Payette National Forest

	Payette Avalanche Center
	Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area
	State & Private Forestry
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Payette National Forest
800 West Lakeside Ave
McCall, ID 83638-3602

(208) 634-0700

Recreational Activities

[Photograph]: A family is gathered around a campfire roasting marshmallows. Their tent is in the background.

photo of trail

Your Safety is Important to Us!

This past winter the state of Idaho enacted legislation that allows individuals to operate off-highway vehicles (OHV) on National Forest System roads, whether or not they have a driver's license. When traveling on National Forest System roads to or from your favorite camping or hunting spot, you may encounter other drivers of all ages with varying experience levels and different types of motorized vehicles. Please take extra care to watch for all kinds of traffic to avoid life-altering collisions on roads managed by your national forest. We are working with elected officials and interested publics to identify legislative solutions that will help protect both the opportunity for OHV recreation and all of our visitors.

Hunters: Watch out for Kids on Forest Roads!

This is a USFS produced public service announcement on YouTube.

So Much To Do & See

Come visit the Payette National Forest spring, summer, autumn, or winter as a wide range of recreational activities abound during any of the four seasons. Hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, skiing, snowmobiling. You can find a spot on the forest to indulge your recreational interest. Click here for an in-depth look at the Payette National Forest's niche.

The Payette National Forest manages many developed recreation sites, primarily campgrounds. For information on work planned through 2010, please refer to the Payette National Forest Developed Recreation Action Plan.

Camping

The Payette's five Ranger Districts offer a variety of camping opportunities. Deep, low-elevation canyons and high peaks can keep the more adventurous camping almost year round. Campground information is divided by ranger district. Visit the district camping pages:

Reservations for individual or group sites at Cold Springs, Grouse, Spring Creek, Hazard, and Upper Payette campground can now be made in advance by contacting the National Recreation Reservation Service by calling (877) 444-6777 or by visiting their website www.recreation.gov

If you just like to wander and are not completely sure what your plans are, some sites at these units will still be available for first come first serve campers to take their chances. Reservations are recommended for holiday weekends.

Leave No Trace is an national and international program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The program strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations. Click link for more information on Leave No Trace.

Trails

Pick your difficulty level and your method of travel. The Payette has trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and motorized use.

Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) for 2009-2010

McCall, New Meadows, and Wilderness Area Trails

Council & Weiser Area Trails

Idaho Off-Highway Vehicle Public Information Project

Fishing

Opportunities abound on the Payette. Is your preference for rivers or do you prefer a hike up to a high elevation lake? A steelhead season on the Salmon River along the forest's northern boundary or fishing for trout in the high mountain lakes.

Wildlife Viewing

Birds, elk, .

Scenic Drives

Your Recreation Fees at Work

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President George Bush on December 8, 2004. This act provides agencies with recreation fee authority for 10 years, which allows agencies to provide better facilities and services to visitors and enter into fee management agreements with counties and other entities to provice additional services to visitors.

The majority of proceeds from FLREA go right back into maintaining and improving the campgrounds and facilites that generate the funds. These funds enable Recreation Staff to build and maintain bridges, boat ramps, and keep toilets and campgrounds clean. A portion of the fees also support volunteer and partnership projects with local organizations.

Payette National Forest FLREA Accomplishment 2008 Report

Region 4 FLREA Information

Safety Reminder

Knowledge of the area and terrain, being prepared for varying weather conditions, and knowing what your limitations are and following them, will go a long way towards assuring you a safe and enjoyable trip.