back to the campground.

You can ride this trail in a couple of hours, but it is better to make it an all-day trip. Take a lunch or some snacks and picnic at the lake, go for a swim and dry off in the sun.

Getting there: From McCall, turn on Warren Wagon Road on the west side of Payette Lake. Go 29 miles to Chinook Campground on the right side of the road.

SKI RESORTS

Brundage and Tamarack offer some of the finest trails in the McCall area, and you get the option of riding a chairlift to the top and riding downhill.

The resorts also offer bike rentals, food, beverages and trail maps.

Brundage is open Friday through Sunday through Labor Day weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A single chairlift ride costs $10, and an all-day lift ticket costs $25.

For more information call (208) 634-4151, or log on to www.brundage.com.

Tamarack's lifts run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Day passes for chairlift rides are $25.

Tamarack also has a network of trails specifically built for mountain biking outside of the lift-served area. A trail pass costs $6.

For more information call (208) 325-1000, or log on to www.tamarackidaho.com.

Roger Phillips: 373-6615