Macks Creek Campground

We made reservations way in advance. When we arrived, there was already a camper fully set up and apparently had been there for a while. The ranger “apologized” but obviously did not do their job properly because EVERY OTHER rec.gov site we have booked in the past made sure there was a reserved sign on each of our campsites. They should have gone though the reservation system and checked ahead for future reservations. Fortunately the person we were traveling with had the campsite next to us and there was enough room for both small campers. It was very frustrating.

There wasn't a tag that my site showing my reservation. An old reservation tag was posted on my site. Another camper was in my site when I arrived with no sign of leaving. I parked at the tent parking lot and gave them an hour to leave my reserved site. There wasn't anyone in #4 and no mention of a reservation. All the other sites had occupants - a rare occurrence. Later that day, a single lady showed up in site #4 and told me she had that site reserved until Friday morning. No sign of a reservation posted. She told me she travelled to Gowen Field to work each day and was sleeping in her car. Because there wasn't a notice of her reservation on the site and no camp host on duty, I told some campers that it was reserved before they were all set up. They assumed they could camp there because there wasn't any notice of it being reserved.
It was little annoying for me to have to "police" her site though I didn't want her to arrive after working to find someone else set up at her site.
One very positive thing, the toilet was very clean with plenty of toilet paper.
I camp 2 -3 times there a year.

Super easy place to get to and set up. It’s nice that there is trees between each spot as it makes you feel a little more separated. Beautiful views.

Really cool spot, however the pictures made it look like the spots were drive-up and they were not. Be aware these plots are for tents only. (Spots that are not for RV’s)

Everyone is so nice

Nice clean quiet place to camp.

I was pretty upset that when spot 13 was available for one night, I booked it. Just to have a campfire dinner and sleep under the stars when these all are usually booked. I wanted spot 14 or 15 with gorgeous views but they were booked. I was stuck with a back campsite and had to look at two premium sites with absolutely no one there for the whole reserved spots. This is happening all over Idaho, everywhere. Reserved spots with empty camps. When are we going to fix this, and please, if you're not going to show up for camp spots... Let the camp know so if someone who love to appreciate the wilderness, scenery and lake can actually rent the best spot. I don't have money to book sites all over Idaho to use just in case I go, WTH. Reserving has become worse than first comes first served. Camps show booked, you get there, they're empty. There are cutoff times to report, then let camp host charge one night walk-in people and Idaho could earn extra, instead of letting no show blowhards block decent campers that beg and prey for a romantic nice spot for a special occasion. Be decent, Idaho be smart. System doesn't have to be broken, fix it please.
3rd generation Boise born, you yourselves know the issue, give back camp sites to people who are happy to enjoy their share of the wild, and flag no shows who don't cancel often. Bar them after time to first come. Sorry, but if you can't make it, it doesn't mean you can't be decent and cancel so we have better choices. Idaho, people who reserve are supposed to notify the camp reservation as to when their later arrival will be. If they don't do that and it's clearly stated to do so by a certain time before evening, then it's both your responsibilities. It's so sad that it's so hard to reserve spots that you want to share with others and yet we're sitting in the back. I reserved it anyways, I will enjoy outside and nature regardless. Fix this please.

None

Great spot so close to Boise. My only complaint is that people were driving by at all hours of night which was loud.

We had a large group, we ended up day camping and not overnight camping due to a monsoon weather advisory and the smoke filled sky. Even with all that, we enjoyed our time at Mack’s Creek and on the water at Lucky Peak. The only downside is pit toilets, it would be a great upgrade to have flush toilets.