Like McCall, smaller and quieter
Cascade: 48-Hour Escape from Boise
A 1910 logging town on a 26-mile reservoir, Idaho's quietest lake town, 1.5 hours north of Boise.
Cascade: A 1910 logging town on a 26-mile reservoir, Idaho's quietest lake town, 1.5 hours north of Boise.
At a glance
Cascade, Idaho is a 1 hr 30 min drive from Boise, best visited June-September. Like McCall, smaller and quieter. Top things to do: Lake Cascade fishing, North Fork Payette rafting, Tamarack Resort. Where to eat: The Anchor, Stacey's Steakhouse, Cascade Coffee. Stay at Ashley Inn of Cascade or Bristol Ranch Cabins.
71
of 100
Escape score
A solid 48 hours
A modest weekend: reasonable rooms, plenty to do.
- Drive
- 1 hr 30 min from Boise
- Best window
- June-September
- Typical stay
- ~$163/night
Escape score: what there is to do and eat (40%), typical weekend lodging cost (30%), drive time (25%), rounding (5%). Computed from our own guide data, never from paid placement.
Why here
Cascade is a town of 900 on the south end of Lake Cascade, a 26-mile reservoir on the North Fork of the Payette River. The lake is one of Idaho's best fisheries (trophy perch and trophy rainbow), and the town is the base for the Payette River's North Fork rapids, Class III-V whitewater that runs through July. The town was a logging camp until 1948, when the dam created the reservoir. It's the quieter, cheaper alternative to McCall, 20 minutes north.
Cascade is the fishing-and-whitewater town that the Payette built. The reservoir, created when the Bureau of Reclamation dammed the North Fork in 1948, is one of the best trophy perch fisheries in the West, the state record 3.4 pounds came out of it, and a slot limit keeps the big fish in. The North Fork Payette, which feeds the lake, runs Class III-V whitewater through a granite canyon May through July, the best rafting in Idaho. The town was a logging camp that became a fishing base, and Tamarack Resort, 15 minutes away, added the skiing. The whole setup is quieter and half the price of McCall, 20 minutes north, which is the point.
A weekend in Cascade is a fish-and-float weekend. Fish the south end for perch, raft the North Fork Payette in June, and ski or ride the coaster at Tamarack. Come June through September for the lake and the river, winter for the ski. Two nights lets you add the hot springs at Gold Fork, 20 minutes south.
The plan
48 hours in Cascade
Same town, two different weekends. Pick the arrival that matches your Friday.
Friday, on arrival
Check inAshley Inn of Cascade
From ~$150/night
The only hotel in town. 28 rooms, a pool, a hot tub, and a great breakfast. Walk to the lake. Reserve summer weekends 2+ months ahead.
Leave Boise after work: the 1 hr 30 min drive lands you here in the evening.
Friday night
Dinner, then the main streetThe Anchor
Waterfront on the lake. The fish and chips (made with local perch), the burgers, and the local beer are the orders. Dock your boat or drive.
Eat first and walk it off after. Most small-town kitchens stop seating by 9.
Saturday morning
First stopLake Cascade fishing
$14 day license. Trophy perch (state record is 3.4 lbs) and rainbow trout. Rent a boat at Cascade Raft & Kayak, $80 half-day. The south end is best fo...
Saturday midday
LunchStacey's Steakhouse
Steak, ribs, and a salad bar, in a 1910 building. The ribeye and the prime rib are the moves. No reservations, expect a wait on weekends.
Saturday afternoon
Second stopNorth Fork Payette rafting
$80+ half-day. Class III-V rapids through a granite canyon. The run is May-July, peaking at high snowmelt. Cascade Raft & Kayak runs trips, book 1+ we...
Saturday night
DinnerCascade Coffee
The best coffee in town and the pastries are baked in-house. The place locals start their morning. Open 6am to noon.
Sunday morning
Last stop, then homeTamarack Resort
15 minutes away. Ski in winter, mountain biking and an alpine coaster in summer. The coaster is $15, 1 mile downhill. The view from the summit spans 3...
1 hr 30 min back to Boise still leaves you the afternoon.
Timings are a suggestion, not a schedule. Shift the whole plan by how late you leave.
The Basecamp
Where to stay in Cascade
Ashley Inn of Cascade
The only hotel in town. 28 rooms, a pool, a hot tub, and a great breakfast. Walk to the lake. Reserve summer weekends 2+ months ahead.
Bristol Ranch Cabins
Cabins on the lake, 2 miles from town. Full kitchens, decks, and a private dock. The best fishing access. Book 3+ months ahead.
Gold Fork Cabins
In Donnelly, 20 minutes south, lake-view cabins near Tamarack Resort and the river. The ski-and-fish base.
What to do
Lake Cascade fishing
$14 day license. Trophy perch (state record is 3.4 lbs) and rainbow trout. Rent a boat at Cascade Raft & Kayak, $80 half-day. The south end is best for perch.
Learn more ↗
North Fork Payette rafting
$80+ half-day. Class III-V rapids through a granite canyon. The run is May-July, peaking at high snowmelt. Cascade Raft & Kayak runs trips, book 1+ week ahead.
Tamarack Resort
15 minutes away. Ski in winter, mountain biking and an alpine coaster in summer. The coaster is $15, 1 mile downhill. The view from the summit spans 3 mountain ranges.
Learn more ↗Pack for Cascade
River & paddle kit
Curated for swimming holes, float trips, and slow rivers in Cascade.
Waterproof phone pouch
Lanyard-sealed, touchscreen-friendly, and cheap enough to distrust.
See price on Amazon →Inflatable paddle board
Rolls into a backpack, floats all day on flat water.
See price on Amazon →Quick-dry water shoes
For rocky put-ins, gravel bars, and hot parking lots.
See price on Amazon →Floating sunglasses retainer
Because the river keeps every pair it is given.
See price on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, book2escape earns from qualifying purchases.
Where to eat
The Anchor
Waterfront on the lake. The fish and chips (made with local perch), the burgers, and the local beer are the orders. Dock your boat or drive.
Stacey's Steakhouse
Steak, ribs, and a salad bar, in a 1910 building. The ribeye and the prime rib are the moves. No reservations, expect a wait on weekends.
Cascade Coffee
The best coffee in town and the pastries are baked in-house. The place locals start their morning. Open 6am to noon.
Most reviewed on Yelp
The most-reviewed restaurants in Cascade. A solid indicator of where locals actually eat.
Palooza Basecamp & Eatery
American
Lakefront Bar & Grill
American
Thunder Mountain Burgers
Burgers
Review counts and ratings are curated from Yelp and may change over time.
On the calendar
Coming up in Cascade
Events happening in town, refreshed weekly.
Refreshed weekly
Nov 14
Hoe Down Fundraiser
Cascade · Cascade Cultural Arts Center
Kick up your boots for an evening of community dancing and entertainment supporting the local arts center. It offers travelers an authentic taste of small-town mountain culture and hospitality.
Dec 5
Cascade Christmas Tree Lighting & Market
Cascade · Downtown Cascade
Celebrate the holiday season with Cascade's annual tree lighting ceremony and festive community market. It is an ideal kickoff to a winter weekend escape in the mountains.
Getting there
Drive logistics
From Boise, take ID-55 North. ~85 miles, about 90 minutes. The drive through the Payette River Canyon is the scenic part. Winter requires snow tires or chains, check ID-55 conditions.
Drive time
1 hr 30 min
Best time
June-September
Questions & Answers
Cascade weekend FAQ
Cascade is about 85 miles north of Boise, roughly 90 minutes via ID-55 North through the Payette River Canyon.
3.4 pounds, caught in 2022. Lake Cascade is one of the best trophy perch fisheries in the West, with a slot limit to protect big fish.
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