Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates10 total sites
RV Sites
10 sites
About Upper Payette Lake Campground
Number of accommodations: 10
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Canoeing
Fishing
Hiking
Year-round
Fishing
Hiking
Spring
Canoeing
Summer
Canoeing
Fall
Canoeing
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Picnic Table
Restrooms
Water and Hygiene
- Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
- Picnic Table
Water Access
- Lake Access
Rates, Sites & Availability
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Site Details
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10 Sites Available
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Reviews (71)
What Guests Are Saying
Upper Payette Lake Campground offers a beautiful, well-maintained setting with clean restrooms and friendly camp hosts. Many visitors appreciate the quiet atmosphere, privacy at campsites, and proximity to the lake, which is great for kayaking and fishing. However, some reviewers noted issues with road conditions and mosquitoes, recommending the use of repellent and bringing your own drinking water. Overall, it’s a lovely spot for a peaceful getaway.
What Guests Are Saying
Upper Payette Lake Campground offers a beautiful, well-maintained setting with clean restrooms and friendly camp hosts. Many visitors appreciate the quiet atmosphere, privacy at campsites, and proximity to the lake, which is great for kayaking and fishing. However, some reviewers noted issues with road conditions and mosquitoes, recommending the use of repellent and bringing your own drinking water. Overall, it’s a lovely spot for a peaceful getaway.
Review Summary
Jennifer J
VerifiedAugust 3, 2025 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: UPPER PAYETTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
Camped at site 15 for 4 days and three nights. Checked in on Wednesday and checked out Saturday. We had two families for a total of 9, one dog, and two vehicles.
Site 15 and 14 are super close. You can see somewhat see your neighbors and mostly hear their conversations. 14 and 15 Would be a good for multiple families to snag. The other side of 15 you cannot see or hear your neighbors.
Campsite: large enough for two tents. We had one 6 person pop up cabin tent and one 10 person pop up cabin tent.
Picnic tables: there’s two picnics tables. It’s either a 7 or 8 ft table top. The benches are 6 feet. They are not chained to the site so you will be able to move it around to suit your needs.
Hammocks: one side of the site has trees you can easily set up hammocks on. We had four set up.
Bathrooms: Short walk to the bathroom. There was two available at the spot close to site 15. Well maintained.
Mosquitos: The campsite is by the lake. Be prepared for mosquitos.
Lake: Upper Payette Lake is a short walk on a paved trail. Can easily walk in with kayak and paddleboard. Few spots to set your camping chairs in. The lake is a “no wake” zone-easy for paddle boarders and kayakers to enjoy their time.
Hiking: there’s a beautiful UP-HILL trail on the other side of the road/entrance to campsite.
Water: there’s a water pump across from site 15-the water is not clean. There’s about a 2 minute walk to the clean water pump.
I highly recommend this campsite and will be returning.
Dianne K
VerifiedJuly 25, 2025 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: UPPER PAYETTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
Love this place! We originally started out in a reserve site, gave it away and moved to a first come location due to additional days and family.
Once a year family trip. Close enough from Boise so all kiddos can make it.
Camp hosts are wonderful. Lori is so nice! Bathrooms are clean. Good kayaking and caught a few fish. One trip to town to have pizza. Note: Mosquitoes were really out this time. Lake was high.
Dianne K
VerifiedJuly 25, 2025 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: UPPER PAYETTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
Love this place! We originally started out in a reserve site, gave it away and moved to a first come location due to additional days and family.
Once a year family trip. Close enough from Boise so all kiddos can make it.
Camp hosts are wonderful. Lori is so nice! Bathrooms are clean. Good kayaking and caught a few fish. One trip to town to have pizza. Note: Mosquitoes were really out this time. Lake was high.
Chris M
VerifiedJuly 21, 2025 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: UPPER PAYETTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
Very nice campground, as each site was private. The lake was just a short walk away. the only downside was that there were quite a few bugs. We would definitely come back to camp there again.
Chris M
VerifiedJuly 21, 2025 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: UPPER PAYETTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
Very nice campground, as each site was private. The lake was just a short walk away. the only downside was that there were quite a few bugs. We would definitely come back to camp there again.
Amy G
VerifiedJanuary 1, 2025 • Stayed at: GA1, Loop: UPPER PAYETTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
Would not recommend staying in this spot. Right on the road, no privacy. Not really a camping spot - more like a gravel open space.
Amy G
VerifiedJanuary 1, 2025 • Stayed at: GA1, Loop: UPPER PAYETTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
Would not recommend staying in this spot. Right on the road, no privacy. Not really a camping spot - more like a gravel open space.
Lisa M
VerifiedSeptember 15, 2024 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: UPPER PAYETTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
We enjoyed our stay and enjoyed hiking.
Lisa M
VerifiedSeptember 15, 2024 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: UPPER PAYETTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
We enjoyed our stay and enjoyed hiking.
Christy V
VerifiedAugust 22, 2024 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: UPPER PAYETTE LAKE CAMPGROUND
The facility was beautiful. We enjoyed the quiet lake and seclusion of the camp spots.
Location Upper Payette Lake Campground
Address:
102 Lake St P.O. Box 1026
McCall, ID, 83638
United States
From McCall, Idaho, take Highway 55 north to Warren Wagon Road/Forest Highway 21. Turn right and continue for 16 miles to gravel Forest Road 495 and follow for a mile into the campground.
Upper Payette Lake Campground is accessible via Highway 55, which connects to McCall, Idaho. From Highway 55, take Warren Wagon Road/Forest Highway 21 for approximately 16 miles to reach the campground.
Elevation: 1705 feet
17 mi drive to downtown McCall (about 32 min)
Policies & Rules
General
- Idaho Off-road Vehicle Safety Message
- Opening day is dependent upon snow levels; call ahead to check on early season reservations
- No electric, water or sewer site hookups at this campground
- Please bring garbage bags; this is a 'pack it in, pack it out' facility
- Sites may be available on a first come, first served basis outside the reservation season
- If reserving the group sites for more than 75 people, please contact the McCall Ranger District at 208-634-0440
- Lake is drawn down annually on or about September 1 (depending on annual conditions) and it may be difficult to launch a boat after that date
- Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: September 7, 2026
