Are you planning a tent camping trip to Payette National Forest? We've got you covered. The Dyrt helps you find campsites with tent camping near Payette National Forest. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Payette National Forest's most popular destinations.
Located along Brundage Reservoir are several dispersed campsites suitable for tent or small RV camping. Fishing is great at the reservoir so bring your fishing pole. Small motor boats are allowed on the reservoir. No tables available, but there are several fire rings and a restroom. CAmpsites are not reservable - no fees are charged for using these dispersed camp sites. Expect cold nights and warm days.
The Lick Creek area is just east of McCall and is accessed from Lick Creek Road. This is a beautiful area that many think of as the Alps of Idaho. There are many recreation opportunities in this area such as camping, a guard station cabin rental and many trailheads that lead to alpine lakes. A drive to the top of Lick Creek Summit from McCall only takes about 40 minutes. This is a highly recommended area! Camping & Cabin Rental Lake Fork Guard Station Cabin Rental Lake Fork Campground Black Lee Dispersed Camp Site 33 Mile Dispersed Camp Site Scenery Scenic Drive: Lick Creek Road to the South Fork of the Salmon River. Hiking Hum Lake/North Fork Lick Creek Trail #082 Loon Creek Tail #084 Duck/Hum Lake Trail #085 to #082 Fitsum Creek Trail #087 Lake Fork Creek to Paddy Flat Trail #103 East Fork of Lake Fork Creek Trail (Snowslide) #104 Fall Creek Loop Trail #107 Fall Creek Saddle Trail #108 Crestline Trail #109 Box Lake Trail #110 Maki Lake Trail #135 Lake Fork First Bridge Trail #339 Rock Climbing Slick Rock
This is a rustic dispersed campground with 7 sites located next to Granite Lake. Several trails leave from this camping area. Sites have tables and fire rings and there is one restroom. The road to the site is not suitable for large RVs. Four-wheel drive is recommended to access Granite Lake. Most suited for tent camping. Camping sites are not reservable and no fees are charged for use of these dispersed camp sites. Expect warm days and cool nights.
The Paddy Flat and Jughandle Mountain area is located southeast of McCall on the McCall Ranger District. Paddy Flat is accessed from Paddy Flat road a few miles north of Donnelly, Idaho. Jughandle Mountain can be accessed via trail from the Paddy Flat area, the Boulder Lake Area, and from the Lake Fork Creek Trailhead. Recreation sites within the area: Kennelly Creek Campground Paddy Flat Camping Area Rapid Creek Camping Area Paddy Flat Guard Station Cabin Rental East Fork Kennelly Creek Trail #099 North Fork Kennelly Creek Trail #102 Paddy Flat/Lake Fork Trail #103 Boulder Lake Trail #105
This is a small, quiet two-unit dispersed camping area located in the Paddy Flat area. Adjacent to Rapid Creek. Tables, fire rings and toilet available on site.
This dispersed walk-in 3 unit campground is located along the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River. The site is popular with boaters floating the East Fork of the South Fork Salomon River. Adjacent to the road, so can be noisey and dusty.
Picnic Point Campground is located on a bluff overlooking 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 boat ramp is located at neighboring Shoreline Campground. Billy Rice Swim Beach is within walking distance, offering a day-use site for picnicking and access to a swimming beach. 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 nearby, at the entrance to Shoreline Campground. It is available 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 at Shoreline Campground and at Warm Lake Campground down the road.
The campground is situated beneath towering ponderosa pines, which provide partial shade. Summer wildflowers are abundant in the area. A variety of wildlife including bears, deer, elk, fox, grouse, eagles, osprey, grosbeaks, whooping cranes and otters, lives around the lake.
Rustic North Shore Lodge is not far from the campground, offering a small restaurant, lounge and store with limited supplies.
$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.
ScoutI 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.
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.
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.
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. ◦
Traveler
We loved it! We hadn't made reservations so only got to stay one night but plan on going back. The campground is Huge and accommodates a lot of spaces but they are far enough apart to not feel at all crowded. Lots of activities, biking, lake, showers, laundry, full hookup.
Traveler
If your just going for a day trip to the hot springs it's ok. Camping not so much, the photos tell you everything. They haven't but money into this place since inception. Very sad. Only 6 viable spots with one of those next to the bathroom and garage cans. We got (lucky) and were at the end next to the highway.
Scout
Short walk to the lake beautiful views, so many little critters. Right next to the road though so a lot of cars kick up dust on the way by.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Payette National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Payette National Forest is Brundage Reservoir Camping Area with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Payette National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 61 tent camping locations near Payette National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
