Paynes Creek is a census-designated place (CDP) in Tehama County, California. It is 23 miles (37 km) east of Red Bluff. Its ZIP code is 96075 and telephone prefixes follow (530-597-xxxx), which is shared with the town of Dales, about 9 miles (14 km) to the west. The town is named for the eponymous watercourse Payne's Creek. Paynes Creek sits at an elevation of 1,949 feet (594 m).