This article appeared in North Georgia Now Magazine's Summer 2007 issue:

Camping in the North Georgia Mountains

Gil Carter

The mountains of North Georgia are a special place. The peace and quiet found in these forested mountains provides the perfect retreat from an increasingly busy and noisy world. One popular way to enjoy this peace and quiet is to gather friends and family and go camping. Camping provides families quality time together, couples a romantic getaway, and individuals quiet solitude.

The North Georgia mountain region provides excellent access to a variety of camping opportunities. The types of camping opportunities available are as diverse as the area’s geography. Campsites can be found high in the mountains, along a wilderness trail, near a cascading creek or waterfall, on a lakeshore, or by a river. Developed and improved campgrounds, primitive roadside campsites, and wilderness backpacking camping can all be found in the area.

As the heat of summer approaches, many will be looking for a cool place to camp. Boating, fishing, and swimming, beckon campers to nearby lakes. Carters Lake, southwest of Ellijay, has five campgrounds, offering sites for RV’s, tents, primitive, and even boat or hike in camping. For RV’s and those looking for some facilities near their campsite, there is Woodring Branch and Doll Mountain Recreation Areas. They both offer sites with electrical and water hookups, showers, and bathrooms. Both also offer tent only sites with no hookups, and Woodring Branch has primitive sites. The sites with hookups range from $18-22 per night, tent sites without hookups $14, and the Woodring primitive sites $8. Reservations can be made up to 240 days in advance online at Recreation.gov or by phone at 877-444-6777. Also available at the Woodring Brach Recreation Area are 12 primitive, boat and hike in sites. There is a basic toilet, but no drinking water here.

For something less developed on Carters Lake, campers could head to Harris Branch or Ridgeway Recreation areas. Harris Branch Campground has bathroom and showers, but Ridgeway’s campground only has a hand water pump and vault bathroom. Harris Branch’s 10 primitive campsites are $14 per night, and Ridgeway’s 25 primitive sites are $8. These campsites cannot be reserved and are available on a first come basis. Harris Branch does have a group campsite available at $50 a night and can be reserved by calling 706-276-4545 May through September.

Lake Blue Ridge, northeast of Ellijay, is another sparkling, cool mountain lake nearby. Even though the once popular Lake Blue Ridge Campground is now designated day use only, the Forest Service still maintains Morganton Point for camping. This campground consists of 43 sites with bathrooms and showers. Developed campsites cost $14 per night on the waterfront, $12 off the waterfront, and $25 for a double site. Sites can be reserved online at Recreation.gov or by phone at 877-444-6777.

Northeast of Ellijay lies the high mountain country of the Cohutta Wilderness and Wildlife Management Area. This area is filled with camping opportunities ranging from backpacking trailside camping, isolated roadside car camping, to primitive campgrounds.

One of the more popular campgrounds, Lake Conasauga Campground, lies along its 19-acre scenic lake, with toilets and drinking water available. Its 35 sites cost $10 per night. Near this campground is a group camping area on an old Cherokee ball field, which is free with only a vault toilet and no water.

Unlike the Lake Conasauga Campground, most other campgrounds in the Cohutta area only offer vault toilets with no running water. These campgrounds are Hickey Gap with five sites, Bear Creek with dispersed camping, both free, Jacks River Fields with six sites at $5 a night, Cottonwood Patch dispersed camping at $8, with the latter two allowing horses.

The Cohutta Wilderness itself is indeed a “wild” place. By definition, there can be no manmade intrusions into the wilderness. As a result, there are no “improved” campsites within the wilderness. Camping in this area is truly primitive, and is allowed anywhere, as long as Forest Service signage prohibiting camping is not present. Hiking and backpacking is the preferred method to explore this area. To protect and preserve this precious forest, it is recommended to utilize a previously impacted campsite rather than create a new one. When caught in a situation where existing campsites are few and far between, and a backpacker must stop and establish camp, the campsite’s impact should be kept to a minimum, and after breaking camp, the space should be restored to its pristine condition.

The Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area, to the east of Ellijay, is home to the beginning of both the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails, and primitive, trailside camping can be found on these trails, with the same general regulations as those in the Cohutta Wilderness. With both areas, and with the current, persistent drought we are experiencing, it is important to heed any warnings or prohibitions in regards to open fires.

For those who do not want to have to climb a mountain to get to their campsite, many car camping spots can be found along Forest Service roads within the National Forest. Respect should be given to any area displaying a sign prohibiting camping, and camping should be limited to previously impacted areas. The Forest Service has just published a new and updated map, which is helpful for navigating these areas.

Last, but certainly not least, is the consideration of leaving behind a clean campsite. Too often campsites are fouled with litter. Not only does this create an eyesore, it also discourages their further use. When camping, please be responsible and clean up all litter and trash. If there was trash is found when entering a campsite, clean it up too. Not only does this create a pleasant campsite for your use, but allows others to enjoy it after you.

With such great and diverse camping opportunities available in the North Georgia Mountains, there is no excuse not to get outdoors. Take a hike, go fishing, or do nothing.  It is all nearby, and is an inexpensive way to spend real quality time in the great outdoors.

Gil, and his wife Collin, own and operate North Georgia Mountain Outfitters, a full-service hiking, camping, and backpacking retailer. They have both been hiking in the North Georgia area most of their lives, and offer visitors expert advice regarding area trails and attractions, lead hikes, give presentations, and work closely with local organizations, to promote awareness of the beautiful natural resources the area has to offer. Visit them in East Ellijay at 49 Oak Street, behind the Conoco gas station at Highway 515 and First Avenue, online a HikeNorthGeorgia.com, or call 706-698-HIKE(4453).