Quiet used to be the whole point of these mountain towns, until the secret slipped out. The town, wrapped by Payette National Forest, buzzes with summer water sports, fall foliage tours, and winter skiing at Brundage Mountain Resort. Restaurants like Cutwater at 501 West Lake Street fill up fast, with waits stretching well past an hour on busy evenings. The contrast between the town’s tiny size and its enormous summer crowds creates a uniquely surreal atmosphere. Schweitzer Mountain Resort, the largest ski area in Idaho, anchors the town’s winter economy and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to its slopes and village.