Ponderosa State Park, State park on Payette Lake in Valley County, US.
Ponderosa State Park is a state park set on a forested peninsula that juts into Payette Lake in Valley County, Idaho. The land is covered in tall ponderosa pines and the trails wind through several distinct forest types as the terrain rises and falls across the peninsula.
Ponderosa State Park covers 1,515 acres on a peninsula in Payette Lake at the northeast edge of McCall, plus a second unit called North Beach six miles north of town at the lake's northern end. The sources give no founding date or founding agency, so the park's origin year cannot be stated. The University of Idaho Field Campus is located within the park.
The park's name comes from the ponderosa pine, the tall yellow-barked conifer that covers the peninsula. The University of Idaho Field Campus sits within the park, and rangers lead guided walks and evening programs for visitors. The North Beach unit lies six miles north of McCall at the lake's northern end.
The park has campgrounds and cabins along the lakeshore, and reserving a spot well ahead of your visit is a good idea, particularly in summer when demand is high. The main entrance is near the town of McCall and is easy to find from the main road.
The park's 1,515 acres include a second unit, North Beach, six miles north of McCall at the northern end of Payette Lake. The University of Idaho Field Campus also sits within the park, so students and researchers share the peninsula with campers and skiers.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,783 contributors worldwide.