About Payson Lakes
Number of accommodations: 63
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Parking
Restrooms
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
- Firewood Available
Parking and Transport
- Parking
Water Access
- Lake Access
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Rates, Sites & Availability
63 Sites Available
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Site Details
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63 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (159)
What Guests Are Saying
Payson Lakes boasts beautiful scenery, clean campsites, and friendly hosts, making it a great spot for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Many guests enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, lake access for activities like fishing and kayaking, and well-maintained facilities. However, noise from nearby campers and the proximity of sites can detract from the experience, with some guests reporting disturbances during quiet hours.
What Guests Are Saying
Payson Lakes boasts beautiful scenery, clean campsites, and friendly hosts, making it a great spot for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Many guests enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, lake access for activities like fishing and kayaking, and well-maintained facilities. However, noise from nearby campers and the proximity of sites can detract from the experience, with some guests reporting disturbances during quiet hours.
Review Summary
Gordon B
VerifiedDecember 23, 2025 • Stayed at: C25, Loop: C
Our particular site did not have as much shade as I had hoped, but the site was clean and convenient. We enjoyed walking around the lake and found a nice spot to set up the hammock and launch the kayak not too far from the parking lot. The venue was great; the specific campsite was good.
Alex W
VerifiedNovember 22, 2025 • Stayed at: B12, Loop: B
Peaceful camping experience. This site has great views.
Nathan N
VerifiedOctober 13, 2025 • Stayed at: GRP-C, Loop: GRP
The host was amazing and the site was perfect for a big group. Plenty of space and very secluded from the other campgrounds. Short walk through the woods to the lake is about the only thing to deal with, but that's what camping is all about.
Hannah D
VerifiedOctober 5, 2025 • Stayed at: B22, Loop: B
The campsite itself was beautiful, but poorly maintained. There was trash everywhere when we got there.
The worst part was the noise level. I've camped my whole life, I know you can't reasonably ask for a quiet campground. But the level of volume was insane - people literally screaming at each other well into the night, in the early morning, and any other opportunity. The camp hosts did nothing to try to police the volume during quiet hours. It was so bad I did not stay more than one night, which is a first for me and my family. I was fine losing the money on the reservation to not have to put up with the noise and interruptions again.
Last thing, the the fall apparently the whole campground is in the middle of a cow here migration. Huge cows making noise and coming through the woods and individual campsites at every hour of the day. Can't blame the cow but we woke up a to a huge, stinky surprise next to our firepit the morning.
This would have been the perfect campsite if we were the only ones in the woods, which is unrealistic. Still, nothing was done to clean the place or keep it semi-reasonable. For the first time ever, I left after the first night and wouldn't recommend it.
Tayler C
VerifiedOctober 5, 2025 • Stayed at: B39, Loop: B
Payson Lakes is beautiful, especially in the fall. The campsite we stayed in was clean and well kept. The bathrooms were clean, however the doors would not lock and the toilet paper ran out, so it'd be wise to pack your own. The campground was very crowded and noisy, which was magnified by the echoing through the canyon. It was nice to be close to the lake, but I would not pay another $70 to stay here again.
Andrei N
VerifiedOctober 5, 2025 • Stayed at: C27/28, Loop: C
👍
Brian B
VerifiedSeptember 25, 2025 • Stayed at: B22, Loop: B
This was our second year visiting Payson Lakes. We love the location! We had an issue with our trailer this year and it was solved easily by running to Payson for what we needed. The campground loops are very pretty and well maintained. We have gone on weekends in September and it feels like we have the place to ourselves, The area is absolutely beautiful! We will be back next year!
John B
VerifiedSeptember 8, 2025 • Stayed at: C30, Loop: C
Payson lakes is a beautiful place to visit. The campground is kept nice. The bathrooms were very clean.
Jenefer S
VerifiedAugust 29, 2025 • Stayed at: B16/17, Loop: B
Very clean camp site. Hosts were very friendly and helpful. Beautiful place in the outdoors.
Michael W
VerifiedAugust 24, 2025 • Stayed at: B27, Loop: B
Hosts were great, location is bad. Too many people packed into this place. From our site we could hear and see 4 other sites. The site needs to be thinned out.
Location Payson Lakes
Address:
Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest
Salem, UT, 84653
United States
From I-15, take exit 250 toward north Payson/Salem and proceed south on Main Street to 100 North/Highway 198. Travel east to 600 East. Turn south onto 600 east, which becomes the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway/Payson Canyon Road. Travel up the canyon to the campground.
Payson Lakes Campground is accessible via I-15, with the nearest exit (250) located approximately 4 miles away. Travelers can proceed south on Main Street to Highway 198, which leads east to the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway.
Latitude & Longitude: 39.9297 / -111.642
Elevation: 2435 feet
Policies & Rules
General
- This Campground is in Bear Country Always store food and trash securely to avoid attracting wildlife -Failure to comply may result in fines up to $5,000, removal from your site and/or imprisonment Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear; your actions can save lives
- Dogs or Domestic Pets Owners must -Control dog by leash not to exceed six feet (6’) at all times -Clean up dog feces immediately -Limit two dogs per site Do not allow dogs to -Threaten or attack people/animals -Interfere with people, vehicles, or property -Cause damage to vegetation or harass wildlife Dogs are not allowed on beaches or in water, but can be on the trails in the Day Use area
- Gates open at 7am, close at 10pm; No generators after 10pm; Camping is allowed only within the designated space provided. Do not go beyond site boundaries; Max occupancy is 8 people per single site; Reserved sites will be held until 12pm the day following your arrival date; Horses/Off-road vehicles are prohibited in the campground; Leave No Trace; Put all trash in dumpsters, if provided, or properly stored in your vehicle or bear box; Remove all personal property and trash when leaving; Unclean sites will be reported to the District Ranger LEO; Leaving food/trash in an unoccupied site may result in a $5,000 fine; This is a 'pack it in, pack it out' facility; bring trash bags; Cleaning fish or bathing where drinking water is supplied is strictly prohibited; Fireworks, discharging of firearms, or other explosives in the campground is not allowed; No boisterous behavior. Be courteous to your fellow visitor. Keep noise at a reasonable level; No amplified music is allowed in USDA Forest Service campgrounds and facilities. People come to the campgrounds for peace and quiet; Max Vehicle Length includes tow vehicle;
- There is a 2-night minimum stay on weekends; 3-night minimum stay on holiday weekends
- Trailers/Campers and RVs: Come with water tank filled. Hooking up to spigots or the power in the restrooms, even for medical devices is strictly prohibited
- First Come First Served (FF) sites A Loop is FF through entire season For reservable sites, reservations must be made at least 5 days in advance FF site must be claimed in person on the day you wish to check-in A site listed as FF does not guarantee availability, Recreation.gov does not update FF occupancy The only way to know if an FF site is available is to arrive at the site on the day you plan to check-in Availability cannot be predicted Many sites are in remote locations, we cannot contact hosts about availability Recommended arrival times vary by day. Weekends and holidays fill more quickly To claim an FF site, you must be present, occupy the site, and pay at that time There is no waiting list for FF sites
- Extra Vehicle -$10 per vehicle, per day (paid on-site cash/check) Firewood -$9
- If you booked at a discount without a Senior or Access pass, you'll need to pay the difference in cash/check upon arrival. Only Senior or Access passes qualify for discounts and proof of ownership upon arrival is required
- Please understand that camping/picnicking is an outdoor experience; we do not give refunds or credits for weather or natural conditions Cancellations within 24 hours prior to arrival date will forfeit the entire use fee and a $10 cancellation fee No-shows, early departures, or cancellations after the arrival date will not be refunded Failure to arrive at the site by 12pm the day after scheduled arrival and does not cancel, will be charged a $20 service fee and forfeit the first-night use fee
- For more info on visiting Bear Country visit wildawareutah.org wildlife.utah.gov For campground Rules and Regulations visit gocamputah.com/rules
- Click here for more info about the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest For more info, call Spanish Fork Ranger District at 801-798-3571 or Utah Recreation at 385-273-1100 Visit our website gocamputah.com or Facebook facebook.com/letsgocamputah To reserve a site call Recreation.gov reservation line 1-877-444-6777
- Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood within 10 miles of your destination and burning it on-site. For more info click here
- Please note: Utah Recreation is not responsible for accident or injury to any person or property resulting from the use of this facility and is not responsible for the loss of money or valuables of any kind. The user of this permit assumes full and complete responsibility for the conduct and actions of all members in their party
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
