It was going to be one of my last weekends in Sawtooth country before moving out of state, so I was determined to make it count.

A backpacking trip alone wasn't going to do it. A bike ride? C'mon.

We've got the Foothills right out our Boise back door.

A rafting trip? Fun, but not fun enough.

Backpacking, biking and rafting ... now that's more like it.

While most of my friends were cooking eggs on the sidewalk in the scorching Treasure Valley over the Fourth of July weekend, I was on a 40-mile adventure in the mountains with cool breezes, cold streams and downright breathtaking views.

The bike ride was an Idaho classic: the Fisher-Williams Loop in the White Clouds (aka Fisher Creek). The backpacking trip was an overnighter to Sawtooth Lake. The rafting trip was the 10-mile Piece of Cake stretch of the Sunbeam Run on the Salmon River. Toss in the annual Fourth of July rodeo in Hailey, and you're looking at an All-American weekend.

It was an epic adventure and one that you can do yourself. Here's how:

The Fisher-Williams Loop Trail is popular for a reason: The scenic 18-mile loop in the White Cloud Mountains is an epic ride that takes you through aspen trees and sagebrush, across creeks, up steep climbs and - of course - down some ripping singletrack. Just less than nine miles of singletrack, in fact.

The distinguishing feature of the trail these days is the plant life growing back after the huge fires that cut across the area in 2005. Lupine and other wildflowers were in full bloom in early July and stood as a stark contrast to the many burned trees that line and surround the trail.

Go early, though. Much of the trail is not shaded and gets hot later in the day. The day we went, we were greeted at the end of the trail by a group of 12 riders just setting out. It takes about two or three hours to complete.

Trail stats: 2.3 miles of paved road, 2 miles of gravel road, 4.8 miles of doubletrack, 8.9 miles of singletrack. High elevation: 8,041 feet.