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Ultimate Planning Guide for Eloping in McCall, ID

Summer or winter, the little Idaho town of McCall is a stunning place for your adventure elopement! Surrounded by Payette Lake, McCall has lots of activities to choose from that will suit any adventurer. In this ultimate planning guide for eloping in McCall, Idaho, I'll go over:


  • Places to Stay in McCall - Including Dog Friendly Options

  • Places to Eat

  • Awesome Hikes for your Adventure Elopement

  • Winter Activities

  • Summer Activities

  • Recreation Areas and Parks

  • Hot Springs

  • Rental Places

  • Other Info

  • Vendor Info for your Elopement


mccall elopement bridals. winter elopement bridals in mccall idaho

Places to Stay in McCall - Including Dog Friendly Options

McCall has some great options to stay right in town, which is super nice if you elope there because everything is right there! The main drive in McCall has beautiful views of Payette Lake. If you don't want to stay right in town, check out New Meadows which is right down the road for some more options! There are also some yurts to stay in as well throughout the McCall area if you are feeling extra adventurous! Here's some top popular places in town.

  • Shore Lodge

  • Brundage Bungalows

  • The Scandia Inn

  • Hotel McCall

  • Rustic Inn

  • Tamarack Resort

And here's some awesome Airbnb's that would be great for getting ready photos!

Here's some awesome VRBO's as well! Be sure to look at all the listings for VRBO's in McCall because there are several amazing places to stay! Here's a few just from the top of the first page:


Great Places to Eat in McCall

After adventuring around all day, here's some popular places to grab some grub!

  • Front Porch Pizza (this is located in New Meadows, but it's a great pizza place)!

  • Toll Station Pizza

  • Growler's Pizza Grill

  • Frenchie's

  • Steamer's Steak and Seafood

  • My Father's Place

  • Stax

  • Rupert's

  • Lardos Grill and Saloon

  • Bistro 45

mccall idaho elopement in the snow, couple eating pizza

Awesome Hikes for Your Adventure Elopement

McCall is a perfect place to visit if you love doing activities outdoors! These hikes would be perfect if you want to incorporate hiking into your day. Here's some stunning hikes to check out for your adventure elopement (imagine having your ceremony at any of these spots)!

  • Louie Lake Trail (Jughandle Mountain)

  • Box Lake Trail

  • Brundage Mountain Hiking Trails

  • Deep Lake Trail

  • Josephine Lake Trail

  • Duck Lake via Twentymile Trail

  • Rainbow Lake Trail

  • Granite Mountain Trail 165

  • Lake Serene Trail


Winter Elopement Activities in McCall

McCall is the perfect place to visit in the winter, and here's some ideas on what you can do if you're craving a winter elopement!

  • Visit ski resorts - McCall has 3 hills to ski and snowboard at: Brundage Mountain Resort, Little Ski Hill, and Top of Bluebird Lift.

  • Snowmobile - The area of McCall is known as some of the West's premier snowmobiling country.

  • Go snow tubing at the McCall Activity Barn

  • Sleigh rides

  • Snowshoe

  • Snow bike

  • Nordic ski or snowshoe on Bear Basin trails

  • Ice skate

  • Attend the winter carnival

  • Stay and ski at Tamarack Resort

snowshoe bridals in ponderosa state park, mccall idaho

Summer Elopement Activities in McCall

If winter isn't your thing, check out these summer activities in McCall! Winter is more limited on accessibility in the mountains, so here's some ideas for you summer lovers. Also check out Lake Cascade just down the road!

  • Rent a canoe or kayak at Backwoods Adventures on North Beach

  • Recreate on Jughandle Mountain - hike, picnic, swim, fish, rock climb

  • Mountain bike on Bear Basin trails

  • Hike to an alpine lake

  • Zipline

  • Horseback ride

  • Boat, swim, fish, paddleboard, kayak on Payette Lake

  • Jet boat on the river

  • See the wooden and classic boat show on Payette Lake

  • Take a scenic boat tour


Recreation Areas and Parks

  • North Beach

  • Rotary Park

  • Brown Park

  • Art Roberts Park

  • Davis Beach

  • Ponderosa State Park - Osprey Cliff Overlook

  • Payette Lake, Little Payette Lake, Lake Cascade

  • Tamarack Falls Fishing Bridge


Hot Springs

Hot springs are a perfect winter (or summer) activity to include in your elopement timeline! Imagine snow falling down, drinking some good drinks, wearing a beanie, and getting cute romantic photos taken while you soak! This would also be perfect before or after the elopement, or after a day of skiing on the mountain.

  • Burgdorf Hot Springs and Resort - You can snowmobile to this hot spring in the winter!

  • Trail Creek Hot Springs

  • Council Mountain Hot Springs

  • Kirkham Hot Springs


Rental Places for Fun Activities

Looking to rent some gear for your stay? Check out these places!

  • Mile High Power Sports

  • Cheap Thrills Rentals

  • McCall Sports

  • Gravity Sports

  • Mile High Marina

  • Home Town Sports

  • Backwoods Adventures Canoe and Kayak Rental

  • Mountain Meadow Adventure Rentals

  • CM Backcountry Rentals and Adventures

  • Apex Electric Bike Sales and Rentals

  • Redline Recreational Toys


Other Info

  • There are only two grocery stores in McCall - Albertson's and Ridley's Family Market.

  • McCall has an elevation of over 5,000 feet. Be sure to arrive into town a few days early to help avoid altitude sickness during your elopement. You can also get medicine to help.

  • Dogs aren't allowed in Ponderosa State Park in the winter, except for one trail (Rover's Round About).

  • You can snowshoe or cross country ski in the winter at Ponderosa, but it's not open for hiking or biking until spring.

  • There are a ton of available campgrounds around McCall.


snowy elopement ceremony on payette lake, mccall idaho

Vendor Info for Your McCall Elopement

If you're coming in from out of town, there are limited vendors you can hire. There aren't a ton of options in McCall, but the nearby town of Boise has way more options for vendors like hair stylists, makeup artists, and florists. If you still can't find what you're looking for, some companies can deliver. You could also probably meet in the middle so the delivery cost isn't so high.


There are some tips you can keep in mind to make the process smoother, such as ordering wood flowers so they won't wilt by the time you are ready, or keep in mind flowers can be ready to go for a few days if they're kept cold. You can order pre-made floral bouquets as well, and they come in a cooler. Usually bouquets can be put together before the blooms open, so in the few days until you arrive, they won't be bloomed out. Or you can simply make the bouquet yourself. I've had brides do this and the florals turn out beautiful! As for food, you can also order dessert ahead of time, and have it delivered to you if you don't order locally. If you aren't a fan of cake, it will be easier to order something like custom cookies, and bring them with you.


I also do some research for you to help you find the vendors you are needing for your elopement, so I provide a custom list of vendors for you as well!


McCall Elopement Photographer

I hope this ultimate planning guide for eloping in McCall helps you see what activities you can incorporate into your adventure elopement! McCall is the perfect town for some fun and memorable adventures!


Here's a review that was left for me when I photographed Tasha and Billy's Winter Wonderland McCall elopement:


"When planning for our elopement in Idaho & coming from Florida, Karlie made the whole process smooth from start to finish. No detail was left out. She made our wedding day experience one we will never forget and the photos we get to cherish for a lifetime. I highly recommend Karlie for all your photography needs. She puts a lot of time and effort into planning your session and truly goes above and beyond."


If you hire me for your adventure elopement, you'll be provided with a customized list based off of your vision and location for your elopement day! You can contact me here if you are interested in booking with me!






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