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.
Welcome to the Payette National Forest's Recreational Fishing Site. The Payette National Forest contains about 400 lakes and reservoirs and 4000 miles of fish-bearing streams. About forty-six different species of fish inhabit our waters. They vary from warm water bass, crappies, and catfish in Hell¿s Canyon Reservoir to native and introduced salmonids in colder waters. Native species, such as northern pikeminnow, mountain whitefish, and suckers, provide diversions from trout fishing. The Snake and Salmon Rivers contain white sturgeon that are regulated as a catch and release fishery.
The fishing opportunities abound so every angler is sure to find the fishing just to their liking. Numerous developed campsites are located in close proximity to some hot fishing spots. If you prefer a more remote experience, pack your float tube and waders and head up trail to one of the many high mountain lakes. Enjoy fishing areas that the Idaho Fish & Game Department are managing as trophy lakes for a chance to catch and release a fish that will become one of your campfire stories. Visit the Idaho Fish and Game website for state regulations.
