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Recreation.govUT

Payson Lakes

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

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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.

116 mapped sites

Campsites

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

Site B21

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

30 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site A23

A

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

—

vehicle

8

people

—

shade

Site A09

A

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

—

vehicle

8

people

—

shade

Site B04

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

32 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site XXX21

A

MANAGEMENT

—

vehicle

—

people

—

shade

Site XXX20

A

MANAGEMENT

—

vehicle

—

people

—

shade

Site C02 HOST

C

MANAGEMENT

35 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site XXX26

A

MANAGEMENT

—

vehicle

—

people

—

shade

Site B11

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

45 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site GRP-C

GRP

GROUP STANDARD NONELECTRIC

20 ft

vehicle

75

people

Yes

shade

Site B02

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

26 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site A07

A

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

—

vehicle

8

people

—

shade

Site XXX22

A

MANAGEMENT

—

vehicle

—

people

—

shade

Site XXX8

A

MANAGEMENT

—

vehicle

—

people

—

shade

Site C18

C

YURT

18 ft

vehicle

8

people

No

shade

Site A05

A

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

—

vehicle

8

people

—

shade

Site B10

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

36 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site B18/19

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

25 ft

vehicle

16

people

Yes

shade

Site XXX10

A

MANAGEMENT

—

vehicle

—

people

—

shade

Site XXX7

A

MANAGEMENT

—

vehicle

—

people

—

shade

Site B20

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

40 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site A06

A

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

—

vehicle

8

people

—

shade

Site B05

B

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

44 ft

vehicle

8

people

Yes

shade

Site C04

C

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

29 ft

vehicle

8

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 no open sites in the next 14 days. Set an alert and you'll be emailed the moment one opens up.

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.