Payette National Forest, located in the middle of Idaho, offers 2.3 million acres of beauty and pristine wilderness. You can go from hot desert grassland to snow-capped peaks in the same day due to the diversity of the ecosystem here. With the highest elevation at over 9,500 feet, you can stay cool even during the hottest summer days if you climb high enough. Travel to Hell’s Canyon Recreation Area where you can take selfies near the deepest river gorge in the United States. On one side of the canyon, you can see down 8,000 feet to the Snake River.
Both the Salmon and the Snake River are prime places to catch trout and salmon, as well as many other types of aquatic critters. You may also enjoy the Weiser River or Payette River for your fishing expedition. Big Creek is another part of the Salmon River that is full of steelhead trout and chinook salmon. Boating, floating, and rafting are also popular here. There are also 300 different species of mammals and birds here in the Payette National Forest to photograph or just to watch.
You may also want to hunt, which is typically done in the fall or winter. Mountain goats, sheep, moose, bear, elk, and deer are popular large game, or you can try for the little critters like squirrels and rabbits. Hiking, biking, OHV, and horseback riding are also fun here with hundreds of miles of trails. If you want to stay the night or the week, the forest boasts 13 campgrounds that have from 10 to 29 campsites to choose from. We have highlighted our top three favorites below.
To get to the Payette National Forest, just take Interstate 95 or 55 from just about anywhere in the country. Some of the most scenic drives can be found here in the Payette area with the winding roads that meander along the rivers, as well as the amazing mountain ranges. Hells Canyon Scenic Byway follows the Snake River to Hells Canyon Dam along Hells Canyon Road for 22 miles. You can see goats, sheep, and elk wandering around any time of the day and early evening.
The Payette River Scenic Byway is almost 112 miles from Highway 95 to Highway 55 along the Payette River across parks, over bridges, and through the mature pine trees. And the Salmon River Scenic Byway is 162 miles from the Montana state line down Highway 93 to Stanley, Idaho. This road has views of the Sawtooth Mountains, as well as Idaho’s rugged backcountry. Whichever way you take to get to your destination, be careful, and keep your eyes on the road because the wildlife tends to wander across it at times. Once you get to your campsite, you'll want to walk or ride your bike around whenever possible, because it is difficult to maneuver a big rig on some of these narrow roads.
Grouse Campground has 22 campsites in McCall, open from July until September. Sixteen are single family sites and six are double sites. They each have a picnic table that seats 10 people, a large cleared space, and a fire ring with a grill for cooking. Parking pads are 24 to 40 feet in length. There is also one group site that can accommodate up to 50 people. You will also find several vault toilets and water spigots for drinking water.
The 80-acre Goose Lake is stocked annually with brook and rainbow trout, but you can also catch bass and other types of fish. If you want to get out in nature, the Six Mile Trail for open for hiking and equestrian use. Pets are welcome as long as you keep them restrained during your stay.
Located in the Weiser area, the Spring Creek Campground offer 12 reservable campsites open from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Book your spot early because they fill up fast, especially on weekends and holidays. Each site has a table, grill, and a generous-sized cleared space. The campground park provides potable water spigots and vault toilets. The parking pads are generous as well and can accommodate RVs and campers up to about 50 feet in length.
Take a hike on the 1.5-mile Sleeping Spring Interpretive Trail to learn about the history of the area. If you get hot, you can cool off in Mann Creek, which is a fantastic place to spend the day. You can do some fishing for rainbow trout, splash around in the water, or just float down the creek on a tube. Pets are welcome, but keep them on a leash when you are out and about.
One of the best spots to climb according to the locals is the Seven Devil Mountains where there are some excellent limestone and basalt rock faces. Just above the Snake and Salmon Rivers, the elevations can vary from 1,000 feet to over 9,000 feet. The He-Devil and She-Devil Peaks are extra challenging and fun. Also, the Sawtooth Range has dozens of climbing spots from the 8,235-foot Thatcher Peak to the 10,760-foot Thompson Peak. Watch out for the mountain goats who may think you are trying to take their spot.
When you are packing the RV, don’t forget your fishing gear because there are hundreds of spots in Payette National Forest where you can catch some huge salmon and trout. If you are looking for the big lunkers like catfish or carp, try fishing the bottom of the rivers or lakes with a heavy weight and some live bait. Some of the smaller creeks can be fished with flies or lures where you can catch some amazing sized panfish for dinner.
Whether you have a dune buggy, dirt bike, side-by-side, or a four-wheeler, there are some fantastic spots to explore in the Payette. In fact, there are 83 named OHV trails and hundreds of farm roads to race around on. The Ruby Meadows Trailhead is an ideal place for OHVs with several trails and dispersed camping nearby as well. You can also try the Brownlee Area East Fork Trailhead or the Bear Cuprum Area where you can find a bunch of roads that will take you for miles into the mountains.
Near Cambridge, the Big Flat Campground has 10 single campsites and three double sites open from Memorial Day until mid-October. Each site has its own fire pit with a grill for cooking, a large picnic table that seats 8-10 people, and a big cleared space for hanging out. Although they do not have hookups, there is one potable water spigot, an RV waste station, and several vault toilets for public use. The average parking pad is 45 feet long, but this is a first-come, first-served camping area, so you need to get here early.
The campsites are close to the Little Weiser River, which is a great place to play in the water, go for a float, or to catch some rainbow trout or largemouth bass for dinner. Take a walk in the ponderosa pines or along the banks of the river to work up an appetite. Pets are welcome as long as you supervise them and keep them restrained during your stay.
Pack your hiking boots in the camper so you can hike on some of the paths in the forest. Spring Creek Campground has the 1.5-mile Sleeping Spring Interpretive Trail to teach you a bit about the history of the area. Grouse Campground has the Six Mile Trail for hiking and equestrian use, but it is actually 10 miles long, not six as the name implies. If you want to take a longer hike, try the Secesh River Trail #80, which meanders 15 miles along the Secesh River. This trail is near the Ponderosa Campground by Cascade. Near Payette Lake, you can find the short and easy quarter-mile Shoreline Path, which is ADA-accessible.
With over 150 equestrian trails in the Payette National Forest, it would be a shame not to bring the horses, so make sure you hook the trailer to the rig. From the short and easy 1.6-mile Cougar Creek Trail #114 near Upper Payette Lake to the moderate 3.8-mile East Fork Sturgill Creek Trail #272, you can get warmed up before tackling some of the longer trails. For instance, the 10.8-mile Horse Heaven Trail near the South Fork of the Salmon River is a nice one to choose if you like fishing. The 19.1-mile Mosquito Ridge Trail #003 is a great long-distance trek for both you and your pony.
In Idaho, you can expect to find some awesome powder to ski in the winter, so you will not be disappointed here. There are 500 miles of trails for cross-country skiing or you can try the Payette Lakes Ski Club in McCall, which has night skiing, a haunted forest, and even a special hill for children called the Little Ski Hill. Bruntage Mountain has a summit elevation of 7,803 feet and a vertical drop of 1,921 feet.
