USDA Forest Service · Utah
Mackinaw
USDA Forest Service · Utah, United States
- Sites
- 67
- Hookups
- 67 no hookups
- Max RV length
- 125 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,894 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- MACKINAW C G LOOP C (NFSR 40063C) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Fishlake National Forest
- Nearest town
- Loa, Utah
- Address
- 138 South Main, PO BOX 129, Loa, Utah, UT, 84747
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Wildlife Viewing
62 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Mackinaw Campground is located next to Fish Lake and the Fishlake Scenic Byway in central Utah at an elevation of 9,000 feet. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing and exploring local trails.
Recreation
Fish Lake is Utah's largest natural mountain lake, covering 2,500 acres. It is famous for its 20-40 pound Mackinaw lake trout. Anglers also enjoy fishing for rainbow trout and splake. Boating, canoeing, swimming and scuba diving are popular activities.
The 5-mile Pelican Canyon Trail begins next door at Bowery Creek Campground. It leads through meadows and dense forests of spruce, pine and aspen as it climbs to the 11,633-foot Fish Lake Hightop.
The popular Lakeshore National Recreation Trail extends around the eastern side of the lake. Hikers are rewarded with stunning lake views after climbing 900 feet in elevation.
Facilities
The campground contains four group sites that can accommodate up to 20 people each. Picnic tables and fire rings with grills are provided. Several single-family sites are available as well. Most sites have lake views.
Flush toilets, showers and drinking water are provided. Roads and parking spurs are paved.
Three resorts are located in the Fish Lake Basin, offering camping and fishing supplies, RV parks with hookups, cabin and boat rentals, marinas, gas, restaurants, groceries, laundry facilities and showers. The resorts are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Natural Features
The campground sits on a sagebrush-covered hillside above the valley floor and offers views of Fish Lake. Aspen trees forest the site, providing partial shade.
Nearby Attractions
Johnson Valley Reservoir is just north of Fish Lake, offering additional fishing and boating opportunities.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 12° | -5° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 33° | 15° | -3° | 46° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 37° | 19° | 4° | 68° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 47° | 26° | 8° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 59° | 37° | 20° | 71° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 75° | 48° | 34° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 54° | 43° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 75° | 52° | 43° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 47° | 28° | 76° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 58° | 34° | 14° | 70° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 48° | 28° | 8° | 62° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 34° | 14° | -5° | 52° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Bowery Creek · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 42 sites
- Doctor Creek Group Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Mallard Bay Overflow Recreation Site · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Doctor Creek · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 34 sites
- Frying Pan · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 12 sites
All public campgrounds in Utah · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.