The Overlook, a timber retreat, McCall, Idaho

Set in the Raw Wilderness of Central Idaho

The Overlook is brought to us by hinter, who specialize in design spaces hidden in nature. Designed by Altruist (founded by C.J. and Sedona Pennington), then hand-assembled by a local crew on a wooded hillside outside McCall, Idaho, it's a space for friends and families to gather in, set in raw wilderness. And that setting is equally compelling in January, with snow settling on the gables, as it is in July.

There are two structures, connected by a short pathway. Covered outdoor spaces wrap both structures, drawing movement outside in every season. A fire pit and barbecue grill are ready for evenings on the hillside, with a patio that looks straight into the surrounding ponderosa forest.

The design leans on the gabled forms of high-west cabins and ranches, with covered outdoor spaces that pull movement outside. Leather, wool and raw timber run through the interior, and expansive glass keeps the forest in constant view.

Layout

This vacation home for rent in McCall, Idaho sleeps up to eight guests. It's made up of two structures on one hillside, connected by an outdoor pathway: a primary suite and two guest rooms in the main house, with a fourth bedroom in a separate suite reached by crossing the pathway. Three and a half bathrooms serve the four bedrooms, with the shared spaces built for a group that wants to gather but still have privacy.

• Bedroom 1 (Primary Suite): Double, en suite

• Bedroom 2 (Guest Room): Double

• Bedroom 3 (Guest Room) — Double

• Bedroom 4 (Additional Suite, across pathway) — Double, en suite

Experiences

Every stay includes a complimentary membership to digital wellness studio O-P-E-N to use throughout your visit.

Good to know

High-speed Starlink internet runs throughout at over 120 Mbps, useful given the remote setting. The house is pet friendly with prior notification, for an additional fee. Quiet hours run from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. No parties or events are permitted.

Amenities & services

Body soap, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, towels provided, hot water, sound system, carbon monoxide detector, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, smoke detector, blender, coffee maker, cookware, dining table, dishes and silverware, dishwasher, freezer, ice maker, kettle, oven, refrigerator, stove, toaster, wine glasses, laptop friendly workspace, barbecue grill, fire pit, free parking on premises, air conditioning, bed linens, dryer, hair dryer, hangers, heating, indoor fireplace, kitchen, patio, TV, washer, Wi-Fi, Starlink internet, stereo system, O-P-E-N wellness membership, pet friendly (additional fee)

Around

McCall sits on the shore of Payette Lake, an old mountain town built around the land rather than tourism, ringed by the Payette National Forest. The latter has 2.3 million acres of old-growth ponderosa and alpine lake country, nearly 800,000 acres of it designated wilderness. Brundage Mountain runs skiing and snowboarding in winter.

In summer, the lake takes over for swimming, boating and kayaking. Two natural soaks are within reach: Gold Fork Hot Springs, 22 miles south near Donnelly, and the historic Burgdorf Hot Springs, 30 miles north in the national forest and reachable only by snowmobile once the snow sets in. The town keeps out chain restaurants by choice, so eating well here means eating local.