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Recreation.govUT

Payson Lakes

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Upcoming Availability

6 of 14 days currently show available sites.

View releasing sites

Sun, Jul 26

None

available

Mon, Jul 27

None

available

Tue, Jul 28

None

available

Wed, Jul 29

None

available

Thu, Jul 30

23

sites

Fri, Jul 31

None

available

Sat, Aug 1

None

available

Sun, Aug 2

40

sites

Mon, Aug 3

46

sites

Tue, Aug 4

48

sites

Wed, Aug 5

47

sites

Thu, Aug 6

24

sites

Fri, Aug 7

None

available

Sat, Aug 8

None

available

Campground guide

What to know before booking

Payson Lakes Campground is a local favorite, located just 12 miles from Payson, Utah. This large campground contains single and double sites with picnic tables and campfire rings. The campground is nestled in a forest of aspen, fir and pine trees at an elevation of 8,000 feet.

reservation Window

4 Months

Official campground details, summarized

Concise planning notes based on the public Recreation.gov campground information.

Facilities

This large campground contains single and double sites with picnic tables and campfire rings. Three group sites are also available, equipped with picnic and serving tables, grills, dutch oven cooking surfaces, campfire circles, water spigots and cement site pads. Group sites are in an area separate from single sites and the day-use area. Vault toilets are provided near Group Site A; flush toilets are provided between Group Sites B and C. Vault toilets are provided in the single and double site loops. Campground hosts are on-site and firewood is available for purchase. Roads and parking spurs are paved.

Natural Features

The campground is nestled in a forest of aspen, fir and pine trees at an elevation of 8,000 feet. The Payson Lakes area is made up of McClelland, Box and Big East Lakes. Summer wildflowers are abundant. A variety of wildlife makes its home around the lakes.

Recreation

Payson Lakes offers great canoeing and kayaking. Anglers enjoy fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Powerboats are prohibited. A popular day-use area is located on the shore of Big East Lake, with a small swim beach, picnic tables and flush toilets. A paved nature path begins at the parking area and circles the lake.

Nearby Attractions

The Mount Nebo Wilderness Area is adjacent, brimming with beautiful mountain scenery, pristine waters, abundant wildlife, vibrant summer wildflowers and numerous trail opportunities. The Nebo Loop Scenic Byway stretches 37 miles through high alpine terrain, dense forests and colorful meadows. Devil's Kitchen Geological Area can be found along the loop. It offers a 1/2-mile round-trip trail to interesting red rock hoodoos.

Campsite map

Site markers come from Recreation.gov campsite coordinates.

91 mapped sites

Campsites

A sample of official campsite metadata for scanning equipment fit before booking.

Site C01

C

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

45 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site XXX1

A

MANAGEMENT

vehicle

people

shade

Site B08

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

25 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site B15

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

38 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site C11

C

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

45 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site B21

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

30 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site B36

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

30 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site XXX9

A

MANAGEMENT

vehicle

people

shade

Site C22

C

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

30 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site XXX11

A

MANAGEMENT

vehicle

people

shade

Site B37

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

71 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site XXX8

A

MANAGEMENT

vehicle

people

shade

Site XXX28

A

MANAGEMENT

vehicle

people

shade

Site B16/17

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

28 ft

vehicle

16

people

Yes

shade

Site B24

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

48 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site B02

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

26 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site XXX14

A

MANAGEMENT

vehicle

people

shade

Site C10

C

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

35 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site XXX24

A

MANAGEMENT

vehicle

people

shade

Site C06/07

C

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

44 ft

vehicle

16

people

Yes

shade

Site XXX23

A

MANAGEMENT

vehicle

people

shade

Site XXX5

A

MANAGEMENT

vehicle

people

shade

Site C13

C

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

20 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site C20/21

C

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

42 ft

vehicle

16

people

Yes

shade

Important notices

This Campground is in Bear Country Always store food and trash securely to avoid attracting wildlife -Failure to comply may result in fines up to $5,000, removal from your site and/or imprisonment Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear; your actions can save lives
Dogs or Domestic Pets Owners must -Control dog by leash not to exceed six feet (6’) at all times -Clean up dog feces immediately -Limit two dogs per site Do not allow dogs to -Threaten or attack people/animals -Interfere with people, vehicles, or property -Cause damage to vegetation or harass wildlife Dogs are not allowed on beaches or in water, but can be on the trails in the Day Use area
Campground Etiquette and Rules Gates open at 7am, close at 10pm Quiet Hours are 10pm-6am No generators after 10pm Camping is allowed only within the designated space provided. Do not go beyond site boundaries Max occupancy is 8 people per single site Reserved sites will be held until 12pm the day following your arrival date Horses/Off-road vehicles are prohibited in the campground Leave No Trace -Put all trash in dumpsters, if provided, or properly stored in your vehicle or bear box -Remove all personal property and trash when leaving -Unclean sites will be reported to the District Ranger LEO -Leaving food/trash in an unoccupied site may result in a $5,000 fine This is a 'pack it in, pack it out' facility; bring trash bags Cleaning fish or bathing where drinking water is supplied is strictly prohibited Fireworks, discharging of firearms, or other explosives in the campground is not allowed No boisterous behavior. Be courteous to your fellow visitor. Keep noise at a reasonable level No amplified music is allowed in USDA Forest Service campgrounds and facilities. People come to the campgrounds for peace and quiet Max Vehicle Length includes tow vehicle
There is a 2-night minimum stay on weekends; 3-night minimum stay on holiday weekends

More at Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Other tracked campgrounds from the same park or area.

Surrounding campgrounds

Other tracked campgrounds within driving distance, nearest first.

Common questions

Is Payson Lakes available right now?

Kestrel's most recent scan found openings on 6 of the next 14 days, starting Thu, Jul 30. Availability changes constantly — check the calendar above, then confirm on Recreation.gov.

How do I book Payson Lakes?

Reservations are handled by Recreation.gov, not by Kestrel. Use the official reservation link on this page to book. Kestrel only watches availability and tells you when a site frees up.

How far in advance can I book?

Recreation.gov lists a booking window of 4 Months for this campground.

How quickly will I hear about a cancellation?

Kestrel rescans every two minutes, and every 30 seconds during the provider's daily release window. Alerts go out by email as soon as a matching site appears.