Adventures
Custer City Ghost Town, Custer, Idaho
Custer City is a ghost town in Custer County, Idaho, founded in 1879 as a mining town. It was named after General George Armstrong Custer. The town experienced a boom in the early 1880s when gold and silver were discovered, and its population grew to nearly 1,000. However, the mines eventually played out, and by the early 1900s, the town was mostly abandoned. Custer was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. Today, it is a popular tourist destination with well-preserved buildings such as an old saloon, a jail, and several residences. Visitors can explore the old mines, the cemetery, the surrounding mountains, and the nearby Yankee Fork Gold Dredge. Custer serves as a reminder of Idaho's mining past and how quickly fortunes can change. It is part of the Land of the Yankee Fork Historic Area.
Baby Bear, Sleepy Hollow, Blue Ridge, and Grand Traverse Trail
It's a repeat trail for us, but it is a favorite. It has decent views, magnificent wildflowers, interesting trees in some places, and a fun switchback area built for bikes that is also enjoyable to run down. The trail is primarily flat or downhill, with a gradual incline where one exists. It is also well-managed and nearly free of tripping hazards. You may have to share the trail with bikes and other hikers, especially on the section designed for bikes. Enjoy the hike, but pay attention to your surroundings.
Bear Pete Creek Trail
A spontaneous trip to the McCall, ID area, allowed us to explore the area above McCall. Our primary objective was to check out Burgdorph Hot Springs and try a new hike or two. Bear Pete Creek Trail led us to a great little hike and a pleasant camping spot we did not know about.
Bear Pete Creek Trail starts at the tail end of the campsite. Although it is marked in AllTrails as only a few miles long, it goes much further. Since we were not in a rush, we hiked beyond its parameters. A creek flows near the trail but is rarely in sight.
Canoeing the Upper North Fork of the Payette River
Took the family up the Payette River again. We rented canoes from Backwoods Adventures, which made things so much easier. From the nonmotorized boat launch, we slowly paddled up the river and enjoyed the perfect temperature, slight breeze, and meandering river. This time, we saw a pair of bald eagles and a trout swimming under our canoe.
We still explored, but we also went farther upriver than ever. The canoes made it super easy, and in no time, we had passed the bridge and were cruising further up the river.
This is one of our favorite locations in Idaho and one of our favorite activities while visiting McCall. It was a perfect day for it this time, too. I hope you enjoy sharing the adventure with us.
Mogensen Trail (2023)
The second time on this trail, but in a different season. The differences were evident. The trail was much greener, more water was flowing down the falls, and more people were on the trail. We happened to hike on the same day as a major base jumping event, and were even tasked with being impromptu videographers for a marriage proposal from one of the jumpers. It was an awesome hike.