There’s something about rural Idaho in autumn that feels like a slow exhale. The roads are quieter, the scenery is endless, and sometimes the best fall foliage is found while simply cruising down a highway lined with bright fiery dogwood. That’s exactly what I was doing when I stumbled upon a restaurant that’s bound to stick in my memory — though not for the reason you might think.

West-central Idaho, particularly the area around McCall, is known for the vibrant fall foliage that breathes life into Idaho's dry, post-summer landscape. McCall sits around 9,000 feet in elevation in the mountains around Payette Lake, so its fall foliage is especially dramatic. Aspen and cottonwood trees steal the show, their leaves turning brilliant shades of yellow and gold. You'll also find western larch (also known as tamarack), which adds a stunning splash of golden-orange to the forests as its needles change color before falling. I highly recommend experiencing fall in this slice of the state at least once! And if hiking isn't your thing, a scenic drive can be just as rewarding. It's not always the case, but my timing this year was perfect, and I found myself completely engulfed by spectacular autumn colors, particularly along Highway 95 to New Meadows.

But, after a long weekend spent hiking and chasing the stunning fall colors all around the Cascade, Donnelly, and McCall areas, hopping around from the Cuddy Mountains to the North Fork Range and everywhere in between, I found myself starving. You know the kind of hungry where you’ll eat anything, but you really want something that hits the spot? That’s where I was. And luckily, right off the highway in Council in a big, unmistakable red building, there it was: Sprockets Taphouse and Restaurant. It's pretty hard to miss! From the outside, it looked like the perfect kind of quirky spot that promised good vibes and comfort food to soothe my backpacking-fueled hunger.

As soon as I walked in, I was hit with the sense of "home." There was an old-school charm about it, but clean and welcoming. Vintage bike posters and photos covered the walls with some fun, Idaho-inspired photography mixed in. The unfinished wood details added a slight mountain cabin vibe that had me smiling before I even sat down. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back just to see what other quirky details you missed the first time.

Sprockets also captured the familiarity and camaraderie of small-town Idaho restaurants as well. Seriously, everybody knew everybody here. Servers and diners were chatting about last weekend's cattle escapades and next weekend's fishing trip. Guests who came in to pick up their to-go orders were greeted by name as soon as they walked in the door. While not your usual longtime family-fun establishment, it was everything I love about small-town dining. And, as expected, the service was top-notch too. My server was friendly, chatty in the best way, and genuinely made me feel welcome.

Keeping in line with the whole fall experience, I scoured the menu, hoping for something warm and hearty after hiking 12 or so miles that morning. The closest thing I could find was a hot and melty Philly Cheesesteak, served with hand-cut fries. The portions were massive and it certainly filled me up, but it didn't quite hit the spot.

I wanted a little reward after all that hiking, you know what I mean?

Enter: the pumpkin pie milkshake.

I’ll admit, I was feeling a bit disheartened by the lack of autumn-inspired dishes on the menu. But then, as if the heavens opened up, my server casually suggested I try their seasonal pumpkin pie shake. My first thought was, “Sure, why not?” I mean, how can you go wrong with pumpkin pie in the fall? Little did I know, I was about to experience something magical.

Truth be told, I'm not a huge pumpkin spice gal. The PSL movement has never really been up my alley, and its addition to seemingly every product on the market has gotten a little out of hand. But…homemade pumpkin pie is definitely in my top five favorite desserts of all time. So you have no idea how thankful I was when the shake came out that it wasn’t just some pumpkin-flavored ice cream thrown in a blender or sprinkled with pumpkin spice.

Oh, no, no.

They ground up real pumpkin pie in the back — crust and all — and blended it into a thick, creamy, hand-scooped shake.

As soon as it arrived, I could tell it was going to be special. First off, it was huge. We're talking at least 36 ounces of pumpkin pie deliciousness and ice cream, all blended together and beautifully drizzled with sweet caramel. Plus, the whipped cream on top was enough to make a dairy lover weep with joy. It wasn’t one of those puny, half-hearted dollops. This was a hearty swirl of whipped glory, cascading over the rim like a dessert volcano waiting to erupt.

From a calorie perspective, I don't particularly want to know how much of that whole pumpkin pie I wound up consuming in ice cream form. I'll leave it to the imagination.

But the first sip? Life-changing. I barely got a photo of it before it was half gone (sorry!).

I'm no stranger to Idaho's best milkshakes, and one thing I know for sure: those big kid straws (you know what I'm talking about — the ones that are half an inch wide and could probably be used as a cattle prod) are the only right choice for sipping one of these beauties. I’m not exaggerating when I say this milkshake might’ve single-handedly restored every sore muscle in my body. It was the perfect blend of real pumpkin pie flavor and sweet cream, with that added crunch from the pie crust chunks.

The caramel was such a light and welcome addition that I found myself savoring each sip like I was drinking autumn itself. You know how some desserts taste like fall candles smell? That was this milkshake, but in the best possible way. It wasn’t over-the-top dolled up or cloying — it was just right. The only thing that could have made it better would have been sticking around to enjoy it on Sprockets' patio, served up in a glass the way all milkshakes aspire to be served. But alas, I took it to go.

Honestly, if I had to come back to Sprockets for one thing and one thing only, it’d be that pumpkin pie milkshake. It’s worth the detour if you’re in the area in the fall, especially if you’re a pumpkin pie fan (and honestly, who isn’t when the leaves start changing?). Fortunately, with how massive the shake was, I'll be freezing it and savoring it for the next 3-5 business days.

Beyond the food and the quirky bicycle decor, would I come back to Sprockets Taphouse? Absolutely. It’s the kind of spot that leaves an impression, and maybe next time I’ll try something else from the menu, hoping to strike gold — or, at the very least, snag another one of their milkshakes. They have a whole lineup, after all! But FYI, the pumpkin pie shake is only available through November.

So, if you ever find yourself hungry and leaf-hunting in the Council, Idaho area, do yourself a favor and swing by the big red building off the highway. Order something from the menu, but whatever you do, don’t leave without trying that pumpkin pie milkshake. It’s fall in a glass, and trust me — it’ll make your day.