Payette National Forest
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 3,761 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 48
- Longest rig
- 55 ft
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 48 campgrounds shown
- 33 Lake Camping AreaSeason not published
- Big Bar Camping AreaSeason not published
- Big Creek Campground5 sitesSeason not published
- Big Flat Campground14 sitesSeason not published
- Black Lee Camping AreaSeason not published
- Brownlee Campground12 sites · Pull-throughSeason not published
- Brundage Reservoir Dam Day Use SiteSeason not published
- Buckhorn Bar Campground12 sitesReservations accepted
- Burgdorf Campground5 sitesSites are not reservable.
- Cabin Creek Campground20 sitesSeason not published
- Camp Creek Campground5 sitesSeason not published
- Chamberlain Basin Camping AreaSeason not published
- Chinook Campground10 sitesSites are not reservable.
- Cold Springs CampgroundReservations accepted
- Deadman Bar Camping AreaSeason not published
- Evergreen Campgroundto 35 ft · 14 sites · Pull-throughSeason not published
- Four Mile Campground5 sitesSeason not published
- Goose Lake Camping AreaSites are not reservable.
- Granite Lake Camping AreaSites are not reservable
- Grouse Campground23 sitesReservations accepted
- Hazard Lake Campground14 sitesSeason not published
- Hitt Mountain Camping Area and TrailheadSeason not published
- Huckleberry Campground10 sites · Pull-throughSeason not published
- Indian Point Camping AreaSeason not published
- Jeanette Campground7 sitesSites are not reservable.
- Justrite CampgroundSeason not published
- Kennally Creek Campground13 sitesSites are not reservable.
- Kiwanis CampgroundSeason not published
- Lafferty Campground9 sites · Pull-throughSeason not published
- Lake Creek Camping AreaSeason not published
- Lake Fork Campground11 sitesSites are not reservable.
- Last Chance Campground25 sitesSites are not reservable.
- Lost Valley Reservoir Camping AreaSites are not reservable
- Mann Creek Campgroundto 55 ft · 15 sites · Pull-throughReservations accepted
- Old East Fork Camping Area1 June
- Paddy Flat Camping AreaSites are not reservable
- Paddy Flat Guard Station Rental CabinsReservations accepted
- Paradise CampgroundSeason not published
- Ponderosa Campground11 sites · Pull-throughSeason not published
- Poverty Flat Campground9 sitesSeason not published
- Rapid Creek Camping AreaSites not reservable
- Secesh Campground5 sitesSeason not published
- Shiefer CampgroundSites are not reservable.
- Smokey Boulder Camping AreaSeason not published
- Spring Creek Campgroundto 32 ft · 16 sitesReservations accepted
- Upper Payette Lake Campground23 sitesReservations accepted
- Upper Payette Lake Camping AreaSeason not published
- Upper Payette Lake Group CampgroundReservations accepted
Payette National Forest
The Payette National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in central western Idaho, in parts of Valley, Idaho, Adams, and Washington counties. The land area consists of approximately 2.3 million acres (9,300 km2) of federally managed lands. It is bordered by Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and the Hells Canyon to the west, Salmon-Challis National Forest to the east, Boise National Forest to the south, and the Nez Perce National Forest to the north. The Payette National Forest is a part of the Intermountain Region. It is under the jurisdiction of a forest supervisor in McCall and is divided into five ranger districts: McCall, Krassel, New Meadows, Council, and Weiser.
Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness2,365,708 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
Drive to Payette the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.