USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Upper Payette Lake Campground
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 23
- Hookups
- 21 no hookups
- Season
- July 1 to September 15
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,646 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- UPPER PAYETTE LAKE (NFSR 50495) · improved native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Payette National Forest
- Nearest town
- MCCALL
- Address
- 102 LAKE ST P.O. BOX 1026, MCCALL, ID, 83638
- Phone
- 208-634-0400
- Activities
- Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Swimming, Wildlife Viewing
10 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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.
Recreation
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.
Facilities
The campground offers two group sites that can accommodate up to 20 and 30 guests. Several additional single and double-family sites are available as well. All sites are accessible; some have lake views and some have lake access.
Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. A boat ramp, day-use site and several paved pathways are located in the campground. Roads and parking spurs are gravel.
Natural Features
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 20° | -2° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 32° | 19° | -3° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 23° | 9° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 40° | 27° | 11° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 50° | 31° | 23° | 69° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 65° | 41° | 29° | 81° | 6 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 54° | 39° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 52° | 42° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 45° | 33° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 53° | 34° | 10° | 70° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 42° | 25° | -8° | 59° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 17° | 1° | 43° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Upper Payette Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Grouse Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 23 sites
- Hazard Lake · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 14 sites
- Burgdorf Guard Station · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi · 1 sites
- Burgdorf · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi · 5 sites
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.