I would first like to start out by saying I am not a doctor. This should be obvious. But if I were to prescribe one end-all, cure-all medication for any ailment, it would be to go outside and get some fresh air. Now even though I would quickly lose my hypothetical medical license, I  would still stand by my beliefs.

To get some of this medicinal recreation, might I recommend Upper Payette Lake? Located in the Payette National Forest, Upper Payette Lake is smaller but much less crowded than the popular Payette Lake near McCall, ID.

The Setup

Upper Payette Lake Campground is easy to find. After Entering McCall, simply head north on Warren Wagon Road and continue for 15 miles until you see the sign for the campground.

Trailers and RVs won’t have too much of a problem getting around the area, but do yourself a favor and practice backing your vehicle around a corner. A few of the sites will require some advanced maneuvering to get into.

The campsites are fairly spacious and offer enough privacy that you almost can’t hear your neighbors brag about how much better there RV is than yours.  Your typical campsite also has fire rings and a picnic table.

The bathrooms are your standard vault toilets and are decently clean. As a bonus, the camp hosts have also graciously left you some reading material so you can still entertain yourself while doing your business in the event your smartphone doesn’t get a signal.

Upper Payette Lake campground is also a good base camp for several hikes in the area including the Loon Lake & It’s mysterious WWII plane wreckage. For a trail guide and more of that story view clicking here 

Upper Payette Lake

The campground sits right on the shore of Upper Payette Lake. This is a no-wake lake so break out your paddleboards, canoes and kayaks. There are several beaches along the lake that you can fish from if don’t have a way out on the water. I won’t guarantee you’ll catch anything, but at least you have the option.

There are a few day-use sites randomly spread out on each side of the lake that make a good spot to watch the sunset if you drew the short straw and your campsite doesn’t have a view of the lake.

Verdict: Why Visit Upper Payette Lake and Campground?

If you plan to hike to Loon Lake in search of the mysterious bomber or looking for a calm lake to practice your stand up paddleboard skills set up shop at Upper Payette Lake Campground.

Chad Albright

Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.