IdahoNatural lakeValley County

Payette Lake

Payette Lake covers about 4,987 acres of the North Fork Payette River in Idaho. You will find it in Valley County. It is managed by IDPR / City of McCall. The gauge last read 5.55 ft.

Photo: Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

CountiesValley County

Coordinates44.9467, -116.0853

Surface area4,987 acres

Max depth304 ft

RiverNorth Fork Payette River

Managed byIDPR / City of McCall

Swimming beaches on Payette Lake

2 named swimming spots and shoreline access points, from USGS GNIS, Recreation.gov and the Forest Service. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the operating agency posts one.

Payette Lake

Sylvan Beach

Valley County; 0.9 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Payette Lake

North Beach

Valley County; 3.4 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Payette Lake on the map

Lake center, swimming spots and access points.

Get directions

Weather and water temperature

Air temperature and wind from Open-Meteo. Water temperature only when the lake has a public sensor.

Weather data by Open-Meteo

Payette Lake in Idaho

On the map, Payette Lake is centered near 44.9467, -116.0853. It reaches roughly 304 feet at its deepest. The surface sits around 4,987 feet above sea level.

Station 13238500, PAYETTE LAKE AT MCCALL ID, publishes the water surface elevation used here. The last value stored here, 5.55 ft, is from 2026-09-09. A low pool exposes stumps and mud in the shallow arms of the lake.

Around Payette Lake this guide maps 2 named swimming spots. These come from USGS GNIS. Among them are Sylvan Beach and North Beach. Parking is the usual limit on busy summer weekends.

The closest lakes in this guide are Lake Cascade (Idaho, 24 mi), Brownlee Reservoir (Idaho, 46 mi) and Deadwood Reservoir (Idaho, 50 mi). Idaho has 26 lakes on this site in total.

There is no water temperature sensor here, so only air conditions are shown. Freshwater advisories are issued locally, so check the state health department before you swim. Season dates vary by park; the operating agency publishes them each spring.

Questions about Payette Lake

What is the current water level at Payette Lake?

The latest reading is 5.55 ft, from USGS gauge 13238500.

Can you swim in Payette Lake?

Yes. This guide maps 2 named swimming spots around the lake, including Sylvan Beach and North Beach. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the operating agency posts one.

How big is Payette Lake?

About 4,987 acres. Maximum depth is around 304 feet.

What other lakes are near Payette Lake?

The closest in this guide is Lake Cascade, about 24 miles away in Idaho.