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
Alexandra L
VerifiedJuly 12, 2020 • Stayed at: B08, Loop: B
Stayed at site B08. Awesome site with two tent pads. Vault toilets were very clean and smelled good for a vault toilet. The lie was a short walk away and was gorgeous! We had so much fun and plan on making an annual trip!
Tysen W
July 9, 2020
Clean bathrooms, excellent camp hosts and a beautiful place to stay and kayak.
Ashley G
June 23, 2020
The campsites were close together and the lake is not something i would swim in. If you love fishing this is the spot to be.
If you have young kids i would go somewhere else. Not much to do here.
Loreen M
VerifiedJune 21, 2020 • Stayed at: C09, Loop: C
Clean sites and the lake is so fun!
MICHAEL E
VerifiedJune 20, 2020 • Stayed at: B07, Loop: B
We love how clean the campsites and path along the lake were. Fishing was great and there are plenty of water activities for the whole family. We can't wait to go back!
Kevin H
VerifiedJune 16, 2020 • Stayed at: B04, Loop: B
The camp hosts this year felt the strange need to dig fire pits too deep but other than that it was a good as usual. Overly deep fire pits make it really hard (and somewhat unsafe) to cook out of.
Nicole M
VerifiedJune 14, 2020 • Stayed at: C01, Loop: C
We love this campground! Everything is always so clean (bathrooms especially) which is a major plus! The camp hosts are friendly and the location is beyond perfect! Love it all!
Ivan H
VerifiedJune 1, 2020 • Stayed at: B27, Loop: B
We were not able to go because of the virus
I hope they refund or reschedule me
David L O
VerifiedJanuary 29, 2020 • Stayed at: B11, Loop: B
Payson Lake is one of our favorite places to go when it’s hotter in the valley and near the end of the season. The campground hosts are friendly, the campsites are clean and well maintained. Every time we go, we meet multiple couples who are friendly and fun to talk with. This is one of the few nicer places to camp that is pet friendly, we like that. There are multiple hiking trails close by, one of our favorite hikes is walking around the lake early in the morning or at sunset in the evening. This campground has a great assortment of first-come first serve sites mixed with reservable sites. It’s a high elevation which makes it cooler in the evenings and good to make a fire. One last thing is the campsites are not close together and they have a large variety of site lengths and types with great views. There are spots in the different campgrounds you can get cell service if you need to stay connect. We love it and would highly recommend it for all types of campers from RVers to tents.
Justin C
VerifiedJanuary 21, 2020 • Stayed at: B02, Loop: B
We have been going to Payson Lakes every summer for 35 years. Absolutely beautiful and well maintained. A short drive from the valley puts you in high mountains. The lake is fun to cool off in and always has an abundance of fish to catch.
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
