Payson Lakes

Summary

Payson Lakes Campground is a popular destination for those looking to canoe, kayak, and fish for rainbow and brown trout. Visitors can also enjoy a picnic area and paved nature path around Big East Lake, as well as a variety of single and group sites with amenities like grills and picnic tables. The campground is located in the stunning Mount Nebo Wilderness Area.

Overview

Payson Lakes Campground is a local favorite, located just 12 miles from Payson, Utah. Visitors love the campground for its great fishing and canoeing opportunities, pretty scenery and close proximity to town.

Recreation

Payson Lakes offers great canoeing and kayaking. Anglers enjoy fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Powerboats are prohibited.


A popular day-use area is located on the shore of Big East Lake, with a small swim beach, picnic tables and flush toilets. A paved nature path begins at the parking area and circles the lake.

Facilities

This large campground contains single and double sites with picnic tables and campfire rings. Three group sites are also available, equipped with picnic and serving tables, grills, dutch oven cooking surfaces, campfire circles, water spigots and cement site pads. Group sites are in an area separate from single sites and the day-use area.

Vault toilets are provided near Group Site A; flush toilets are provided between Group Sites B and C. Vault toilets are provided in the single and double site loops. Campground hosts are on-site and firewood is available for purchase. Roads and parking spurs are paved. 

Natural Features

The campground is nestled in a forest of aspen, fir and pine trees at an elevation of 8,000 feet. The Payson Lakes area is made up of McClelland, Box and Big East Lakes. Summer wildflowers are abundant. A variety of wildlife makes its home around the lakes.

contact_info

For facility specific information, please call (385) 273-1100.

Nearby Attractions

The Mount Nebo Wilderness Area is adjacent, brimming with beautiful mountain scenery, pristine waters, abundant wildlife, vibrant summer wildflowers and numerous trail opportunities.

The Nebo Loop Scenic Byway stretches 37 miles through high alpine terrain, dense forests and colorful meadows. Devil's Kitchen Geological Area can be found along the loop. It offers a 1/2-mile round-trip trail to interesting red rock hoodoos.

Charges & Cancellations

Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees

• Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation.
• Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.
• You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Late Cancellations

• Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival.
• Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.
• Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
• Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
• Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge.

No-Shows

• Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date.
• If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees.

Refunds

• Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure.
• Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location.
• Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card.
• Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy.
• Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.

Recreation.gov Billing Information

• Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777."

Changes to Policies and Procedures

• Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July 2018.