Cascade Lake State Park: May 6, 2014

Camp: First, we are not going to visit all the units around the lake. This is a large layout, with 12 camp units scattered around the lake and hundreds of campsites! Lots of variety from luxurious sites to primitive sites. In the last couple of years, they've enhanced the Ridgeview and Poison Creek units for RVs. Full service on some as well as power and water for others. One other unit has limited power. Be sure to check the latest information if you are interested in these kind of site. The Van Wyck unit is next to the boatramp near the dam and is an open design. First come / first served. Interesting, they indicate that just because there is a fire pit, it doesn't "define" a camp. Sounds like you are pretty much allowed to pitch a tent where you want, within reason.

The showers and bathrooms at Ridgeview we new and outstanding! The best I've seen in the state so far -- and it will be a stretch to beat them at any of the other parks. In fact, I have to say, they are better than the vast majority of the private RV parks we've stayed in. Cudo's to whichever organization paid for them. Since it's a site that is cooperative with BOR, then perhaps it's the BOR influence -- I don't know.

Cell coverage: good, but since there are so many units, we haven't tested all units.

We decided, mostly for convenience sake, that we would camp at the Ridgeview unit which is very near the dam. This is fairly new RV camp with 20, 30, and 50 amp services, water, and some sewar. It's within walking distance of a boat ramp and golf course and has a beautiful view of the west ridge, which right now is starkly capped with snow. Somewhere on the west ridge is Tamarack Ski Resort, which has upscale condos to rent -- or buy, as your fancy strikes you!

Crown Point is just north of the dam and has no rv services, but is a very nice unit. It's the favorite of a friend of our who works for the BOR. It has a dock where you can moor your boat and sites near the water. It's classic older layout design but sites are not too close together and have mature trees.

We also visited the Sugarloaf unit that is a newer design, with camping a little further from the shore. Trees are not fully mature, and it's a little exposed to the wind, but it's well laid out and has great views of the lake and the ridge on the west side of the lake. Especially in spring, the west side is fantastic as the ridge is draped with cornuses and heavily laden snow slopes.

In the Ridgeview unit, we have common merganzers outside our window with numerous other duck species to observe. We even saw a loon. There's definitely osprey and bald eagles to watch as well. There are numerous Wildlife Management Areas (State of ID lands) around for other excellent birding opportunities, but they are closed part of the year to help breeding birds, specifically eagles. At this time of year, the nestlings are already appearing. The ridge to the west of the lake is about as beautiful as it gets.

The lake provides all the water sports activities summer and winter. We talked with some fishermen at the dam who were reeling in numerous perch.

Nearby attractions: In the immediate area are five hot springs, and the Payette River (great white-water trips and beautiful scenery). Nearby is also the historic town of Roseberry -- which is a fascinating and well-restored historic town offering great photography as well as history. It has a museum, general store, old cabins and equipment, church, and other buildings of interest. Certainly, if you have a half-hour or 5 hours, this is worth a visit.

Tamarack Resort is on the west side of the lake and has many opportunities. McCall is about a half hour north and is one of Idaho's premier resort communities both summer and winter.