Recreation

Camping

"We no longer camp as for a night, but have settled down on earth and forgotten heaven."  Henry David Thoreau

Campgrounds and RV resorts in and around McCall provide the ultimate Idaho camping experience, with more than just the basic amenities and often with Payette Lake or Payette River access.

Ponderosa Park campsites are available, weather permitting, from May through October. Also, cabins and two yurts at Ponderosa can be reserved year round for those who desire the outdoors overnight with a minimum of preparation. The yurts are well located near restrooms and are equipped with beds, a dining table and chairs. They offer heat and electricity but no cooking facilities or running water. A Group RV campground east of the Ponderosa Park entrance offers 65 campsites for larger groups.

The 630 acre North Beach Area of Payette Lake is the largest public sandy beach on the lake and has 22 non-reservable (first come-first served) campsites at the Northwest Passage Campground. The area is great for canoeing on the Payette River which empties into Payette Lake at this location and is a wildlife sanctuary for deer, elk, fox, bear, moose, bald eagles, osprey, loon, and coyote.

The campsites and cabins/yurts can be reserved by calling 888.922.6743 or online at www.reserveamerica.com

Also check out the Idaho Parks and Recreation web site for more great information www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov