Best Tent Camping near McCall, ID
Tent campsites in the Payette National Forest surrounding McCall, Idaho range from established campgrounds to remote dispersed areas. Brundage Reservoir Camping Area offers lakeside tent camping with boat-in access, while Northwest Passage Campground in Ponderosa State Park provides more developed sites with picnic tables and vault toilets. Lick Creek Area and Paddy Flat-Jughandle Mountain Area offer primitive tent camping options within the McCall and Krassel Ranger Districts, typically accessible from late spring through early fall.
Most primitive tent setups near McCall require campers to bring their own water and pack out all waste, as facilities are minimal or nonexistent. Sites are typically set on natural forest surfaces with minimal improvements beyond occasional fire rings. Walk-in tent sites at Northwest Passage Campground include picnic tables and access to vault toilets, but no running water at individual sites. Higher elevation backcountry camping areas like Granite Lake may remain snow-covered until July, with rough forest roads requiring high-clearance vehicles. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly in dispersed camping zones.
Areas farther from town provide deeper seclusion for tent campers seeking quieter experiences. The Brundage Reservoir area offers lakeside camping with opportunities for paddling and fishing directly from tent sites. Lick Creek Area serves as an entry point to wilderness hiking trails, with Lick Lake accessible via a 3-mile hike. Tent campers at Northwest Passage appreciate the woodsy setting and river access. One camper noted, "Depending on what campsite you stay in, the river is close. There are only 22 sites so not a huge amount of campers and most of the sites are pretty private with woods separating them." Wildlife sightings are common throughout the region, with visitors reporting moose, deer, eagles, and occasional bear activity, making proper food storage essential for tent campers.
