BLM · Challis, ID

Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site

The Joseph T. Fallini Campground, situated on the banks of the Mackay Reservoir, is the only recreational site in Challis Field Office that offers full RV hookups and features a diversity of other facilities. This scenic area has a gorgeous view of the Lost River Range and offers recreational opportunities such as boating in the summer and ice fishing in late winter. Mackay Reservoir offers a boat ramp providing access to the reservoir for jet skiing, water skiing and sailing. Other boat launches along the reservoir (and one downstream of the dam) are also available.

Reservable · Recreation.gov28 sitesFull hookupsPets okFires okTents only

More like this: electric hookups in Idaho · full hookups in Idaho · reservable in Idaho · tent only in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho · group sites in Idaho

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Joe T. Fallini Recreation SiteJoe T. Fallini Recreation SiteJoe T. Fallini Recreation SiteJoe T. Fallini Recreation Site
Photos courtesy of BLM · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Bartlett Creek Rx (prescribed burn) · 26 mi away · 2,000 acres
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

RV with electric22
Tent-only4
group shelter nonelectric2
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

28 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontFiresAccessible
RV Site 16Chukar LoopRV electricPull-throughPartial15/20 ampYes / NoLakefrontYes
RV Site 18Chukar LoopRV electricNo
RV Site 20Chukar LoopRV electricNo
Host Site 15Chukar LoopRV electricPartial30 ampYes / –LakefrontYes
Group ShelterChukar LoopGroup Shelter NonelectricPartialNoLakefrontYesYes
Double RV Site 17Chukar LoopRV electricBack-inPartialNoYes / –LakefrontYes
Double RV Site 19Chukar LoopRV electricPartialNoYes / –LakefrontYes
Double RV Site 21Chukar LoopRV electricNo
Double RV Site 22Chukar LoopRV electricNo
Dump StationDump LoopGroup Shelter NonelectricNo

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water, sewer
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesThis is fee site, and payment for camping and use of amenities is required. These fees stay with this recreation site and are used for enhancing and maintaining recreation facilities and opportunities.
AccessibilitySites Group Shelter, RV Site 2, Host Site 1, Tent Site 3 are listed accessible

There are 26 camp sites, an RV hook ups and dump station, restrooms, drinking water, boat ramp and interpretive trail.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.75 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.51 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.72 inches of precipitationApril: 0.88 inches of precipitationMay: 1.23 inches of precipitationJune: 1.45 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.65 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.68 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.77 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.84 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.53 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.87 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 19.0°F averageFebruary: 23.3°F averageMarch: 32.9°F averageApril: 41.8°F averageMay: 50.8°F averageJune: 58.0°F averageJuly: 66.6°F averageAugust: 64.7°F averageSeptember: 56.3°F averageOctober: 44.2°F averageNovember: 30.2°F averageDecember: 19.2°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Mackay Lost Rvr RS, 4 miles from the campground at 5,897 feet, station USC00105462 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 10 inches a year.

Getting there

North of Mackay, Idaho and south of Challis, Idaho. Travel north from Mackay on Highway 93 for approximately 6 miles. The site is on the west side of the highway and has a view of the spectacular Mt. McCaleb in the Lost River Range

Nearest townChallis, Idaho
Coordinates43.9614° N, 113.6795° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Bartlett Creek Rx

    26 mi from the campground · 2,000 acres

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

Supplies & services

Dump stationFree Dumping Station ↗29.9 mi

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

Explore

Video

RV Camping in Idaho//Joe T Fallini BLM Campground Info/Tour

Worth a stop

  • Mackay Mine Hill Historical Self-Guided Tour
  • Borah Peak Wilderness Study Area
  • Borah Peak Trailhead
  • Big Lost River
  • Chilly Slough Wildlife Conservation Area
  • Lost River Museum
  • Craters of the Moon National Monument
  • Lower Cedar Creek Waterfall

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 3.4 mi
    Lost River Peak Access
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 3.9 mi
    Mt. Breitenbach Access
    0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 4.1 mi
    West Fork Navarre
    3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 4.8 mi
    East Fork Navarre
    1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 4.9 mi
    Lower Cedar Creek
    1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 5 mi
    Lower Cedar Cr BLM Connector
    0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more

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

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

This site resides on the banks on Mackay Reservoir surrounded by the Lost River Range to the east and Knob Mountains to the west.

Recreation

Vistiors can engage in a variety of recreation opportunities including (ice) fishing, camping, picnicking, wildlife viewing, nature walking, boating, and star-gazing.

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 Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site?

Sites at Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site?

This is fee site, and payment for camping and use of amenities is required. These fees stay with this recreation site and are used for enhancing and maintaining recreation facilities and opportunities.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site have?

28 sites, including 22 RV sites with electric, 4 tent-only sites, and 2 group shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site?

Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Does Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site have hookups?

Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site?

Yes, pets are allowed at Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site?

Sites Group Shelter, RV Site 2, Host Site 1, and Tent Site 3 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is the nearest town to Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site?

Challis, Idaho. Mackay Mine Hill Historical Self-Guided Tour

Source: Getting there

What if Joe T. Fallini Recreation Site is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Loristica Group Campground (11.4 mi), Mt. Borah Trailhead and Camping Area (14.2 mi, first-come), and Lake Creek Trailhead & Campground (17.4 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby