Find new adventures outside the McCall city limits!
DAY TRIP#5: WARREN
Beyond Burgdorf there is a backcountry gem that is an iconic part of our regional history. Founded in 1862, Warren is the fifth oldest town in Idaho and can be accessed by Warren Wagon Road, the same route taken more than 100 years ago by wagons bringing mined ore from Warren to McCall. The 45 mile drive (30 miles on paved road, 15 miles on dirt road) takes about 90 minutes.
Before you head to Warren, we recommend stopping at the Payette National Forest Ranger Station in McCall (102 West Lake Street) to check out a free audio tour to be your guide for the day.
Secesh
Travel along Warren Wagon Road and pass through the Burgdorf Junction. The road will transition from pavement to dirt and you will start to see family cabins dotting the landscape as you near the community of Secesh. Many of these cabins are summer homes, but a few tried and true residents live in Secesh year-round. In the winter, Secesh and Warren are only accessible by snowmobile and mail and freight are flown in by ski plane. If the kids need a break from the car, the Secesh Stage Stop is a great place to pause and treat the family to ice cream.
Explore Warren
Arriving in Warren, your first stop should be the Warren Guard Station to view historic photos, artifacts, and mining exhibits. From the Guard Station, peruse the town’s historic buildings including the Warren School, built in 1887 for $180, the Barn, presumably constructed in the early 1800s and complete with gun ports, the Warren Hotel, built in 1912 after a large fire swept through town in 1904, and the Warren Dance Hall, built in 1905 and home to Saturday night dances featuring the fox trot and waltz. The Chinese Gardens are another must-see site located eight miles past Warren above the South Fork of the Salmon River on Forest Service Road 337. The gardens are all that remains of terraced fruit and vegetable gardens diligently maintained by the Chinese miners and modeled after traditional farming practices in their homeland. The most accessible garden is at Hays Station, the former Guard Station before it moved to Warren in 1918.
Lunch at the Baum Shelter
After all that historical exploration, you have probably worked up a solid appetite. The Baum Shelter in Warren has you covered. Known for their burgers, they also hand bread their finger steaks and chicken strips. We highly recommend the “Baum Shelter Baskets” with your choice of finger steaks, chicken strips, prawns, fish and chips, or hot wings. Baskets are served with your choice of side. In the summer, the Baum Shelter is open 7-days a week, from 11 am – 8 pm on weekdays and 11 am – closing on the weekends.
With lunch complete, make your way back to McCall and enjoy a few scenic photo op locations at Landmark Summit, between Warren and Secesh, and at Secesh Summit, between Burgdorf and McCall.
Add an Overnight Stay: Can’t get enough of historic Warren? The Baum Shelter offers limited single cabins for guests looking to overnight. Please call (208) 634-4393 for availability and reservations.
