Northwest Passage Campground

This was our first visit to this annex of Ponderosa State Park in 3 years. There have been a few 'improvements' including new aluminum picnic tables and new site number posts, but its pretty much the same as we saw it in 2020.

It is a FCFS campground, with no camp host and very few amenities. There is a hand pump where one can get water if you have a water jug to put it in. Their is one vault toilet in the campground and access to the North Fork of the Payette River that empties to the beautiful Payette Lake. Our nightly rate considers that we have an annual Idaho Parks and Recreation Pass. Otherwise, you need to pay an additional $7 a day if you are an Idaho resident, or $55 a day if you are not an Idaho resident and don't have an annual Idaho Parks and Recreation Pass. Idaho thinks a lot of their parks.

The North Fork of the Payette River is a slow meandering crystal clear stream that is a paddler's paradise for anyone in a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddle board. It takes about an hour to slowly paddle down to the North Beach Day Use Area on the north bank of Payette Lake. There is a concessionaire there at the day use area that rents out canoes, SUPs, or kayaks for ~$70 a day, if you don't have your own. The river is busy in the summer months and the campground was either full, or nearly full, every night we were there during the week in mid-August.

There will be a nice State Park's person driving through once or twice a day, but otherwise you are on your own. Some of the sites are close together with little understory or cover separating the sites, while other sites are nicely grown up to give a lot of privacy. The amount of noise you experience will depend on your neighbors.

It’s mid June and much of the higher country forest roads have snow and restricted or no access. So, we fell back to Northwest Passage. Always pleasant here in the forest, near the river with river access when it’s warmer and the river is lower later in the season. There is a stocked fishing pond for kids and some rock climbing in the area. Verizon is nearly non-existent but we can get voice and sms using our weboost. AT&T data has excellent download speeds but upload is <1gbs. Don’t forget mosquito repellent! Sites are generally level and most appear will accommodate small to medium rigs with no problems. Nice amount of space in between. Daily fee is $31 or $24 with an Idaho Parks Pass.

Northwest Passage Campground is a first come first serve campground located at the north end of Payette Lake, along the Payette River. It is part of Ponderosa State Park, but has nothing in common with that crowded and popular neighbor. In fact we arrived on a Thursday before the 4th of July and had a large choice of sites! It offers 22 non-reservable campsites in one large loop, fire rings, tables, central water, and vault toilets. On the first visit we chose Site 16 and then Site 7 on our return. It features quiet, well spaced, & mostly private sites. Sites after site #8 have more foliage for privacy. The swimming area is centrally located along the loop and offers a great place to launch kayaks and other non-motorized water toys. In addition the nearby activities are plentiful. Cons: Mosquitos were large and numerous and the fee system was a bit confusing.