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
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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
Peggy R
VerifiedAugust 12, 2023 • Stayed at: B33, Loop: B
I have been coming to Payson since I was a kid and have always enjoyed it, the hosts have always been great until this year! One lady, I think she was maintenance, she drove the golf cart around yelling, had short dark hair. Anyway she was extremely rude!! She slammed out truck with her fist as she was walking away cause the tire was 2inches on thhe dirt,now mind you the night before she said it was ok. We had to turn off our quiet generator but the camp across from us was allowed to party until 2am!
Victoria P
VerifiedJuly 26, 2023 • Stayed at: C03, Loop: C
Such a quiet peaceful spot. The lake is beautiful along with surrounding scenery. Perfect for kayaking or paddle boarding. There’s a beautiful trail that goes around the lake. Campsites were easy to navigate and big spots. Bathrooms were super clean too. I don’t usually do reviews, but this place was actually really great!
Pamela L
VerifiedJuly 25, 2023 • Stayed at: C09, Loop: C
The lake was full and it was beautiful. The picnic area by the lake was a bit run down since we had been there five years ago - tables cracked and falling apart. Grass area is more like a weed area. But.....the lake was great and the kids had fun! The camping area was clean. Restrooms clean.
Dana G
VerifiedJuly 24, 2023 • Stayed at: C15, Loop: C
Payson lakes was a lovely campsite! The host was great & we enjoyed the convenience of the yurt! We had a great time & will be back.
Victoria M
VerifiedJuly 12, 2023 • Stayed at: C13, Loop: C
The lake was beautiful and the campsite was well taken care of. The camp host was very nice and helpful. We went with some family and as a party of 8, had the max amount of people for the site. We had a good time there except one thing. The main reason I am giving a lower rating is because we had a hospital level campfire accident with one of our kids. While we realize it isn't the Camp's fault that the accident happened, we believe it could have been prevented if we knew that it was small because we would have chosen a larger site with more play room. When we got there, we found that our site, C13, was tiny and there was no indication on the website that it would be. There wasn't much room for moving around, let alone playing. It would have been a good site for a few grown people with no kids. We also had issues with fitting our second car into the parking space. The email said that we could pay to have a second car there so we thought that it would have had more parking space. All of the other sites we saw had plenty of room to park a second car and even for kids to play or explore. If I had one suggestion I would say that there is a note added on the website page for the campsite C13 (and any others like it) that it is a small site best suited for one car and less campers. All that being said, we do plan on coming back, just to a different campsite with more room.
JINSUNG L
VerifiedJuly 5, 2023 • Stayed at: B36, Loop: B
Please really need management with Quiet time. I guess Huge family group has been family reunion and having fun. But really loudly speaking Spanish and play music until 1 AM. I was really stressful. Other than that, it was great location and nice weather
Tim B
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2022 • Stayed at: C12, Loop: C
Climate change and mismanagement have destroyed these beautiful mountain lakes. No boating or swimming. The campground is run down and not well cared for. We still have fun but the quality is sure dropping. We really wish we could reserve past labor day.
Larry S
VerifiedSeptember 9, 2022 • Stayed at: C13, Loop: C
The Payson Lake campground did not have cows grazing in that campground, however, a nearby campground Maple Lake had cows grazing IN the campground. This meant that there were cow pies in the campsites and resulting flies. We understand that cows can graze in the National Forests, but they should be kept out of developed areas.
Blake R
VerifiedSeptember 6, 2022 • Stayed at: B33, Loop: B
Dogs barking all night long did not sleep
Douglas N
VerifiedAugust 21, 2022 • Stayed at: C01, Loop: C
Beautiful area; we come every year. The bathrooms were very nice. It was a great camping experience. The only reason we knocked it down to 4 stars is because one of the hosts had a large dog she could not properly control and she was unpleasant. Also, if the camping spot can hold 8, why do we get charged for 2 cars?
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
