Peninsula Loop

The Peninsula Loop circumnavigates the full extent of the Ponderosa State Park peninsula, providing a comprehensive tour of every habitat type the park offers while delivering nearly continuous views of Payette Lake. Beginning at the main trailhead, the route traces both the east and west shorelines of the peninsula before crossing through the interior forest and wetland to complete the circuit.

Lake views from the rocky western shoreline take in the town of McCall and the snow-capped peaks of the West Mountains, while the eastern shore looks across open water toward steep forested ridgelines rising from the opposite bank. The highest point of the loop reaches a modest overlook in the pine forest interior where the full scope of the lake and surrounding mountain terrain becomes visible. Old-growth ponderosa pine dominates much of the canopy throughout, their massive trunks creating a cathedral-like atmosphere in the forest sections. The route passes through the marsh zone in the lower peninsula where birding opportunities are exceptional. This loop is the best single trail for experiencing everything Ponderosa State Park has to offer, from alpine lake scenery and old-growth forest to wetland habitat and McCall mountain town character.