Payette National Forest encompasses some of Idaho's most beautiful and diverse country, including Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Located in west-central Idaho north of Boise, the 2.3 million acre forest extends 100 miles, west to east, from Hells Canyon to the Middle Fork Salmon River. It stretches 70 miles north to south, from the Salmon River to the Weiser River.

You can tour the Forest on 2,000 miles of roads, hike 2,100 miles of trails, and camp at 30 campgrounds. Numerous reservoirs, lakes, and streams offer a myriad of camping and fishing opportunities. The Salmon River and Middle Fork Salmon River offer world-class river rafting. The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the largest in the lower 48 states, offers world-class backcountry hiking, fishing, and hunting. In winter, downhill skiing is excellent at Brundage Mountain ski area, and back-country skiing and snowmobiling trails are unlimited.

The Forest centers on the Idaho batholith. Nature has carved rough granite mountains, high lakes, lush meadows, and deep river canyons. In one day you can travel from hot desert grasslands through cool conifer forests to snow-capped peaks.

• Council -
• Krassel -
• McCall -
• New Meadows -
• Weiser -

• Keep an eye out for Beavers and River Otters. To see these animals, try canoeing the flatwater stretches of the Payette River above Payette Lake or the river between Cascade Reservoir and Payette Lake. Also watch for ospreys, herons, ducks, geese, and eagles.
• Take the Warren Auto Tour, a 1.5-hour drive that starts in McCall, travels along Warren Wagon Road, and ends in the historic mining town of Warren where you can take a walking tour.