Limited guide services are available, but you can also get into the ice fishing craze with a fairly simple setup and strike out on your own.
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Perhaps one of Cascade’s worst-kept secrets is its stellar ice fishing. Lake Cascade is gaining traction as one of the most sought-after winter fishing destinations in the country. Record size perch and feisty trout offer some of the most fun catches around.
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#2 ICE FISHING
For the easiest access, start at Lake Cascade. With miles of frozen lake ice to explore, the hunt for that trophy perch is easier than ever. But don’t stop there. We also love Horsetheif Reservoir and Warm Lake for ice fishing. A great way to dip your line is to join in on a tournament weekend. Each year the Idaho Youth Outdoor fishing tournament is held at Horsethief and Warm Lake hosts the popular WTF (Where’s the Fish) tournament. And on Lake Cascade, the largest ice fishing Tournament is Tackle Tom’s “Cascade Cup.”
#3 HOT SPRINGS There’s only one thing that makes soaking in a one of the area’s hot springs even more enjoyable… the crisp, cool winter air. While there are numerous natural hot springs around Cascade, most are difficult to get to in the winter. Two great options when the snow flies are Trail Creek Hot Springs and the Cascade Aquatic and Recreation Center.
Photo courtesy Visit Idaho
First up, Trail Creek hot springs sits at 5,614 feet in elevation and has an average temperature of115 degrees (which can be lowered by adding creek water to the soaking pools through pipes along the river). To get to Trail Creek, take Warm Lake Road approximately 19 miles NE. Watch for a large pullout on your right, 0.4 miles east of milepost 61. Follow a 60-yard path from the west end to the canyon floor and the soaking pools. The hot spring includes two small pools with steep access, and can be very slippery! Our second soaking pick may come as a surprise… the Cascade Aquatic and Recreation Center. This municipal swimming pool is unique in that it is heated with geothermal water. Covered with a dome in the winter, the Center offers an easy way to soak (and swim!) all winter long. Continued page 62 61
