Paddy Flat Guard Station
Closed — The cabins are available for year-round rental at $100 per night through Recreation.gov. Both units were fully renovated in 2024. Call the Payette National Forest Supervisor's Office at +1 (208) 634-0700 at least 24-48 hours before arrival to obtain door lock combinations.
Weed Free Hay Order 04-2021-03
Prohibited by this order: Possessing, storing, or transporting non-pelletized hay, straw, or mulch in the Intermountain Region, unless it is certified as weed free by the state where the product originated.
Explosives and Exploding Target Order 04-2021-02
This order prohibits the use of explosives and exploding targets on National Forest System lands within the Intermountain Region.
Northern and Intermountain Regions Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness
This order implements visitor use requirements for activities within the Restricted Area and on the Restricted Trails, as required by the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area Management Plan (November 2003).
Northern and Intermountain Regions Salmon Wild and Scenic River: Occupancy and Use
This order enacts visitor use restrictions for activities within the 80-mile-long wild segment of the Salmon Wild & Scenic River corridor, including a one-quarter mile buffer from the river, as required by the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area Manag
Granite Mountain Over Snow Vehicle Closure
The purpose of this order is to protect public safety during commercial cat skiing and grooming operations.
Chamberlain Airstrip Campground Restriction
The purpose of this Order is to protect resources, and the quality and wilderness character of the area as well as to avoid user conflicts between agency stock and private stock users in the area.
Big Flat Campground Area Closure
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety prior to and during reconstruction of Big Flat Campground, which was severely damaged during the 2024 Lava Fire.
Wilderness Camping and Grazing Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is to protect fragile, high elevation, water-based natural resources within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness from stock and user impacts.
Big Creek Area Boating Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is to protect Chinook Salmon and steelhead.
South Fork Salmon River East Trail Prohibitions
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety due to unsafe creek crossings on the Described Trail.
Lost Valley Closure Area
The purpose of this order is to protect a federally listed, threatened species and its occupied habitat.
Calf Pen Area Closure
The area adjacent to NFS Road #50073 has been identified as a sensitive area for a federally listed, threatened species.
Commercial Hauling
The purpose of this order is protect public safety and National Forest resources.
South Fork Salmon Road Weight Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety and prevent potential resource damage during spring thaw conditions.
Over-Snow Vehicle Closure
The purpose of this order is to protect public safety and natural resources.
Payette Occupancy and Use- 14 Day Stay Limit
The purpose of this order is to address competition for campsites and to protect public safety and natural resources.
Frank Church Wilderness Occupancy and Use
The purpose of this order is to implement visitor use requirements for activities within the restricted area and on the restricted trails, as required by the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area Management Plan (November 2003).
Brundage Mountain Resort Snowcat Route Closure
The closure of the snowcat routes to over-snow vehicles provides for the safety of persons recreating or using the area.
Gordon Titus Upper Elevation Parking Lot Winter Restrictions
To provide for public health and safety related to noise and to reduce user conflicts at high usewinter recreation areas.
South Fork Salmon River and Big Creek Float
The purpose of the order is to implement permit requirements for float boating on the South Fork of the Salmon River and Big Creek as required by the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area Management Plan.
About
Located at 5,250 feet elevation in the Payette National Forest, the Paddy Flat Guard Station offers two rental cabins in a remote, scenic meadow setting. Both cabins were fully renovated in 2024 and accommodate up to four people. Cabin East is fully ADA accessible with wheelchair-accessible facilities and includes a corral for up to four head of stock, making it ideal for horseback riders. Cabin West features two-story sleeping quarters with a queen bed and twin bunks. Both cabins include kitchen facilities with limited utensils, propane heat, running water, flush toilets, and showers. The guard station operates as a pack-it-in, pack-it-out facility with no trash service. The surrounding area provides abundant recreation opportunities including numerous trailheads for hiking, biking, and OHV access to alpine lakes for fishing, meadows for wildlife watching, and peaks reaching 8,681 feet elevation. The location serves as an excellent base camp for exploring the South Fork of the Salmon River drainage. Nearby towns of Donnelly and McCall provide dining, shopping, and additional attractions including Gold Fork Hot Springs and Ponderosa State Park. Access is via gravel Forest Roads 388 and 389, which are narrow in places.
Directions
From McCall, drive approximately 9 miles south on State Highway 55. Turn left (east) onto Paddy Flat Road (Forest Road 388). Follow FR 388 approximately 5 miles to Paddy Flat Summit. At the summit, veer right onto Forest Road 389 and continue approximately 3 miles to the guard station. From Donnelly, turn right onto Paddy Flat Road approximately 3 miles north of town and follow the same route. Roads are gravel and narrow in places.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $100 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (208) 634-0400 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | Yes |
Availability
Photos
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