The Payette National Forest near McCall comprises 2.3 million acres, with over 2000 miles of backcountry trails, 300 mountain lakes and 1400 miles of rivers and streams. The Boise National Forest north and east of Boise totals 2.6 million acres with its forests covering the rocky peaks known as the Idaho Batholith. More than 80 campgrounds are nestled within prime habitat for Idaho's wildlife, nearly 7600 miles of rivers and more than 250 lakes and reservoirs.
Southwestern Idaho provides almost unlimited forms of prime outdoor recreation -- snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding, backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, windsurfing, gold panning in addition to hunting and fishing.
Various species of wild Trout as well as hatchery-raised Trout, steelhead and chinook salmon are found in this region's fisheries. Besides the usual fare of both wild and stocked bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish in the reservoirs, a growing population of trophy-size walleye entertain anglers in Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir where they were introduced in 1978. State records for coho salmon, crappie, bluegill, catfish (a Flathead weighing 58 1/2 pounds!), bullhead, and carp come from this region.
Pheasant, turkey, chukar, Hungarian partridge, a variety of ducks, geese, sharptail grouse, sage grouse, blue grouse, ruffed grouse, Mourning doves, quail are some of the game birds offered in Southwestern Idaho hunts. Moose is the only big game animal hunted exclusively by Idaho residents. The other big game species are open to non-residents.These include bighorn sheep, mountain goat, antelope, deer, elk, bear and mountain lion.
For more detailed information contact: Boise National Forest, 208-364-4100; Payette National Forest, 208-634-1400; Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1-800-635-5240 outside Idaho; McCall Chamber of Commerce, 208-634-7631; Boise Chamber of Commerce, 208-344-5515; Cascade Chamber of Commerce, 208-382-4922.