Payette National Forest is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Payette National Forest is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
Ponderosa State Park offers every kind of overnight experience imaginable with a variety of standard and serviced campsites, or cabins for small or large groups, amid a beyond-scenic mountain setting next to Payette Lake. There’s always more to explore! Learn more about all that Ponderosa State Park offers.
Beautiful Payette Lake surrounds the Peninsula Unit and is the shoreline of the North Beach Unit of the park, located in the heart of one of Idaho’s most popular year-round destinations. Hike and bike on your own or with a guide, listen to a park naturalist in the evening at the amphitheater or walk with them on one of the trails. Children can participate in the Junior Ranger Program in the summer months. Visitors can meander the North Fork of the Payette River in a canoe or kayak (rentals available), Nordic ski on groomed trails, snowshoe on designated trails, or simply sit on the front porch of a park cabin and enjoy the spectacular view.
Whether you enjoy cooking in a Dutch oven at a primitive camp site or an indoor stove in the comfort of a deluxe, lakeview cabin, Ponderosa State Park presents plentiful overnight experiences with a variety of standard and serviced campsites, or cabins.
$15 - $40 / night
At Last Chance Campground, there are 20 single and three double sites situated along Goose Creek in a mature Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir forest. This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
This campground boasts many opportunities for recreation. Goose Lake is a short distance away, which features a picnic area, restrooms, and fishing piers. There is excellent fishing in the reservoir, or try your luck in Goose Creek, next to the campground. Popular Goose Creek Trail #533 begins at the campground and leads to Goose Creek Falls and onto Brundage Reservoir. Hiking to Goose Creek Falls is a family-friendly hike that everyone is sure to enjoy. A special treat is to go huckleberry picking in late summer along the trail!
Last Chance Campground is situated among large ponderosa pine and Douglas fir trees, which offer a charming forested setting. The campground is situated along Goose Creek, at approximately 4,653 feet.
$15 / night
45 sites, no hook-ups. Central drinking water. Nice tent living pads. Vault restrooms. Boat Ramp with handling docks. Great birding area. Secluded campground.
This campground is located adjacent to the Secesh River and offers beautiful river views. There are eleven camp sites. This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app ht tps://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
There is fishing and trail access.
The South Fork of the Salmon River is a highly popular area of the Forest and is one of the earlier areas to be snow-free in the spring. Several campgrounds and dispersed campsites can be found along the South Fork Road (FS Rd #674). The southern-most 7 miles of the South Fork Road are on the Boise National Forest.
$10 / night
Experience all that McCall has to offer with clean mountain air, fantastic outdoor activities, and, of course, great people. Enjoy nearby boating, fishing, kayaking, white water rafting, hunting, canoeing, zip lining, and three challenging golf courses. ATVs, UTVs, and SUPs are always welcome...bring the fun!
For the fisherman, there are over 200 lakes within 30 miles, with everything from shore fishing to fly fishing excursions. Hikers and backpackers of all levels love the well-groomed forest trails, and bikers appreciate the miles and miles of bike trails. Rock climbers rave about McCall. If you are an ATV / UTV enthusiast or four-wheeler, you will love McCall. Motorcyclists, come and discover some of the most beautiful countries you have ever ridden through!
Downtown McCall offers a diverse mix of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. The Manchester Ice Center offers a year-round venue for figure skating, hockey, curling, and more. In addition to festivals and events throughout the year, thousands flock downtown to see the towering snow sculptures, live music, food, and art at the annual McCall Winter Carnival. This quaint and beautiful mountain resort is one of the few remaining treasures of the historical past.
We are a family operated RV park and campground located 2 minutes from downtown McCall, the marina and Payette Lake.
RV sites include 45' pull-throughs on concrete pads with water and electric hookups and plenty of shade trees. On-site dump station. Free pump-out service for stays longer than 7 days.
$39 - $54 / night
Upper Payette Lake Campground is located 16 miles from McCall, Idaho, on the shores of beautiful Upper Payette Lake. Visitors enjoy fishing, canoeing and exploring local trails. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Upper Payette Lake is a no-wake lake that offers great fishing, canoeing and kayaking opportunities. The paved, mile-long Shoreline Trail begins in the campground and several additional hiking and biking trails begin just across the road from the entrance.
The lake is situated at the foot of the Salmon River Mountains at an approximate elevation of 5,900 feet. Engelmann spruce and lodgepole pine forest the site, providing partial shade. Summer wildflowers are abundant. Summer days are typically warm and nights are cool.
$15 / night
Warm Lake Campground is near the eastern shore of beautiful Warm Lake, at an elevation of 5,300 feet. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and viewing local wildlife.
Warm Lake offers great fishing opportunities for cutthroat, rainbow, lake and bull trout. Boating, canoeing and swimming are popular activities. A developed swim beach is available less than a quarter-mile away, at Warm Lake Lodge. Billy Rice Swim Beach is just over a mile from the campground, on the north side of the lake. The area offers a day-use site for picnicking and swimming. A boat ramp is located at nearby Shoreline Campground. The surrounding area offers great hiking, mountain biking, horseback and off-road vehicle riding, and hunting. The WeWuKiye (Wa Wu Kia) Trail No. 252 was recently built and can be accessed at Shoreline Campground. It is popular for hiking and mountain biking. For off-road vehicle enthusiasts, Telephone Ridge Trail No. 112 offers 20 miles of trails for all riding levels, with staging areas within the campground and up the road at Shoreline Campground.
Warm Lake offers great fishing opportunities for cutthroat, rainbow, lake and bull trout. Boating, canoeing and swimming are popular activities. A developed swim beach is available less than a quarter-mile away, at Warm Lake Lodge. Billy Rice Swim Beach is just over a mile from the campground, on the north side of the lake. The area offers a day-use site for picnicking and swimming. A boat ramp is located at nearby Shoreline Campground. The surrounding area offers great hiking, mountain biking, horseback and off-road vehicle riding, and hunting. The WeWuKiye (Wa Wu Kia) Trail No. 252 was recently built and can be accessed at Shoreline Campground. It is popular for hiking and mountain biking. For off-road vehicle enthusiasts, Telephone Ridge Trail No. 112 offers 20 miles of trails for all riding levels, with staging areas within the campground and up the road at Shoreline Campground.
The campground is situated in a scenic forest of towering, old-growth ponderosa pine, which provides partial shade in the campground. Chipmunk Creek runs alongside the campground. Summer wildflowers are abundant. A variety of wildlife including bears, deer, elk, fox, grouse, eagles, osprey, grosbeaks, whooping cranes and otters, lives around the lake.
Warm Lake Lodge is located across the road from the campground and has a restaurant and small store with camping and fishing essentials.
$34 / night
$42 - $52 / night
Located along side the South Fork Salmon River, this paved campground offers 10 campsites, including 4 walk in tent sites.__ This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.__ If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
__The campground serves as take-out for those floating the South Fork of the Salmon River from Goat Creek. Serves as the trailhead for an extensive trail system. Many loop hikes are possible from here, of varying lengths and difficulties. Open to those on foot, horses, mountain bikes, and trail bikes. Fishing in the river.__
__The campground serves as take-out for those floating the South Fork of the Salmon River from Goat Creek. Serves as the trailhead for an extensive trail system. Many loop hikes are possible from here, of varying lengths and difficulties. Open to those on foot, horses, mountain bikes, and trail bikes. Fishing in the river.__
The South Fork of the Salmon River is a highly popular area of the Forest and is one of the earlier areas to be snow-free in the spring. Several campgrounds and dispersed campsites can be found along the South Fork Road (FS Rd #674). The southern-most 7 miles of the South Fork Road are on the Boise National Forest.
$10 / night
Grouse Campground is located just 16 miles from McCall, Idaho, on the shores of Goose Lake. Visitors enjoy canoeing, fishing and horseback riding. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Goose Lake is a no-wake lake offering rainbow and brook trout fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Numerous hiking, horseback riding and dirt bike trails are in the vicinity, including Granite Mountain Lookout and Goose Creek Falls.
Goose Lake is situated in the beautiful Salmon River Mountain range at an elevation of 6,500 feet. A forest of Engelmann spruce and lodgepole pines provides partial shade in the campground, which is a short, three-minute walk from the shoreline. Summer wildflowers are abundant.
Brundage Mountain Resort, located nearby, offers scenic chairlift rides and excellent lift-served mountain biking and hiking.
$10 / night
Ponderosa State Park offers every kind of overnight experience imaginable with a variety of standard and serviced campsites, or cabins for small or large groups, amid a beyond-scenic mountain setting next to Payette Lake. There’s always more to explore! Learn more about all that Ponderosa State Park offers.
Beautiful Payette Lake surrounds the Peninsula Unit and is the shoreline of the North Beach Unit of the park, located in the heart of one of Idaho’s most popular year-round destinations. Hike and bike on your own or with a guide, listen to a park naturalist in the evening at the amphitheater or walk with them on one of the trails. Children can participate in the Junior Ranger Program in the summer months. Visitors can meander the North Fork of the Payette River in a canoe or kayak (rentals available), Nordic ski on groomed trails, snowshoe on designated trails, or simply sit on the front porch of a park cabin and enjoy the spectacular view.
Whether you enjoy cooking in a Dutch oven at a primitive camp site or an indoor stove in the comfort of a deluxe, lakeview cabin, Ponderosa State Park presents plentiful overnight experiences with a variety of standard and serviced campsites, or cabins.
$15 - $40 / night
At Last Chance Campground, there are 20 single and three double sites situated along Goose Creek in a mature Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir forest. This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
This campground boasts many opportunities for recreation. Goose Lake is a short distance away, which features a picnic area, restrooms, and fishing piers. There is excellent fishing in the reservoir, or try your luck in Goose Creek, next to the campground. Popular Goose Creek Trail #533 begins at the campground and leads to Goose Creek Falls and onto Brundage Reservoir. Hiking to Goose Creek Falls is a family-friendly hike that everyone is sure to enjoy. A special treat is to go huckleberry picking in late summer along the trail!
Last Chance Campground is situated among large ponderosa pine and Douglas fir trees, which offer a charming forested setting. The campground is situated along Goose Creek, at approximately 4,653 feet.
$15 / night
45 sites, no hook-ups. Central drinking water. Nice tent living pads. Vault restrooms. Boat Ramp with handling docks. Great birding area. Secluded campground.
This campground is located adjacent to the Secesh River and offers beautiful river views. There are eleven camp sites. This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app ht tps://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
There is fishing and trail access.
The South Fork of the Salmon River is a highly popular area of the Forest and is one of the earlier areas to be snow-free in the spring. Several campgrounds and dispersed campsites can be found along the South Fork Road (FS Rd #674). The southern-most 7 miles of the South Fork Road are on the Boise National Forest.
$10 / night
Experience all that McCall has to offer with clean mountain air, fantastic outdoor activities, and, of course, great people. Enjoy nearby boating, fishing, kayaking, white water rafting, hunting, canoeing, zip lining, and three challenging golf courses. ATVs, UTVs, and SUPs are always welcome...bring the fun!
For the fisherman, there are over 200 lakes within 30 miles, with everything from shore fishing to fly fishing excursions. Hikers and backpackers of all levels love the well-groomed forest trails, and bikers appreciate the miles and miles of bike trails. Rock climbers rave about McCall. If you are an ATV / UTV enthusiast or four-wheeler, you will love McCall. Motorcyclists, come and discover some of the most beautiful countries you have ever ridden through!
Downtown McCall offers a diverse mix of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. The Manchester Ice Center offers a year-round venue for figure skating, hockey, curling, and more. In addition to festivals and events throughout the year, thousands flock downtown to see the towering snow sculptures, live music, food, and art at the annual McCall Winter Carnival. This quaint and beautiful mountain resort is one of the few remaining treasures of the historical past.
We are a family operated RV park and campground located 2 minutes from downtown McCall, the marina and Payette Lake.
RV sites include 45' pull-throughs on concrete pads with water and electric hookups and plenty of shade trees. On-site dump station. Free pump-out service for stays longer than 7 days.
$39 - $54 / night
Upper Payette Lake Campground is located 16 miles from McCall, Idaho, on the shores of beautiful Upper Payette Lake. Visitors enjoy fishing, canoeing and exploring local trails. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Upper Payette Lake is a no-wake lake that offers great fishing, canoeing and kayaking opportunities. The paved, mile-long Shoreline Trail begins in the campground and several additional hiking and biking trails begin just across the road from the entrance.
The lake is situated at the foot of the Salmon River Mountains at an approximate elevation of 5,900 feet. Engelmann spruce and lodgepole pine forest the site, providing partial shade. Summer wildflowers are abundant. Summer days are typically warm and nights are cool.
$15 / night
Traveler
We arrived on a Thursday afternoon in October. There were many spots available along the road leading up to this site. But they were close to the road and we wanted to be off the road. We ended up at the last spot on the road right before the interpretive trail at the end. This spot was tucked into the trees. And once we got our camper backed in, we didn’t even know the road was there. And the VIEW! Wow!! Looking across the lake with the most beautiful sunsets. We stayed for 3 nights. We set up Starlink so we could work on Friday and had no issues with the connection.
Scout
I recently faced the big challenge of choosing the right signs for my office interior and found Bsign. Their selection of door signs was quite impressive, especially the modern and minimalist designs. For example, in the"Modern" category they offer a combination of stainless steel and acrylic glass with the option to add text in ADA format, which is not only stylish but also functional. Also worth mentioning is the"Wave" series with a combination of steel and wood, which adds coziness to any atmosphere. They have easy to install signs, which saved me a lot of time.
Scout
We had the place to ourselves. Great small campground if you want to get away from everything.
Traveler
My husband and I were looking for a quick spot to camp and found this right off the highway, it was perfect for a last minute camping. There’s a few more spots off the highway. We loved that it was right on the river, too. Pretty easy access, but if you have a longer trailer than I would suggest going in the first turn out, because the second one is tight.
Traveler
Camping is free, limit of 10 days. Not really any designated sites and surrounded by private land with aggressive signage. Not all roads around the reservoir are public, so be prepared to turn around and back up at dead ends. We came to an orange gate that said "private property", and stopped. While trying to turn around, we noticed a white truck sitting behind us. When we turned around and passed him, he motioned to roll down the window, and then berated us and called us idiots, even though we had not even entered the private land, nor did we want to. We felt threatened. In the end we chose a site on the upper road of the reservoir. The view was nice but not close to the pit toilet. No fire ring. No table. A no frills place. Like many lakes in Idaho, the reservoir is mostly dry. Not a huge deal but not the prettiest to look at. There is only one single pit toilet for the whole reservoir and someone was set up right next to it like it was their own. People ride off-road vehicles here. In an area with slim pickings for free camping, I guess you have to take what you can get.
Scout
The campground had just about everything we hoped for: it was quiet, clean, scenic, on a river, green, had showers, and a fantastic host. The dock right in front of our campsite was a bonus and the river was calm enough to swim in. Limited-range WiFi is available at the light pole at the camp entrance. Great stargazing at night, and we were serenaded by a couple of owls! Perfect location to visit the Hells Canyon Dam or start you rafting trip.
Traveler
Two other RVs already here so we backed into the shaded nook just as you pull off Lick Creek Rd. Views of the lake but log jams and swampy shore mean no access.
No bugs during the day but Dawn/dusk mosquitoes.
TravelerThis is a little pullout off route 95. Has about 10-15 feet of separation from main road, which gives privacy and protection from cars. The surface is a gravel and can fit a fairly decent amount of vehicles. The sign says you can camp up to 10 days consecutive, we only stayed for the night and continued on. This is also right on little salmon river.
Guide
Owners were very helpful about the activities in the area.
ScoutWe were excited about this find, the location was perfect for riding sxs right outside of round valley.
We unfortunately, could not fit our rig in the gate. It was tight and could not make the turn with a long box truck and 30ft camper.
I did not like that the spots were so close together and not very private.
Greg was very nice though and willing to give us a refund. Still haven’t seen the refund come through yet.
Scout
Campsite is just outside of town next to the lake. Good little spot to pull up. We stayed one night and paid $15. Lots of campsites were full on the other side, this was good being so close to the tamarack resort.
Scout
they have absolutely destroyed what we use to love..they put sand in every camping spot with railroad ties and huge spikes make sure you like sand in your shoes and in your tents and campers.. the placement of the fire pitts make it where you cant sit around the fire ..carry a flashlight at all times so you dont trip over the ties that they have placed …they took family sites big enough for 10 people and made them so close you can actually hear the next site breathing in their sleep..the camp host by the Name of Tod Had a nasty additude towards my wife when we had first woke up at 8:00 am hounding us about money..sorry we got there at 3:00 in the morning we were going to stay for 14 days and left in 3 they made nature into a aparment style camp ground i guess thats what happends when greed takes over..we have never had problems before ..camp hosts were great and now they need blue and red lights on top of their wheelers..now you look out your front window used to see the lake and mountains now you see the top of some ones tents…way to go IFAG..
Scout
I called (no one answered @4:45pm)... then we drove because it was on our way... and there was no one. The restaurant was closed... it is 6:15pm.. maybe they aren't open past 6?
Scout
We’ve been here twice now. First 2021 and again June 2024. Campground is well kept. Showers and facilities clean. Minutes from Donnelly Idaho for “the things you forgot”. Great views coming back again for sure.
Guide
Stayed two nights here. Very nice, large campsite spots with picknick table and fire pit. Friendly camp host. Clean vault toilets. Goose Trial is right at the campsite. Nice easy trial. First come spots. We came in late 700pm but there were a lot of spots left.
Guide
Very calm and peaceful this weekend. Able to get our favorite spot by the river.
TravelerThis camp site was popping with people who are definitely staying a while. These people let us camp near them but idk if they’d let us stay that long. Good for one night! Neighbors kind of loud but sooo pretty by the river!!! Easy to get in and out. Porta potty’s available
Guide
This place is nice but no campfires allowed which my boys love to do. However, they have swimming pool, jacuzzi, and free popcorn all day!
Guide
We stopped by mid- Oct but didn't camp since water is already turned off. BUT , it's a beautiful campground.
Guide
We love this place... this is our go-to campground and one of our favorites. Kids can go swimming and fishing or just hung out by the water!
ScoutWith a beautiful place like this, I don't understand why so few people come. It's really great to come here with friends to chat and play pico park together
Guide
The gps for this site was off. It says to take a left at the fork. But the reservoir is to the right. Just follow the posted sign. It was nice and peaceful, tad bit chilly since it’s October. Last year I wasn’t able to get a spot near the lake but there is so many places to boondock up there.
Scout
I went to book this for a weekend for a family trip in the summer.. They do not have any tent spots. She was OK with our motorhome and one tent but the minute I said we had two kids and two small tents. She immediately informed me that she would not be renting to us. 
Scout
Great spot for groups! Limited spaces and not super close together -- which we love. View of the water is beautiful and there are many trees to provide shade for the entire campground.
Guide
Nice park and facilities. Very friendly check-in. Small store in park. Clean and well kept grounds.
Ranger
Decent traffic now and then but overall nice quiet area on a peaceful part of the river!
Guide
The fir trees stand tall and still. I can’t figure out if they are waiting for something to happen or if they simply don’t care.
If you’re looking for sone sort of gorgeous panorama, this might not be the place for you. It’s really just a small meadow in the mountains that the BLM put a vault toilet and a couple of fire rings in. That being said, this place is beautiful.
You can’t see rapid creek from the campground but you can hear it. And that’s really just as good. The white noise from the creek matched with the occasional bird or other nature sound is one of the most relaxing things on the planet.
It’s high enough in elevation that this place gets nippy at night. I stayed in early August and the temps dropped into the upper 30s at night.
The campground is well maintained and the vault toilet was reasonably clean when I arrived. It became Kevin clean shortly after I set up camp.
There are trails from both sites near the vault toilet that lead down to Rapid Creek.
I never saw any bear scat but signs on the property warn of them so be smart with your food.
All in all, Rapid Creek dispersed camping is excellent if you just want a quiet place where no one is around. It’s amazing but not for the reasons people usually like in my opinion. ◦
Camping near Payette National Forest, Idaho, offers a mix of stunning scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're pitching a tent or parking an RV, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.
Camping near Payette National Forest, Idaho, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With a variety of campgrounds and activities, you’re sure to find the perfect spot for your next adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Payette National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, Payette National Forest offers a wide range of camping options, with 203 campgrounds and RV parks near Payette National Forest and 22 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Payette National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Payette National Forest is Peninsula Campground — Ponderosa State Park with a 4.4-star rating from 36 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Payette National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 free dispersed camping spots near Payette National Forest.
What parks are near Payette National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Payette National Forest that allow camping, notably Clearwater National Forest and Salmon-Challis National Forest.
