Just 94 miles north of Boise is the picturesque rural town of Donnelly.  Nearby lush meadows and sparkling alpine lakes make Donnelly a beautiful destination that offers plenty to do.

Hooked on the wild life
At the northern tip of Lake Cascade, Idaho’s fourth largest lake, Donnelly offers great fishing for rainbow trout, Coho salmon, and perch.  In the winter, the lake freezes over and ice fishing begins.  During the day, bird watchers may glimpse osprey and bald eagles.  Keep an eye out for a rare Long Valley resident—the great grey owl.

A Tarzan Tour of Tamarack
About nine miles southwest of Donnelly, soar through the air on the Tamarack Canopy Zipline Tour.  No prior experience is needed but you must weigh between 80 and 275 pounds.  Since some hiking is involved, good closed-toe shoes are essential and hiking boots are recommended.  The Zipline is open as long as there is no snow on the ground.  After your adventure in the trees, enjoy a buffalo burger at the Buffalo Gal, 319 N. Main St, Donnelly (325-8258).

From Idaho 55, turn west on Roseberry Rd.
Turn left onto W. Mountain Rd.
Travel 3.5 miles to Tamarack Resort
$99 plus tax
(208) 325-1006
www.tamarackzipline.com

Feed the Elk
During a severe winter in the 1980s, Hap and Florence Points began feeding starving elk to help them through the harsh winter.  Lyle and Kathy Points continue the tradition, offering scenic horse-drawn sleigh rides to view and feed the elk in their natural habitat.  Open mid -December to the end of March.  Call (208) 325-8783 for more information.

Let it Snow
Idaho is one of the nation’s top 10 destinations for snowmobiling and the Donnelly area, at an elevation of 4,800 feet, lies in the heart of the action-packed fun zone.  More than 1,000 miles of groomed trails in the immediate vicinity make for a variety of scenic and smooth (or bumpy!) routes. The Cascade Trail system connects with the McCall system to the north and the Garden Valley system to the south. Go to sledtherockies.com/idaho/cascade.aspx for more information.

If you don’t have your own snowmobile, you can rent one in Cascade at CYA Sports, 580 N. Main St., Cascade.  Call (208) 382-4386 for reservations.

Soak in Breathtaking Beauty
Nestled in a pine-scented mountain forest near Donnelly, Gold Fork Hot Springs offers six beautifully landscaped mineral pools, each with different temperatures, and all with superb views.   Kids love the shallow wading pool with a white sand beach. Located south of Donnelly, 6.5 miles east of Highway 55.  Follow the signs at Davis Creek.  Closed Tuesdays.  No credit cards.  Call (208) 890-8730 or (800) 890-8730 for more information, or go to www.goldforkhotsprings.com.

Step Back in Time: Roseberry
In 1911, Roseberry was the largest town in Long Valley, complete with a hotel, two blacksmith shops, a restaurant, butcher shop, and a logging mill.  But when the railroad bypassed the town less than two miles to the west in 1914, many people decided to move closer to the rail lines, establishing the town of Donnelly.   Roseberry became a semi-ghost town of a few sturdy structures including a schoolhouse, general store, barn, and carriage house.  As you tour the historic Roseberry town site, imagine what life was like for the Finnish homesteaders. To get to Roseberry from Donnelly, turn east on E. Roseberry Rd from Highway 55. For more information, go to www.historicroseberry.com.

Places to Stay
Boulder Creek Inn, 629 Highway 55, Donnelly, (208) 325-8638 (check if open after the end of September)

Long Valley Motel, 161 S. Main St., Donnelly, (208) 325-8271

The Ashley Inn, 500 N. Main St., Cascade (south of Donnelly), (208) 382-5621

Pamela Kleibrink Thompson found Roseberry a fascinating place to take photos against rustic buildings.