Macks Creek

Macks Creek Park is a small family-friendly area offering a wide range of options for water recreation, dry camping, and day-use activities and is the only vehicle-accessible camping area at Lucky Peak Lake.  The park is open and staffed by volunteers from approximately Easter through Thanksgiving.  A kid-friendly swim cove near the center of the park offers a sandy beach area with play equipment, a buoy-enclosed shallow swim area, and a Lifejacket Loaner Station.  Macks Creek Park is a great destination for lesser-experienced campers, those with children, and others who would prefer what closer-to-home outings can offer.  

“Macks Creek Park is a great place for families or groups to experience the outdoors and water sports in a kid-friendly atmosphere,” says Park Ranger, Shana O’Rear.

Campsites at Macks Creek Park consist of a numbered site and defined impact area, one designated parking stall, a ground firegrill, a picnic table, and a lantern pole to protect trees from spike hangers and lantern scars.  Sites are well shaded by either shade structures or mature trees.  This area is “dry camping”, meaning there are no RV hook-ups, and the area lacks waterborne facilities and dump stations; however, a hand pump near the Park Host site provides potable drinking water.  Day-use is allowed along the entire shoreline of Macks Creek Park, including the shared docks, and at campsites that are not reserved.  Boaters have access to a launch ramp with a courtesy dock for easy loading and unloading though truck and trailer parking must occur along the shoulder of Arrowrock Road a short distance away.  Lighted restrooms, an emergency phone, and regular ranger patrols through the summer months give added peace of mind.

Please consider the following when planning a trip to Macks Creek Park:

  • Macks Creek Park reservations are accepted for stays between May 15th and September 15th each year and taken up to six months in advance.  Those wishing to arrive to their own, reserved site must register online at www.recreation.gov or phone 877-444-6777 .  Reservation fees are $10 per night for most sites.  Reserved sites not checked-in will be released after 24 hours without refund.  Reservations are highly recommended during summer months due to popularity.
  • Quiet hours are from 10:00PM through 6:00AM.
  • Use of the Macks Creek Park boat launch area is free for reserved campers only, otherwise a $5 Launch Fee is collected at the honor vault.  Also, visitors may use sites not reserved on a first-come first-served basis for free up to three days, but may be displaced by incoming reservations.  Check site markers for availability and the date of the next incoming reservation.
  • Parking is in painted, marked stalls only at Macks Creek Park.  Arrowrock Road shoulders accommodate additional use on all but the busiest of days. 
  • Dogs are to be leashed in this area unless accompanied at the shoreline to swim and fetch.  No pets nor glass containers are allowed at the swimming area.
  • This area, as all of Lucky Peak Lake, is “Pack It In – Pack It Out."  There are no nearby dumpsters available to deposit bagged trash.  Campers with reserved sites can obtain a voucher allowing free entry to Lucky Peak State Park’s Spring Shores Marina three miles away to deposit garbage in one of the large dumpsters provided there.
  • Potable water is available by hand pump located near the Park Host site. 
  • Wood and charcoal fires must be kept in Agency-provided grills and be attended at all times.  Portable charcoal grills are not allowed.  LPG and liquid fuel cooking stoves are allowed.
  • Cellular phone service does not exist at this location.  The nearest phone is located at the Park Host Site – a roadside speakerphone pedestal providing free emergency 911 calls as well as free local calls.
  • Macks Creek Park is not gated closed at night.
  • Placement of items at a site for the purpose of reserving a site is prohibited.

Contact Us

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lucky Peak Dam and Lake
9723 East Highway 21
Boise, Idaho 83716-9393
Phone: 208-343-0671
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30AM to 4:00PM, except Federal holidays.
E-mail:  
LuckyPeakLake@usace.army.mil

 

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