Ponderosa State Park

With over 1,515 acres to explore, Ponderosa State Park offers year-round opportunities to connect with Idaho's rugged mountains.

The park offers a plethora of activities to keep you engaged. From fishing and biking to wildlife spotting, there's something for everyone. While primarily a day-use landmark, you can rent cabins, park your RV, or hike to primitive camp sites.

Speaking of hiking, Ponderosa State Park offers a variety of trails to tackle, ranging from easy to moderately challenging. And with the peak elevation of the park being 5,050, you can bet the latter hikes involve climbing! We'll explore a few in our next section.

Summertime features the most outdoor activities, but winter offers its own adventures. For those who enjoy cross-country skiing, you'll want to check out the groomed Nordic track. Snowshoeing is another popular activity, and both areas offer dog-friendly courses, enhancing the appeal of this natural wonderland.

Perhaps best of all, this wilderness is only a short drive from McCall. Such convenience makes it easy to plan a day filled with things to see and do. For example, after hiking or camping at Ponderosa, continue exploring Idaho's great outdoors with a raft trip with Salmon Raft. Or relax on a tour of Payette Lake with McCall Lake Cruises.

As you can see, Ponderosa State Park offers a little bit of this and a little bit of that, making it a must-visit on your Gem State vacation.

Ponderosa State Park: Fun Facts & Cool Features

As promised, here are samples of hikes you can consider when visiting.

The Payette Lake Peninsula Trail is ranked easy by AllTrails due to its 4-mile length and gentle elevation gain of 134 feet. As you'd expect by its name, the path hugs the shoreline of Payette Lake, offering picture-worthy water views. The out-and-back trail means you can go as far as you like, and because it connects to other pathways, it makes it an ideal starting point for those seeking a greater challenge.

If you want a hike that gets the heart pumping, consider the Huckleberry, Fox Run, and Peninsula Trails Loop. As you can see, this trail combines multiple pathways, including the aforementioned Payette Lake Peninsula Trail, with several others. This 5-mile loop features 535 feet of elevation gain and offers rewarding bird's-eye views of the lake. Considered moderate by AllTrails, this hike is expected to take 2-2.5 hours.

Come wintertime, the Nordic track attracts cold-weather athletes. The 12 miles of well-groomed Nordic (cross-country) ski trails are suitable for all levels. They offer classic and skate skiing, breathtaking views of Payette Lake, and a dedicated dog loop.

When the snow melts, Ponderosa State Park is your go-to for watersports, with a boat launch that makes accessing the water easy-peasy. If you don't own a kayak or canoe, you can rent one at the dock, while Cheap Thrills Rentals offers motorboat and jet ski rentals. Be sure to review the boating regulations required for the lake. 

As a daytime destination, the picnic tables and pavilions, restrooms, water fountains, and showers make visiting fun, comfortable, and convenient. Add the fishing, biking trails, and bird watching, and it's easy to see why Ponderosa State Park is a hot spot!

Cost

Here are the costs associated with a visit:

• Park entrance: $10 per car