Looking for some family friendly riding around McCall other than the Warren Wagon area? Anyone have directions to some meadows for kids and other close areas?
Family riding areas around McCall
- Thread starter 2lo
- Start date
upper elevation.
it is half way up the mountain to brundage ski resort. it is pretty clearly marked.
once headed up there, goose lake, brundage reservoir, granite lake.
tons and tons of play areas on the way to each of those.
it is half way up the mountain to brundage ski resort. it is pretty clearly marked.
once headed up there, goose lake, brundage reservoir, granite lake.
tons and tons of play areas on the way to each of those.
Just like Doug said but also adding.....
park at Francis Wallace (end of the lake like going to Warren) and make your first trail left a few miles from the FW lot...go up the trail towards the ski area until you break out into the huge large opening three quarters the way up. The main trail heads SE or almost due S and a sub trail heads W over the saddle to drop down onto Brundage RES at this opening. Right in front of you is a rock or cliff area that people work as well. In that opening off to the N or your trail right there are several small open relatively flat meadows. A great place for your family to safely practice and play. On the top of the ridge prior to dropping off into the Brundage RES side of the hill there are also more of these hidden little play areas. You can use all of your fuel tearing up these seven or eight open meadows that have very little slope or gradiant to play in the deep powder without trees or other risks. You can have a blast under a 1/2 mile from the main trail. If you hunt around there are all kinds of these pockets in this riding area. It the easiest and best place to take a beginner that offers high elevation snow conditions without the slope risks and that is very close to the parking lot.
park at Francis Wallace (end of the lake like going to Warren) and make your first trail left a few miles from the FW lot...go up the trail towards the ski area until you break out into the huge large opening three quarters the way up. The main trail heads SE or almost due S and a sub trail heads W over the saddle to drop down onto Brundage RES at this opening. Right in front of you is a rock or cliff area that people work as well. In that opening off to the N or your trail right there are several small open relatively flat meadows. A great place for your family to safely practice and play. On the top of the ridge prior to dropping off into the Brundage RES side of the hill there are also more of these hidden little play areas. You can use all of your fuel tearing up these seven or eight open meadows that have very little slope or gradiant to play in the deep powder without trees or other risks. You can have a blast under a 1/2 mile from the main trail. If you hunt around there are all kinds of these pockets in this riding area. It the easiest and best place to take a beginner that offers high elevation snow conditions without the slope risks and that is very close to the parking lot.
As FBomb is saying. Park at Francis Wallace, Turn at U, Play at T, play from T to V, watch the ski area (yellow), it's closed, even though it wasn't marked last year. Between V and W, look for meadows to the right. Lot's of people play on the lake also. Stay of roads in the Pink area, snowcat skiing area, the roads are for the snowcats only. If you ride the trail up past Goose Lake, the little lake above and too the left, is kinda open. Good place for the kids to play while the adults hit the best hill around.
Last edited:
M
meadowoodlodge
New member
great advice all
there are also some fun spots going south along the red ridge heading towards no business lookout. If you would like someone to ride along with you let me know. We have many friends who just like to get out for ride and would love to show you around.
there are also some fun spots going south along the red ridge heading towards no business lookout. If you would like someone to ride along with you let me know. We have many friends who just like to get out for ride and would love to show you around.
How fast does the FW lot fill up on a weekend? Is there any parking at Green Gate? I have only ridden around west mountain and we are coming up for the weekend with the wife's. I would like the to ride the area's that f bomb spoke of but I know that it get's pretty busy in there. We are staying in McCall so is 8 or 9 a decent time or am i screwed at that point. Also any other recommendations would be appreciated.
Even if the lot is full you can park on the road. You do not have to worry about finding a place I think you can park on the side of the road all the way back to town
I
idaspud
Active member
Parking lotss
We have been pushing back the snow that the county truck plows leave with a front end loader to keep the Wallace lot more open. This has helped a lot, and you can park along the side of the road back toward town if the lot is full. If you are out there by 10am you should have a spot in the lot. Green Gate is open but the state is logging right above it and they are plowing the road that is normally groomed. Not sure, but I heard they were about done for the winter. Grooming report and maps are on
http://www.idahosnowbiz.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=923624&module_id=5290
Spud
We have been pushing back the snow that the county truck plows leave with a front end loader to keep the Wallace lot more open. This has helped a lot, and you can park along the side of the road back toward town if the lot is full. If you are out there by 10am you should have a spot in the lot. Green Gate is open but the state is logging right above it and they are plowing the road that is normally groomed. Not sure, but I heard they were about done for the winter. Grooming report and maps are on
http://www.idahosnowbiz.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=923624&module_id=5290
Spud
Just to add...there is logging going on about 1 mile up the green gate trail from the lot but they have made a decent go around and they are cognacent 
D) of sledders. They have graded the road down to ice for about 1/8 mile which is no big deal. Be careful in passing them so that they know you are there as there is some dangerous equipment moving around. This last weekend that trail was groomed and butta smooth clear on around and down into Brundage Res. We mistakingly went from FW on Warren Wagon RD up the ridge trail and it was NOT HAPPY TIMES.
Look on Wades Map and try this...For a good ride start either FW or green gate and go up over the Coppin Basin hit trail to Brundage Res. At the saddle of Coppin there are all kinds of meadows on both sides of the trail so explore through the trees all along that top for 2 miles in ever direction. Then head towards Brundage Res. Just over the saddle there are another bunch of small meadows to play in....then down to the res and play there....then head towards Granit Lake and Slatten meadows. At the bridge there is a huge meadow and more through the trees to play in. (watch the creek!)...then up to granit for some views and head back...that is a day of 30-40 meadows to bust...good trail...good scenery.
Now you can either do green gate or FW....FW fills on a good weekend by 9 or 10 at the latest but parking on the road is always available as already posted. TIP: I don't care if nobody is in the lot...the road is easiest and best for loading and getting out of the mess!
HEY...SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET THE SIGNS UP ON THE ROAD SO THOSE FIRST FEW SPOTS ARE NOT TAKEN BY SKINNY SKIERS AND RENTERS (THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TURN AROUND I GUESS or care as one looked like a local and it was there all last week). PLUS WE NEED THE PULL OUT SPACES MARKED BECAUSE IT'S ONE LANE. I wish we had the money and the go ahead to add a lane or highway pull out on the right side for 1 mile (make a sweet parking lot without all of the hassles).
Upper Brundage Riders lot was full to brim and sending them away at 9 on Saturday. Lower lot was busy too....still not the normal amount of riders in town but it's getting better and better. Great riding and I think the biz owners and tourism related workers thank you! They seem happier to see me and somewhat friendlier then years gone by...hunger will do that to you!
Oh yea and also EVERYBODY CHECK OUT THE MCCALL PUBLIC GOLF COURSE FOR A WONDERFUL DINNER OR BREAKFAST....WE HAD AN EXCEPTIONAL DINNER THERE AND IT'S VERY REASONABLE COMPARED TO THE ALTERNATIVES..LIKE THE MILL OR SHORE LODGE...NEW CHEF AND A NEW ATTITUDE...I ATE AT THE MILL THREE TIMES AND NONE EVEN CAME CLOSE TO OUR EXPERIENCE AT THE MUNICIPLE GOLF COARSE...ALSO CHECK OUT THE REMODELED FORESTERS..CLEAN AND FUN..DO LARDO'S TOO..GREAT PEOPLE TO SUPPORT AND THE FOOD AND DRINKS ARE RIGHT
YEA FOR WINTER IN MCCALL
D) of sledders. They have graded the road down to ice for about 1/8 mile which is no big deal. Be careful in passing them so that they know you are there as there is some dangerous equipment moving around. This last weekend that trail was groomed and butta smooth clear on around and down into Brundage Res. We mistakingly went from FW on Warren Wagon RD up the ridge trail and it was NOT HAPPY TIMES.Look on Wades Map and try this...For a good ride start either FW or green gate and go up over the Coppin Basin hit trail to Brundage Res. At the saddle of Coppin there are all kinds of meadows on both sides of the trail so explore through the trees all along that top for 2 miles in ever direction. Then head towards Brundage Res. Just over the saddle there are another bunch of small meadows to play in....then down to the res and play there....then head towards Granit Lake and Slatten meadows. At the bridge there is a huge meadow and more through the trees to play in. (watch the creek!)...then up to granit for some views and head back...that is a day of 30-40 meadows to bust...good trail...good scenery.
Now you can either do green gate or FW....FW fills on a good weekend by 9 or 10 at the latest but parking on the road is always available as already posted. TIP: I don't care if nobody is in the lot...the road is easiest and best for loading and getting out of the mess!
HEY...SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET THE SIGNS UP ON THE ROAD SO THOSE FIRST FEW SPOTS ARE NOT TAKEN BY SKINNY SKIERS AND RENTERS (THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TURN AROUND I GUESS or care as one looked like a local and it was there all last week). PLUS WE NEED THE PULL OUT SPACES MARKED BECAUSE IT'S ONE LANE. I wish we had the money and the go ahead to add a lane or highway pull out on the right side for 1 mile (make a sweet parking lot without all of the hassles).
Upper Brundage Riders lot was full to brim and sending them away at 9 on Saturday. Lower lot was busy too....still not the normal amount of riders in town but it's getting better and better. Great riding and I think the biz owners and tourism related workers thank you! They seem happier to see me and somewhat friendlier then years gone by...hunger will do that to you!
Oh yea and also EVERYBODY CHECK OUT THE MCCALL PUBLIC GOLF COURSE FOR A WONDERFUL DINNER OR BREAKFAST....WE HAD AN EXCEPTIONAL DINNER THERE AND IT'S VERY REASONABLE COMPARED TO THE ALTERNATIVES..LIKE THE MILL OR SHORE LODGE...NEW CHEF AND A NEW ATTITUDE...I ATE AT THE MILL THREE TIMES AND NONE EVEN CAME CLOSE TO OUR EXPERIENCE AT THE MUNICIPLE GOLF COARSE...ALSO CHECK OUT THE REMODELED FORESTERS..CLEAN AND FUN..DO LARDO'S TOO..GREAT PEOPLE TO SUPPORT AND THE FOOD AND DRINKS ARE RIGHT
YEA FOR WINTER IN MCCALL
Similar threads
