The Dyrt can help you find the perfect horse camping site near Payette. Camping with your horse in Payette just got easier. These scenic and easy-to-reach Idaho campsites are perfect for your horse camping excursion.
$5 / night
These two undeveloped campsites are on Mann Creek. This is a great area to explore on a mountain bike; backcountry roads and trails cover miles of the Hitt Mountains.
Cold Springs Campground is one of four campgrounds along Idaho's State Highway 55, next to the North Fork of the Payette River. This area is a popular location for river rafting trips and camping. This campground rests at 3,878 feet.
The North Fork of the Payette River is a very popular location for expert kayaking. Whitewater rafting is nearby on the Main and South Fork sections of the Payette River. Anglers will find good to excellent fishing for whitefish and rainbow trout.
The campground is situated in a scenic canyon just above Highway 55. The mountains are forested with a mix of ponderosa and lodgepole pines and shade is plentiful within most of the campground. Summer days are warm, reaching 80-90 degrees; nights are cooler.
Near the boat and kayak launch of the Payette River.
$120 / night
Buck Park Cabin is located on Cuddy Mountain, in the Payette National Forest of central Idaho. Guests enjoy the remote area for its hunting opportunities and abundance of hiking, biking, horseback riding and off-road vehicle trails. The cabin sits at an elevation of 7,280 feet within Buck Park, a scenic meadow surrounded by a dense conifer forest. Rush Lake, Hornet and Lower Hornet reservoirs are nearby. This very rustic cabin can accommodate a maximum of three people. Metal cots are provided, but guests must bring their own sleeping bags. A wood stove is provided for heat and cooking. No plumbing or electricity is available. A vault toilet is located outside. Guests must bring water, food, bedding and firewood. High clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing Buck Park Cabin. Further, access to Buck Park Cabin will be challenging if snow has fallen (more likely after mid-October).
The cabin sits near small Rush Lake, which offers fishing opportunities. Hornet and Lower Hornet lakes are a short distance away. Hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders and off-road enthusiasts will find several motorized and non-motorized trails in the surrounding area. Click here for an Idaho OHV safety message.
The cabin sits at an elevation of 7,280 feet within Buck Park, a scenic meadow surrounded by a dense conifer forest. Rush Lake, Hornet and Lower Hornet reservoirs are nearby. The Payette National Forest encompasses some of Idaho's most beautiful and diverse country. Located in west-central Idaho, north of Boise, the 2.3-million-acre forest extends 100 miles west to east, from Hells Canyon to the Middle Fork Salmon River, and 70 miles north to south, from the Salmon River to the Weiser River.
$50 / night
Traveler
This campsite is OK considering there aren’t many choices in the area. My big complaints were the campsite didn’t have any shade, and when I spoke to the reservation person, she promised me during two different phone calls that I would have shade, and there was none to be had at my site. Luckily I found a nice big shady tree to park my car under since I was car camping and wait under until it got cool enough to move to my site.
A big thing to make note of is that they do have water, but it is a very high concentration of arsenic in it, which they don’t tell you about when you make a reservation or an any signage other than the bathroom door. This can be a real issue for people in RVs, who will be filling up their tanks with their water and may never hit the bathroom, so be aware!!!
The sites are nicely spaced out. It can be very hot in the summer here and my experience was it was very windy in the late afternoon and evening.
Bring your own water!!!!
GuideSpacious camp sites with water. Clean bath house with great shower & hot water. Picnic table & fire circle. Isolated on hill top with grass spaces for tent & open meadow fields. Amazing star gazing at night.
TravelerDO NOT take S. Road G! Go into Vale and take Graham to Bully Creek, it’s paved all the way. The other road is 8 miles of rough dirt road through a cattle farm! Sites well spaced out, reservoir is dry. Decent showers, gravel sites, level.
Guide
It’s located on a dead-end road and is very peaceful. It’s about 15 minutes from the nearest city and about 15 minutes from Snively Hot Springs. The pictures with water are at the Hot Springs. Bathrooms with a shower. The grounds are well-maintained, the bathrooms could be cleaned more often. But there is plenty of hot water.
Traveler
As stated in description it's rustic. Not much to it but it did offer a sheltered place to build a fire/get warm and weather a bad storm. In the summer, the long rough road into it is not for everyone. Scenery is good and very quiet. If you want remote with the bare basics, this is the place.
RangerThe phone message says reservations only. We left a voice message that we needed one night only and received a call one we were in town. No cell, wifi, TV in the area. They did have space for us at the no contact after hours check in. $15 electric only. Pull through sites on the edge of the lake. Sites 29 and 31. Cons=no Verizon service, No Wifi, goat-heads stickers in dog’s feet in campsite, bathroom smelly near fish cleaning
Legend
This is a small campground right off Highway 55 and across from the Payette River. There are 4 small campgrounds right in a row near here. There is plenty of shade and pretty good privacy. Not much room for larger campers or RV, better for smaller campers and tents. I did not get cell service here.
GuideUnique, old park with tons of grass and swings, teeter totters, tennis & basketball, baseball fields. Cost is $5...whether you use water & electricity hookups or just park. There are bathrooms with shower! The sites are gravel side by side and like I said, not pretty but the grounds, however unkempt, make up for it. You both see and smell cows, owls, doves and magpies. The camp hosts are lovely elderly people. From a stop on the Oregon Trail, to CCC camp, to Japanese Internment camp and now a privately run park...loads of history.
TravelerVery simple and tranquil campsite
TravelerThe hosts were kind enough to let me stay the evening anyway because it’s so far off the beaten path and I’m self-contained in my car with no need for amenities. But their season doesn’t officially start until April.
It cost five dollars a night according to the host I spoke with, and there is somebody on site at all times. It does feel a lot like just a standard city park but it’s quiet, and peaceful, and it’s about the only thing out in this area.
LegendCow Hollow Park is like staying in a big school playground. There is playground equipment, a baseball field, a basketball court/tennis court. and a horseshoe pit. It's big and open with plenty of space for tents and a couple of dozen spots for RV's (no dumping or water, only electric). Restrooms and showers.
GuideAbout 15 minutes in blacktop off of 20. $15/night for electric(20/30/50 Amp) & real toilets and showers. I bet this place is nice on a clear night. We were there when it was smokey from the fires in Western Oregon.
TravelerI’m traveling with two big dogs who hate the heat, it’s been over a 100° for about a week around the region and this place made it bearable. It’s really a pretty park, dated, but these trees are massive.
ScoutMost of these designated campgrounds are right off the fire roads which can be a bit exposed and tricky if you have children or dogs with you. As you continue to drive there are a few areas on the east side of the road which provide more privacy. Make sure to bring all gear for dispersed camping and pack out everything! The creek is fast running, echoing throughout the canyon so fishing or swimming are not an option.
TravelerNice
ScoutFound this campsite thru a free site. Beautiful trees line Cow Hollow and history from American-Japanese work/labor camp back in 1942. The town's people we met were amazing. The site takes donations but the city will tell you $10/night. BUT, even paying the $10, you have electric and water hook-ups, two baseball fields, two small parks, basketball/tennis court. Weekends consists of events. We stayed 14 days in tents and had a wedding, church festival and another wedding coming up the weekend we were leaving. Weekdays are quiet. Grassy areas for tents, gravel for RVs. Nice fire rings donated by a Boy Scouts group and brick bbq grills, picnic tables, restrooms and showers.
12 miles or so towards Lake Owyhee, Snively Hot Springs is to your left before going over the cattle guard. The rocky canyons, Snake River and starry nights are incredible!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Payette, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Payette, ID is Cow Hollow Park with a 3.7-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Payette, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Payette, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
