Payette National Forest Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

Payette National Forest Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

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Creek in Payette National Forest, Idaho
Payette National Forest, Idaho (Joe Sohm/Photodisc/Getty)
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Payette National Forest Parks and Outdoors Travel Tips

By Brian Kevin
  • The Twenty Mile Trail north of McCall is a popular equestrian trail. It leads six miles and 2,200 feet through a mix of living and ghost forests to the jewel-like Twenty Mile Lakes. Find the trailhead on Warren Wagon Road—there are hitching rails and an unloading ramp for trailers.
  • Head to the Lake Fork Guard Station east of McCall on Lick Creek Road, where you can hitch and unload before leading stock up the road another mile to Lake Fork Creek. The trail is almost entirely flat and flanked with huckleberry bushes. Follow it for seven miles along the quiet creek to a picturesque lunch spot on pine-rimmed Maki Lake.
  • Reaching the Payette Forest's main access to the Frank Church Wilderness at Big Creek requires a multi-hour drive along forest roads northeast of McCall. While longer trips in "the Frank" should be left to those with serious backcountry experience, several easily navigable miles of old jeep road crisscross hills and old mining structures in the Big Creek area.
  • There are unending pack trips to be had within the million acres of the Frank, which is managed by the Payette National Forest. Numerous ranches and outfitters in central Idaho lead trips into the Frank, though more in Stanley and Challis than McCall. Ask your hotel to recommend an experienced outfitter.

Payette National Forest Overview

West-central Idaho's Payette is a latticework of rocky crags that stand taller than 7,000 feet and sequester pristine alpine lakes and meadows skirted by lush groves of aspen. Hikers can explore these ridges along switchbacks while shortcut seekers can scramble up steep domes of granite. Rock climbers test their mettle on andesite spires such as Devils Tooth, Tower of Babel, Mount Ogre, and the Goblin in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Read More

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Hotels

from: $90

Best Western Salmon Rapids Lodge

1010 S Main Street
Riggins, ID 83549 Map

Distance: 19.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 2 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
4.0

Ponderosa State Park Campground

P.O. Box 89
McCall, ID 83638 Map

Distance: 38.8 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
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Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
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Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites MCCALL-THE HUNT LODGE

210 N 3RD STREET
Mccall, ID 83638 Map

Distance: 38.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 2 class stars
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
3.0
3.0
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Attractions

Ponderosa State Park

expert favorite attraction
Box 89
McCall, Idaho 83638

Distance: 36.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Ponderosa is a great day-trip in the summer, particularly for families looking for an easy half-day... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
4_0

Jug Mountain Ranch

13834 Farm To Market Rd.
McCall, Idaho 83638

Distance: 42.1 mi. (from destination center)

Description: There's more than just golf at Jug Mountain Ranch. The beautiful grounds are an outdoor adventurer's playground, with hiking and biking trails, cross-country paths, and mountain climbs.... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0

Slick Rock Mountain

10 miles northeast of McCall on Lick Creek Rd.
McCall, Idaho

Distance: 37.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Slick Rock is a long, uninterrupted technical rock trail.... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
3_0
3_0
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Airports

Major Airports near Payette National Forest

Distance (mi.)
Boise Air Terminal Gowen Field 129.9 map
Spokane International Airport 170.5 map

Other Smaller Airports near Payette National Forest

Distance (mi.)
Lewiston Nez Perce County Rgnl Airport 84.9 map
Pullman Moscow Regional Airport 107.7 map
Missoula Johnson-Bell Field 135.1 map

Flight Deals to Payette National Forest

Originating From
Portland, OR (PDX) to Boise (BOI) $126

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Payette National Forest Parks and Outdoors Travel Guides

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