US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 50372558).
The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Hat Creek Lakes, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:
Pick up a rental car at the airport you fly into and drive to Hat Creek Lakes.
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Look for hotels in and around Challis, ID.
Search hotels near Challis, ID on Klook
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Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.
Look up tours, activities and attraction tickets around Challis, ID on Klook.
Browse things to do near Challis, ID on Klook
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Browse boat, pontoon and kayak rentals and charters listed on GetMyBoat.
Boat rentals in Challis, ID on GetMyBoat
Listings, prices and availability are set by GetMyBoat and its hosts. Check the lake's own boating rules before you go.
The red circle marks Hat Creek Lakes.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Idaho: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).
Official IDFG pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
No public access sites are listed for this water in the OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) data.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 50372558), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
We found 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Hat Creek Lakes, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Toilets · Dogs allowed
RVs welcome
All campgrounds & RV parks in Idaho
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.8779, -114.2101). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Hat Creek Lakes. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in MT (America/Boise), and accurate to within a few minutes.
Basic freshwater tackle for a day on Hat Creek Lakes. These open Amazon search results; check your state's fishing rules for the water before you buy bait or tackle.
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Hat Creek Lakes covers about 12 acres in Challis, Idaho (Lemhi County).
Yes. We list 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.
Hat Creek Lakes touches Challis in Lemhi County, Idaho.
Know Hat Creek Lakes? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Idaho lakes & ponds · All waters in Challis