Depending on the kind of rose-tinted goggles you’ve got on, McCall is either a ski town with a serious lake habit or a summer beach getaway secretly obsessed with snow. We’d already fallen in love with McCall in the winter—it’s downright magical. But last summer, we decided to flip the script and head north to check out McCall’s mountain biking scene. That included a hefty dollop of mountain biking at Brundage Mountain. So, what’s Brundage like when the snow melts and the dirt starts calling? Here’s what we discovered about their summer setup.
Why I Love Mountain Biking at Brundage
When you talk about mountain biking at Brundage, you can’t look at it in a vacuum—you’ve gotta consider the full McCall riding experience. There’s the gravity-fed shuttle laps at Jug Mountain. The downright rowdy lift-accessed descents at Tamarack. And the classic XC trails winding through Bear Basin.
Brundage fills a unique role in the mix. It’s the region’s go-to for family-friendly fun, with plenty of flowy descents and just enough peppery rock spice to keep even the most sendy moms and dads smiling all day.
But What Really Made Brundage Pop for Us?
Their new Brundage to Bear Basin Trail—aka the B2BB shuttle. This 12-mile stretch of singletrack is already gaining a reputation as the best ride in McCall, and honestly, it’s worth the price of admission all on its own. We dive deeper into the B2BB in the MTB Trails section—trust us, you won’t want to miss it.
What to Expect
Rolling into McCall without its usual wintery blanket of snow, I knew there was a lake hiding just off the main drag—Payette Lake. But even knowing that, seeing it in person was something else. McCall and its shimmering shoreline felt like a quieter, quainter cousin of Lake Tahoe and one of its cozy towns.
As we climbed up toward Brundage Mountain, that relaxed slow paced vibe just kept rolling. Lifts don’t even fire up until 10 a.m.—because, you know, no one’s in a rush here. Summer riding kicks off on weekends starting June 13th, and from June 25th through September 1st, you can catch lift laps Wednesdays through Sundays.
Overview of the Mountain
Like we mentioned earlier, Brundage is built with families in mind. Aside from Hidden Valley’s fun, techy rock features, most of the trails here serve up smooth, flowy fun that’ll keep intermediate rides entertained. It’s also an ideal spot to introduce first-timers and beginners since any of the spicier sections come with easy ride-arounds.
Out of Brundage’s 30 miles of singletrack, five are downhill-only, with two of them acting as the primary gravity routes. Together, they make up nearly a third of the total mileage—plenty to keep you grinning and spinning for a solid half-day of fun. And if you’re willing to pedal just a bit you can access other trails like Rock Garden and Growler that loop back to the main lift.
But the real highlight? The Bear to Basin Shuttle. This one’s a must for intermediate and advanced riders—it’s where Brundage truly shines.
MTB Trails We Rode
Elk Trail
Difficulty: Beginner | Length: 5.7 mile | Climbing 19′ (940′ Descent)
Map & info about Elk Trail on Trailforks
Elk Trail is Brundage’s main flow line—fast, fun, and perfect for a family cruise. Along the way, it offers up some sidequest options like High Voltage and Wildcat, giving Dad (or any thrill-seeker) a chance to peel off for a bit more excitement while the rest of the crew enjoys the ride down together.
Hidden Valley
Difficulty: Expert | Length: 1 mile | Climbing 15′ (940′ Descent)
Map & info about Hidden Valley on Trailforks
Hidden Valley is where the wild things ride. This trail doesn’t waste time—it lets you know right out of the gate that it means business. From the top, it drops in with a left-hand roll through some chunky rocks before sending you off a solid rock drop. Things only get spicier from there.
As the trail bends right, the rowdiness ramps up. You’ll skirt along a massive cliff band while navigating loose rock and jagged boulders jutting out like a silver miner’s crooked grin.
Just when you think it can’t get any gnarlier, it funnels into a steep, techy chute coated in slippery granite dust and filled with sharp, pointy rocks. It’s wild, raw, and totally unforgettable—before finally spitting you out onto the smoother, flowy goodness of Elk Trail.
Rock Garden
Difficulty: Intermediate | Length: 2.4 miles | Climbing 40′ (463′ Descent)
Map & info about Rock Garden on Trailforks
Tucked on the backside of the mountain, this trail can either be ridden as a loop via Lakeview Vista → Growler, or as the first segment of the Brundage to Bear Basin (B2BB) shuttle route. And yes—Rock Garden is exactly what it sounds like.
Expect a bit of exposure, jaw-dropping views of distant peaks, and a ridgeline route that winds through a field of perfectly placed rocks. The crown jewel? A massive 180-degree bow-tie turn that opens up a stunning 270-degree panorama of Brundage’s cat skiing terrain and the surrounding high country.
As you continue to bounce and roll across the rocky singletrack, the trail strikes that perfect balance—challenging enough to push an intermediate rider, but still totally rideable. Eventually, the terrain softens, giving way to wide-open alpine views and a landscape dotted with colorful wildflowers.
Lakeview Vista
Difficulty: Intermediate | Length: 2.7 miles | Climbing 44′ (394′ Descent)
Map & info about Lakeview Vista on Trailforks
This is the second segment of the Bear to Basin shuttle—or you can use it to connect to Growler, another descent that leads back to the main lift. Over its three miles, the trail plays a fun game of peek-a-boo, swooping and switchbacking as it hunts down playful rock features to ride through. Each roll-up is perfectly sculpted so that if you hit it with some speed, you can comfortably roll right over.
Brundage To Bear Basin
Difficulty: Intermediate | Length: 6.2 miles | Climbing 189′ (1808′ Descent)
Map & info about Brundage to Bear Basin on Trailforks
If you ride this one, be ready—you’ll either have to pedal back up or have a car (or shuttle) waiting for you at the bottom. The trail yips and yawns with rollovers and perfectly sculpted switchbacks you can absolutely rip through. Over its six miles, you’ll descend down, down, down into the depths of a dark pine forest reminiscent of Lord of the Rings or a Harry Potter adventure.
This is where you really feel the backcountry vibe—like you might just round a corner and spot a bear or a proud elk standing tall beside the trail. And just as quickly as you entered the forest, it transitions into open, savannah-like terrain before finally spitting you right back at the shuttle pickup spot.
Where to Stay
There really isn’t any lodging right on Brundage Mountain itself, so if you’re visiting, you’ll want to stay in McCall. Honestly, it’s the way to go since all the best dining and après spots are right on the main drag.
We’ve stayed at Hotel McCall on both our winter and summer trips, and it’s still just as amazing as the first time. Hands down, it’s the best bang for your buck when it comes to experience. Huge rooms, comfy beds, and yes—cookies to tuck you in at night.
Plus, it’s super central, so you can easily walk to dinner or just kick back and enjoy a meal at their mouthwatering in-house spot—Rupert’s.
Other Things to do
Beyond mountain biking, McCall is a full-on destination packed with seemingly endless things to do. Cruise the waters of Payette Lake on a boat. Soak away your troubles in one of the many nearby hot springs. Cast a line for trout. You can even tackle some of the best whitewater rafting in the country or simply hit the trails for a hike.
Start by diving into all the must-dos and more in our McCall, Idaho Travel Guide—but trust us, you could easily spend a week here and still have plenty left to explore.
