U.S. Forest Service · Payette National Forest · Idaho

Hazard Lake

Hazard Lake Campground is situated along the shore of Hazard Lake at an elevation of 7,050’, Hazard Lake Campground presents convenient lakeside access and abundant recreational opportunities.

Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.

More like this: first-come in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho

Forested campsiteHazard LakeForested campsite with Hazard Lake in the distance.Hazard Lake Campsite on a fall morning
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups12
Host/management2
No reservations, so arrive before checkout on a weekday, usually 11 a.m. to noon, and take what is open. In season, weekends fill by Thursday. The first-come playbook

Site map

12 campsite locations mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The site numbers are theirs and may not match the posts at the campground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed

Each of 12 sites includes a fire ring and picnic table. Potable water is typically available July – September.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestPayette National Forest
Fees$10/night single unit, $15/night double unit

Payette National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Hazard Lake30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.31 inches of precipitation, 2.1 inches of snowFebruary: 1.40 inches of precipitation, 2.3 inches of snowMarch: 1.81 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowApril: 2.03 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 2.17 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 1.72 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.76 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.73 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.16 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.48 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 1.43 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowDecember: 1.44 inches of precipitation, 2.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 32.6°F averageFebruary: 35.9°F averageMarch: 42.6°F averageApril: 48.4°F averageMay: 55.9°F averageJune: 62.3°F averageJuly: 71.1°F averageAugust: 71.0°F averageSeptember: 62.4°F averageOctober: 49.9°F averageNovember: 38.7°F averageDecember: 32.0°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 in2.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Riggins, 16 miles from the campground at 2,056 feet, station USC00107706 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 17 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 7 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From McCall, travel five miles west on Highway 55. Turn right on Goose Lake Road/Forest Road #257. Follow the paved road to Brundage Mountain Resort where the road turns to gravel and continue approximately 18 miles to the campground.

Coordinates45.2012° N, 116.1443° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Brush Rx

    12 mi from the campground · 150 acres

  • Prescribed
    Goose Rx

    18 mi from the campground · 529 acres

  • Prescribed
    Meadow Marsh Rx

    19 mi from the campground · 70 acres

  • Prescribed
    Cold Rx

    22 mi from the campground · 1,094 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗34.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Adventures with Clara: Camping at Hazard Lake

  • 0.1 mi
    Upper Hazard/Hard Creek Basin
    4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.8 mi
    Big Hazard ATV ↗
    1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.2 mi
    Big Hazard Lake
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.8 mi
    Kennith Lake
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.9 mi
    Little French Creek Meadow
    3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2 mi
    Hidden Lake Loop
    3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Payette National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Recreation

The Upper Hazard Lake Trail #169 departs directly from Hazard Lake. The surrounding area presents plenty of additional trail access for multiuse enjoyment. Motorized use on the lake is limited by a “no wake” restriction and there is no boat ramp available so lightweight, portable watercraft are recommended.

Guidebooks for Idaho

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Hazard Lake?

No. Hazard Lake is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Hazard Lake?

$10/night single unit, $15/night double unit

Source: Forest Service

What time is check-in at Hazard Lake?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Forest Service

Is Hazard Lake open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Hazard Lake have?

14 sites, including 12 standard sites without power.

Source: Forest Service

Are pets allowed at Hazard Lake?

Yes, pets are allowed at Hazard Lake. Leash rules apply.

Source: Forest Service

What is there to do at Hazard Lake?

The Upper Hazard Lake Trail #169 departs directly from Hazard Lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Hazard Lake is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Granite Lake Camping Area (7.4 mi, first-come), Upper Payette Lake Campground (7.8 mi), and Grouse Campground (9.3 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby