Lick Creek Road

A few steep vertical traverses and relatively narrow shelf roads keep this track from qualifying as a beginner track, but it's otherwise an easy, relaxing, and impeccably beautiful trail from McCall into Idaho's famous backcountry fishing areas. The first part of the trail features the beautiful Little Payette Lake and a handful of dispersed campsites tucked into the surrounding trees. The path th...

When to go: Summer and Fall typically offer the best window.

Vehicles: Jeep/Truck, SUV. Standard maintenance and a spare tire cover the basics here.

Southwest Idaho context

Southwest Idaho splits across the Snake River. South of the river is Owyhee high desert — sage flats, slickrock canyons, and a million-plus acres of BLM. North is the Boise National Forest, with mining-era roads, ponderosa, and quick out-of-Boise access. Most weekend trips work off Boise, Mountain Home, Marsing, or McCall.

Best for drivers who understand their vehicle and the cost of a mistake in remote country.