Meadow Lake Campground — Hotel in Challis

Fantastic high mountain lake. Located about 6 miles off the HWY. Up the steep and narrow dirt road will lead you to a slice of heaven. Open from around the first part of July - first weekend of September. Weather all permitting. They recommend trailers under 24ft because most of the sites are shorter. We have taken trailers over 30ft up there with no problems. There is a pay box right when you enter camp. Take exact cash. The camp ground is managed by the forest service has 17 campsites. 4 are double sites and 13 single. 2 are reservable. 2 outhouses. Nice gravel RV pads and tent pads per side. Each site also has a picnic table and fire ring. There is a small well for drinking water only but it runs out mid season. Great day use area also with a few tables and fire rings. The fish and game do keep the lake stocked for fishing. No motored boats allowed. No paved roads or paths but they do have accessible parking spots near the lake. The campground also has a few smaller hikes that head off from camp. There is no garbage cans on site so pack it in and pack it out. No cell service either. Pets need to be leashed and picked up after please. Keep an eye out for wild life. We saw deer, mountain goats, eagles and many other birds and chipmunks. It is bear country so...

Meadow lake is a great place to take the family. It’s a developed campground meaning there are tent pads and fire rings with cooking grate, water spigots, vault toilets. These things are great for the novice outdoorsmen (youngsters) to get a feel for spending time in the woods. There are foot trails to hike up and around the campground and the surrounding mountains or take a stroll around part of the lake (the rest requires light scrambling). If fishing is your thing you can do that too. Not much in the way of mountain biking but that’s ok cause the little ones will be plenty entertained practicing shifting gears around...

This place is the definition of storybook alpine camping. Very near the tree line, massive mountains loom over a pristine alpine lake. Weather turns on a dime. I've camped here since I was a kid, though it's become very popular and it's hard to get a spot if you show up on a weekend. Lake has great fishing and boating (no motorized). There's a hike to a mountain saddle to the southwest that is HIGHLY recommended and has incredible views. Just a few miles up the hill from Gilmore ghost town (which looks more like a redneck city these days). One of the best easily accessible alpine lakes in the Rockies...