The Payette National Forest offers the visitor over 2.3 million acres to enjoy. Everything from the deep recesses of Hell’s Canyon to peaks reaching elevations of almost 9,500 feet.
Dry desert grasslands compliment heavily forested acres. Gateways to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness lead the visitor to experience the solitude of seldom traveled trails. To the west is the Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area, the deepest river gorge in North America. Stand on the canyons east rim and in some places you gaze down 8,000 feet to the Snake River that carved this canyon. Gaze across the ten mile wide chasm into the neighboring state of Oregon.
Located entirely within Idaho, the Payette NF shares lands with Adams, Idaho, Valley and Washington Counties.
Introduction
Idaho’s Payette National Forest is a lattice of 7,000 foot crags that hide pristine alpine lakes and meadows surrounded by lush groves of aspen. Hikers can explore these ridges along switchbacks or you can scramble up steep domes of granite. Rock climbers test their skills on spires such as Devil’s Tooth, Tower of Babel, Mount Ogre and the Goblin in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. For those simply craving an awe-inspiring view, you don’t have to strap on a climbing harness there are over a dozen fire-lookouts that offer breathtaking panoramas throughout the 2.3-million acre forest.
The Payette National Forest is bordered by two of North America’s deepest canyons Hells Canyon on the Snake River to the west and Salmon River Canyon to the north. A portion of the immense Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness lies within the forest. The wilderness is the largest in the lower 48 states and requires days of hiking to reach its most remote regions. Bush pilots regularly drop off backcountry explorers and supplies at desolate airstrips deep within the wilderness.
Recreation
Visit the Payette National Forest in spring, summer, autumn, or winter and you will find a wide range of recreational activities abound during any of the four seasons. There are excellent adventures to be found hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, skiing, snowmobiling. Whatever you are seeking, you can find a spot in the forest to indulge your recreational interest. You can tour the Payette National Forest on 2,000 miles of roads, hike 2,100 miles of trails or camp at 30 campgrounds. The numerous reservoirs, lakes and streams offer a myriad of camping and fishing opportunities. The Salmon River and Middle Fork Salmon River offer world-class river rafting. The Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness, the largest in the lower 48 states, offers world-class backcountry hiking, fishing and hunting. In winter, downhill skiing is available at Brundage Mountain ski area and backcountry skiing and snowmobiling trails are nearly unlimited.
Traveler Facts
Contact Information
Payette National Forest
800 West Lakeside Avenue
P. O. Box 1026
McCall, ID 83638
Phone: 208-634-0700
Weather/Climate
The weather in the Payette National Forest varies with elevation. Summers tend to bring clear days, with afternoon thunderstorms possible. Daytime highs are normally warm to moderate, with relatively cool to cold nights, depending on elevation. Winter can bring cold temperatures with heavy snows, especially at the high elevations. Sunny days are common between winter storms.
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