Upper Payette Lake Campground Payette National Forest Idaho
102 LAKE ST P.O. BOX 1026MCCALL, Idaho 83638
208-634-0400
Lat / Long:
Upper Payette Lake Campground has 20 single-family campsites and 2 group sites. It is located on the shores of the lake and offers spectacular mountain views. There are 12 first-come, first-serve campsites and the 8 reservable sites. The 2 group campsites are also reservable.
Campsites can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs. Each site also has a table, fire ring and grill. Campground amenities include drinking water and vault toilets. Trash collection is not available so please pack everything out. Firewood is available to purchase from the camp host. A boat ramp is also next to the campground. Cell service is not available.
Area Recreation & Activities
Outdoor recreation in the area includes boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, picnicking and wildlife viewing.
Other campgrounds in the area include Grouse, Burgdorf, Hazard Lake, Last Chance, Secesh, Chinook and Ponderosa State Park. You might also like Warm Lake Campground.
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Campsite Types
- ADA
- Group
- RV
- Tent
- Trailer
Season:
Early June – Late September
Elevation:
5,550
# of Campsites:
20
Amenities
- Boat Launch/Ramp
- Campground Host
- Campsite Tables
- Cell Service - None
- Drinking Water
- Fire Pit
- Fire Rings
- Firewood Available
- Golden Age & Access Passports accepted
- Grills
- Pets OK
- Picnic Tables
- Trash Collection
Activities
- Biking
- Bird Watching
- Boating
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Kayaking
- Lake
- Mountain Biking
- Nature Trails
- Paddle boarding (SUP)
- Paddle Boating
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Stargazing
- Swimming
- Walking Trails
- Wildlife Viewing
Upper Payette Lake Photos
Upper Payette Lake Comments & Reviews
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Upper Payette Campground has 20 sites and two group sites. Of the 20 sites, half are reserved and the rest are FCFS. The sites along the water are 10 degrees cooler than the interior sites and get a breeze. The road through the campground is well-maintained gravel and the sites have a paved picnic area. Each site has at least one table and a fire ring with a grate on top for cooking. Many of the sites are doubles and can accommodate long RVs and your water toys, trailer and ATVs. The roads in the campground are maneuverable but there is one section with pine boughs above that might swipe taller rigs. There are two water pumps with potable water, but I did not use it.
The sites are generously spaced for privacy, and there are paved walking paths along the shoreline. You can walk to the day-use beach, but there are other put-in spaces for kayaks and paddle boards if you don’t want to go to the beach area. The camp hosts are very nice and drive around but don’t bother campers other than to wave, but they are there if you need them. At the host site you will find a library for books for kids, free to check out. The vault toilets are clean and sanitized daily.
Arriving on a Tuesday, there were many sites to choose from on a FCFS basis. This is a mostly full campground, but with the comings and goings, most campers agree that you can usually find something. I would suggest arriving late morning on Sunday, any time Tuesday, or before noon on Wednesday for a better chance at getting a site you like.
The group sites are located about half mile from the entrance to the individual sites. There is no camp host on site at the group location, but I have seen them drive over daily. The individual sites are reserve-able six months in advance and the group sites can be reserved one year in advance. All sites are nestled among the pine trees with shade at different times of the day. My favorite sites are 2, 6, 8 & 9. Site 8 is a pull-through.