Payette National Forest

Location

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.

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To learn more about the ecology and history of the Payette

Our Neighboring National Forests

Adjacent to the Payette NF is the Boise National Forest, the Salmon-Challis, and the Nez Perce. The Boise National Forest is immediately to the south of us. The Salmon-Challis is to the east, with the huge expanse of the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness and it's shared management between. The Nez Perce National Forest is north of the Payette with the Salmon River canyon forming a partial border and with the Hells Canyon NRA finishing the border to the north. The Snake River Canyon is the western boundary, where one can look over into Oregon and the Wallow-Whitman National Forest.

Directions

The southern most reaches of the Payette Forest are accessed from Hwy 95. Ranger Districts located in the cities of Weiser and Council administer these lands. It provides the fastest routes to the Hell's Canyon Area. Many visitors begin their approach to the forest's northern sites from Boise, Idaho and reach the forest by traveling the Payette River Scenic Byway (Hwy 55). McCall, Idaho, 100 miles north of Boise is home to the McCall Ranger District and the Krassel Ranger District offices, along with the Supervisor's Office. Continue traveling north to the Hwy 55 junction with Hwy 95 to the city of New Meadows and the location of the fifth ranger district office. The New Meadows Ranger District lands are bisected by Hwy 95 as it heads north to Riggins, Idaho and the Salmon River country.

Organizational Overview

All national forests are administrated by the Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

The Payette National Forest is a part of the Intermountain Region (Region 4). It is under the jurisdiction of a forest supervisor and is divided into five ranger districts, with a ranger administrating each district. The supervisor's office is located at 800 W. Lakeside Ave, McCall, Idaho and the district ranger's are stationed at the McCall, Krassel, New Meadows, Council, and Weiser district offices. Contact information.

Meet the Forest Service Read about the when and why it was established? and what does the Forest Service do?