Ponderosa State Park occupies a peninsula extending into Payette Lake at the northeast edge of McCall and includes the separate North Beach unit near the lake’s northern end. Spanning 1,515 acres, it is a year-round center for outdoor recreation, with hiking and biking trails, guided walks, evening programs, beaches, and picnic areas in warmer seasons, and skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Wildlife watching also attracts visitors. The park’s significance is broadened by the University of Idaho Field Campus, which adds educational and research activity to this recreational landscape.