Campgrounds near Payette National Forest range from quiet trail-side tent sites to larger RV-friendly spots with lake views, giving campers plenty of settings to choose from. Last Chance Campground works well for hikers who want quiet spots near trails. If you head to Lake Cascade State Park, Sugarloaf Campground has bigger sites with good views of the water. Campers looking for privacy often choose Ponderosa State Park, where trees separate many of the sites. Rainbow Point Campground tends to have more open sites but still keeps the forest scenery. During summer months, you'll need reservations at most places since they fill up fast. The forest often has fire bans in dry periods, so check what's allowed before lighting a campfire. Bears and other animals roam throughout the forest, making secure food storage a must at all sites. While camping, you'll likely see deer wandering through and maybe elk in meadow areas. The lakes and streams in Payette National Forest have good fishing, but you'll need an Idaho fishing license. Many different animals call the forest home, so don't be surprised when you spot wildlife near your camp. Following Leave No Trace rules helps keep the forest in good shape for future visitors. Payette National Forest camping works for both simple tent setups and larger RVs depending on which campground you choose.
$15 - $40 / night
"Ponderosa is in beautiful McCall, Idaho. Close to downtown and the lake. Great hiking trails. Good park for a family. The campsites are right next to one another, so not much privacy there."
"Great walking path around and down to the lake as well! Quick 10min ride into town for a nice lake side dinner."
$10 / night
"Nice lake close by with boat, wave runner, pontoon boat rentals. Reserve in advance!"
"This place has easy to access bike paths, beach/lake access, and is only a few minutes from town."
$15 / night
"The best hot spring locates a short distance from the campground. This is one of my favorite places to camp. The trees around gave us plenty of shade on a hot day!"
"We adore this spot for so many reasons—proximity to adorable McCall but removed enough to feel remote, trees, hiking along the water, close encounters with the fauna kind :) do yourself a favor and visit"
$95 / night
"Close to McCall,several pull-thrus; even indoor hot tubs! No restaurant but you’ll be close to many great ones"
"The location is nice and quiet, awa from traffic.They have a nice lodge with an indoor heated swimming pool. Each site had a picnic table but no fire pit where we stayed."
$39 - $54 / night
"Convenient location and quiet even though right off 55. Sites are fairly close together. Well run park."
$10 - $30 / night
"This site and the surrounding area is filled with lush vegetation and this crisp, cool, blue blue lake."
"Water is best at entrance, the other has quite a bit of minerals. Pump only, no hose bib. Vault toilets were cleaned daily, very nice host."
$10 / night
"Dope off grid, dusty, pretty, dusty, epic drive and views along salmon river to hidden gem Secesh river. Flat sites. Good spot for riding base."
"Be sure to hike the Secesh river trail which starts across the Secesh River from the campground. I found huckleberries and wild strawberries along the trail at the beginning of July."
"Lick lake is a 3 mile hike into the wilderness and is gorgeous! No fee."
$15 / night
"The other side is along the edge of the mountain. I loved how these sites were very green and had lots of plants! There is a pit toilet in the canter."
GuideWhat a wonderful campground! Small yet don’t feel on top of your neighbor. Views of the lake are phenomenal and the beach/shoreline was awesome! We loved every minute and give it a 10/10.
GuideNice spot along river with lots of shade. Nice sites, clean and well maintained restrooms w showers. 6kW EV charger by river in day use area - one of the few along the Hells Canyon scenic byway.
ScoutShe was talking about they discriminated against anybody with pets. What camp or what person in Idaho doesn’t have a pet. This is the most pathetic campground I’ve ever seen.
GuideGreat spot! It was easy in, set up kinda like a camp site where there are actual open spaces for campers and firepits. Extremely quiet, other campers, but far enough I didn't see our hear them.
TravelerI’d give 4.5 stars if possible. Great location to break up the trip between Boise and Lewiston.
Lots of fun stuff to do: good swimming beach with the ability to check out canoes and kayaks (life jackets available for loan was a big deal since our 7&9 year olds forgot to pack theirs), sand volleyball, big bonfire ring near the beach, benches and picnic tables along the water access, lots of access to fishing within walking distance. Big rocks along the water that our daughter really enjoyed scrambling along, and we laid across them to watch the meteor shower.
Sites are big and easy to park our 36’ camper, easy check in, cute little store with firewood for sale. Staff were courteous and helpful.
Bathroom was clean, we didn’t use the shower.
The only thing I could complain about is that our picnic table was not in the best shape, but we swapped out for our neighbor’s since the site showed as available for the only night we were going to stay.
ScoutLots of first-come-first-served campsites. We showed up on a Tuesday early and there were tons of spots available. Vault toilets were clean. Drinking water was some of the best we've had. No cell service for Verizon. Road up to the campground is gravel washboard for about 3.5 miles - slow going, but ultimately worth it.
Reservoir was decent. Very weedy, and unless you take the concrete boat ramp, it is all thick mud. Water seemed clean though, and was nice and cool.
Lots of cows around - can definitely hear them early in the morning.
Nice place to camp - would stay again.
GuideWe came up to escape the 105 temps in Boise. Shoreline was not at capacity. Quiet couple of days. Paved roads and sites. Plenty of space between sites. Friendly site hosts. Beautiful lake with a significant boat launch area
GuideThere are several back in and pull thru spots for campers. There’s also a tent only spot. Clean vault toilet. Disagree with the review stating limited river access- there are trails everywhere leading to it. Clean, fire pits. Gravel road is washboard most of the way in, but not bad and don’t need 4wd. I’m sure the camp host was sick of people speeding in as I saw plenty of idiots speeding thru, cussing loudly, ripping dirt bikes thru. That’s why the 4 stars- there were a lot of people everywhere and many were annoying. Wish it were less popular.
GuideAfter driving around Lake Cascade searching for a campsite with no luck, most campgrounds were either full or just weren't our vibe, we stumbled upon Sugarloaf Campground around 5:00 p.m. What a great surprise!
While it's a bit larger than the campgrounds we usually prefer, it quickly won us over. The campground host was incredibly friendly, the campsites were clean and well maintained, and the bathrooms were spotless(though there are no showers). It's also just a short walk down to the lake, making it easy to enjoy the shoreline whenever you like.
One of our favorite touches was the collection of adorable birdhouses lining the entrance road; they added so much charm to the campground. We also loved all the wildlife. There were plenty of beautiful birds, grazing cattle wandering near the beaches, and we even spotted deer walking through the campground. We stayed in Site 70, which worked well for a last-minute reservation. If we return and we definitely plan to, we'd probably choose one of the sites in the 40s, as they seemed a bit more private and farther from the campground entrance. Overall, Sugarloaf was a wonderful surprise and somewhere we'd happily stay again.
Payette National Forest campsites sit between 2,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation, creating varied camping conditions across the forest's 2.3 million acres. The area features a mix of granite mountains, alpine lakes, and meadows where temperatures can drop below freezing even in summer months. Camping options range from primitive dispersed sites to established campgrounds with basic amenities.
Hiking to waterfalls: Last Chance Campground offers access to Goose Creek Falls via a well-maintained 2.8-mile trail. "The hike to the Goose Creek falls, as mentioned by others, is great. It's 2.8 miles to the Falls and another 0.2 miles to a neat bridge. The water was wild in June and so were the flowers," shares Gretchen B. from Last Chance Campground.
Wild berry picking: Many campsites offer seasonal berry harvesting opportunities. "Do keep in mind that as the season progresses the water layer will decrease," notes Hannah C. about Upper Payette Lake Campground. At Last Chance Campground, one camper mentioned, "This is a great place to access Goose Creek Falls. A great hike for the family. It is also a good place to pick Morels in the spring and Huckleberries in the summer!"
Canoeing and kayaking: The smaller lakes provide calmer waters perfect for paddling. "The lake is perfect for canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boarding, and leisurely boat rides. There is even a boat ramp to put in and take out at," according to Hannah C. about Upper Payette Lake Campground.
Historical campsites: Some Payette National Forest campsites have been in use for generations. "It is a historical site that has been used off and on for the past century," explains Hannah C. about Secesh Horse Camp, which features hitching rails for horses.
Off-grid experience: For those seeking to disconnect, several campgrounds offer a more primitive experience. "Dope off grid, dusty, pretty, dusty, epic drive and views along salmon river to hidden gem Secesh river. Flat sites. Good spot for riding base," writes Skyeriver about Secesh Horse Camp.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Campers regularly report seeing various wildlife. "Quiet, nice canoe lake. Wildlife are present in this area each night. Lots of hiking available," reports Ken B. from Upper Payette Lake Campground.
Fire restrictions: Fire bans are common during dry periods. One camper at Little Payette Lake Dispersed noted, "No fires were allowed due to wildfire restrictions."
Insects can be intense: Many campers mention mosquitoes as a significant issue. "Horrible mesquitoes. We may be packing up to leave early. Beautiful space though," reports Imerie T. about Little Payette Lake Dispersed camping area. Another camper noted, "Not super crazy view, but free. Not too many spots available in July. LOTS of bugs."
Water access varies: Despite proximity to lakes, direct water access isn't guaranteed. At Little Payette Lake Dispersed area, one camper mentioned, "Views of the lake but log jams and swampy shore mean no access."
Indoor options for bad weather: When conditions turn unfavorable, some facilities offer indoor amenities. At McCall RV Resort - Northfolk Lodge, one visitor mentioned, "The indoor pool and spa and steam room made this my favorite park so far on our journey."
Accessibility to town: Some camping areas provide convenient access to nearby towns for supplies. "All said, it was a painless & free site only a few minutes from downtown McCall, ID. Good alternative to when the state park fills up," notes Austin C. about Little Payette Lake Dispersed camping.
Clean facilities matter: Families often prioritize campgrounds with well-maintained bathrooms. "The bathrooms are pit toilets but they did have potable water out of a spout," mentions Tom K. about Last Chance Campground.
Size limitations: Many forest roads have restrictions that limit larger RVs. "The road up to this campground isn't bad but it is gavel and steep," notes Tom K. about Last Chance Campground. Another camper mentioned, "Tight if bringing a longer RV, groups can be accommodated in the circle drive."
Hookup availability: Black Bear RV Park offers more amenities for RVers than forest service campgrounds. "Great bathrooms and showers great laundry room. Older place has power and water and a central dump station," reports Jeff K.
Leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven terrain at dispersed sites. "Sloped ground so make sure you can level all your things," warns Imerie T. about the Little Payette Lake Dispersed camping area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need permits for camping in Payette National Forest?
Most developed campgrounds in Payette National Forest don't require advance permits, but they do charge fees for overnight stays. For dispersed camping at locations like Herrick Reservoir Access, camping is free with a 10-day stay limit. No reservations are needed for most primitive sites, though popular campgrounds may have reservation systems during peak season. Always check current regulations as they can change seasonally. For group camping or special activities, you might need to contact the ranger district office. Remember that even without formal permits, you're required to follow forest regulations regarding campfires, waste disposal, and resource protection.
Where are the best campgrounds in Payette National Forest?
Payette National Forest offers excellent camping options to suit various preferences. Poverty Flat is highly rated for its proximity to hot springs, water spigot access, and outhouse facilities. Ruby Meadows Trailhead provides a peaceful setting with creek access, though it can occasionally get busy with ATV enthusiasts. For locations near amenities, sites around McCall and Cascade Lake are popular. Many visitors also enjoy camping at Lake Cascade State Park's various campgrounds for water recreation. If you're looking for a quieter experience, the dispersed camping areas throughout the forest offer more solitude with fewer facilities.
What amenities are available at Payette National Forest campgrounds?
Amenities vary widely across Payette National Forest campgrounds. At Boise National Forest Warm Lake Campground, you'll find dry camping with no hookups, but each site includes a picnic table and fire pit with nearby hiking trails. Copperfield Park offers a range of site sizes from tiny to spacious, with boat launch access nearby. More developed campgrounds like those in state parks typically provide water spigots, outhouses or flush toilets, and sometimes showers. Some locations have tent pads, designated parking areas, and trash service. Dispersed camping areas generally offer no amenities beyond a place to set up camp, so come prepared with everything you'll need.
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