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The Top Places for Boat Rentals in McCall, Idaho

The Best Rental Cabins, Homes, Lakefront Estates and Romantic Getaways in McCall, Donnelly, Cascade & New Meadows

If you are planning a visit to McCall, Idaho, you have probably thought about visiting Payette Lake. Payette Lake is a great place to hop on a jet ski, go kayaking, go out on a pontoon boat, or even go wakeboarding for the first time.

If you truly want to experience everything beautiful Payette Lake has to offer, you are probably interested in a boat rental. Even though you can certainly bring your own, you may find that it is easier to rent a boat that is already there.

What are some of the top locations to rent a boat near the lake? Take a look at the list below, and get ready to experience everything this beautiful area has to offer.

1. Mile High Marina

If you are looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush, you should take a look at everything available at Mile High Marina. This is one of the top day rental places in the local area. If you are looking for wave runners, you can find them here. If you are interested in smaller boats, they are available as well. If you want to do some waterskiing, they have ski boats available as well. Furthermore, they offer stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and everything you require to have a fun day on the lake!

One of the major benefits of renting from the marina is that they also fuel the boats for you. If you have rented the boat for the entire day, all you need to do is take it back and add more gas. When you get hungry, they even have a place for you to get a bite to eat!

You can find the marina located at 1300 E Lake St, McCall, ID 83638.

2. Backwoods Adventures of McCall

Photo Credit: backwoodsadventuresmccallIf you find yourself at the northern edge of the lake, you will want to swing by Backwoods Adventures of McCall for all of your rental needs. This is a unique part of the lake because it is a non-motorized zone so while you won’t find a boat rental here, they do have plenty of other options.

If you are interested in exploring the wildlife that live on the lake, this is the perfect location to do so. This is also a great opportunity for you to get out of the water to do some biking, hiking, and exploring throughout the state parks. You will frequently see eagles, osprey, mink, otters, and elk from your boat.

This location rents stand-up paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, and everything else designed to help you check out the Beautiful Upper North Fork on the Payette River. The store itself is very easy to find. It is only a few minutes from downtown McCall. You can find it on the inlet to Payette Lake.

The address is Warren Wagon Rd, McCall, ID 83638.

3. Cheap Thrills Rentals

Regardless of whether you are looking for a watercraft or a snowmobile, you can find it at Cheap Thrills Rentals. This establishment offers rental opportunities for both the entire day and a half-day. It has been open for more than 25 years, and all of the equipment is meticulously cared for. In addition, they are capable of handling large groups, so if you have dozens of people with you, they have enough to meet your needs.

You have the opportunity to rent ski boats, pontoon boats, personal watercraft, and more. Furthermore, if you find that you forgot something on your way to the lake, there’s a good chance you can grab it off one of the shelves here.

The staff members are very knowledgeable. If you are looking for something specific about the lake, they can use their experience to help you. This full service location also has a wide variety of safety equipment that can help you prevent injuries from taking place.

If you are interested in exploring everything this boat rental shop has to offer, you can find it located at 303 N. Third Street (HWY 55) McCall, ID 83638.

4. Gravity Sports

If you are looking for a rental shop that offers a bit of everything, you will want to check out Gravity Sports. This is more of a sports superstore that provides you with access to everything you could possibly require, but they do have a section for rentals as well. If you are looking for a canoe, kayak, pontoon boat, or jet ski, they have one available for you. In addition, if you have your own equipment that has to be repaired, they can help you with that as well. If you want to explore the land around the lake, this may be the best place to go. You can also rent bikes of all sizes, which could be perfect for families with young children.

Finally, the staff members also have a tremendous amount of experience with numerous types of equipment, so they can provide you with plenty of recommendations for activities to enjoy.

If you want to check out the selection at Gravity Sports, you can find it located at 503 Pine St. McCall, ID 83638.

Top Things To Do on the Lake

Ultimately, these are the top places to rent boats that are physically on the lake. There are plenty of other boat rental locations in the area, but you will have to find a way to get your boat from the shop to the lake, which can be a substantial distance.

Once you are on the lake, you may be looking for fun things to do. Some of the top opportunities you should not overlook include:

1. Go On a Lake Cruise

Cruises on Payette Lake are incredibly popular, and you should check out McCall Lake Cruises. While you cannot rent a boat from them, you should certainly sign up for a chartered cruise. There are cruises that take place throughout the day, and they vary in terms of their length. If you want to experience the entirety of the lake, you may want to sign up for dinner charters.

The boat is 62 ft in size and it can comfortably seat up to 40 people. You can choose from a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, and you can enjoy a locally prepared meal. Do not forget to go up to the roof of the boat to take a few pictures.

This is a great location to bask in the sun, spend quality time with family members and friends, and enjoy the unique scenery of the lake. Because this is one of the most popular activities on the lake itself, you should try to schedule your cruise ahead of time.

2. Try an ATV

Once you have had your fill of the water, think about checking out the area around the lake on an ATV. The terrain is unique, the wildlife is exquisite, and there are plenty of opportunities. If you decide to ride an ATV, just make sure to wear the appropriate safety equipment. For example, you should never ride an ATV without a helmet.

You may want to bring a camera with you as well. There are lots of animals that live in the trees, and you might have a difficult time seeing them from the water. Consider renting an ATV if you are looking for an adrenaline-filled experience.

3. Cruise Around on a Jet Ski

Of course, you should not miss out on an opportunity to cruise around the lake on a jet ski. This is a popular watercraft, and you will find that there are lots of people who love jet skiing on the lake. As you cruise around the lake, be sure to pay attention to the signs.

There are some portions of the lake where you are not allowed to create a wake, so you will need to be careful, regardless of whether you are out for a full day or a half day. You may even want to try racing a few of your friends on a jet ski!

4. Try Water Skiing on the Lake

During your visit to McCall Idaho, you may want to try water skiing on Payette Lake as well. Even if you have never water skied before, summer in McCall is the perfect opportunity to do so!

There are plenty of those that are capable of pulling water spheres, and you may want to try this with a few of your family members and friends. You can rotate who is out on the water, and the rest of the riders can relax in the boat! If you are truly daring, you may want to try a few tricks as well. If you find yourself on a multi-day adventure, this is a great activity to try.

Just make sure that you wear your life jackets!

5. Picnic and Bask in the Sun

Photo Credit: teamztm via Instagram

You may also want to consider basking in the sun on the shore of the lake while enjoying a picnic. At some point, you will need to stop to take a break, and you can roll out a blanket with some food while watching the animals and people go by.

You may not realize how tired you are after a full day on the lake, so be sure to reapply some sunscreen before you roll over and go to sleep! Be sure to pay attention to the signs in the local area. There are some locations where you might not be allowed to have alcoholic beverages or glass bottles.

6. Go Fishing

If you love to fish, you have come to the right place. There are lots of great locations to go fishing in McCall, and you may want to talk to some of the guides at the shops to see what the best locations are. There are also plenty of locations to purchase bait, so if you did not bring your own, you can certainly purchase some from one of the local stores.

There are even fishing competitions that take place in the local area from time to time, so check out the calendar if you are interested in trying one of them out for yourself!

7. Go Kayaking on the Lake

Finally, kayaking is one of the most popular water sports on Payette Lake. There are plenty of locations to go kayaking, and some of them do not allow motor boats or watercraft.

If you are looking for a relatively quiet area, you may want to head to the northern end of the lake. Boats with engines are not allowed in this location, so you don’t have to worry about a larger boat buzzing you while you are trying to kayak. When you go kayaking, don’t forget to bring a camera! You will want to take pictures of the animals you see.

Get Ready for a Fun Trip to the McCall Area

Ultimately, Payette Lake and Lake Cascade are two of the most popular locations for people who visit the area. There are lots of kayaking, canoeing, and rafting opportunities, so make sure you plan your trip ahead of time. You may even want to rent a few ski boats if you want to try water skiing!

This area can get very crowded, particularly during the summer, so if you are planning on taking a vacation to this area, you may want to take a look at a few of the house rental opportunities ahead of time.

Come and see why so many people love this area! You will not be disappointed.

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