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Dispersed Camping

Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area

5 Reviews

Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area, near Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, is a fantastic spot for those who crave a remote camping experience. This area is perfect for groups, offering a large field where you can set up camp and enjoy the great outdoors without the hassle of amenities.

Visitors have raved about the stunning views and the peaceful atmosphere, making it an ideal place for stargazing, especially on clear nights. One camper mentioned, “Go here on a new moon night in the summer and you're sure to have a great night of uninterrupted beauty!” Just keep in mind that there are no facilities, so come prepared with everything you need.

The location is a hit with hikers and mountain bikers, thanks to nearby trails like the Emery Creek Trail and Tear Britches Trail. The area is also known for its wildlife, so be cautious of bears and remember to store your food properly. As one reviewer noted, “A fed bear is a dead bear—please don't leave any food out.”

If you’re looking for a place to escape the hustle and bustle, Ball Field offers a rugged charm with its gravel roads and natural beauty. Just be ready for a bit of a drive to get there, and you’ll be rewarded with a serene camping experience surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature.

Description

US Forest Service

Chattahoochee National Forest

A large grassy field located approximately 1 mile from Lake Conasauga Recreation area. Primitive camping--no amenities. Campers may utilitize Lake Conasauga recreation opportunities by parking in the picnic area parking lot, which has a $5 parking fee, or the boat ramp parking area. Emery Creek trail departs from the Ball Field, and Tearbritches Trailhead is just across the road for those interested in Cohutta Wilderness hiking.

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Location

Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area is located in Georgia

Coordinates

34.8558 N
84.657989 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Good
Verizon
Poor
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Poor

Site Types

Dispersed

Features

For Campers

Phone Service
Alcohol

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

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Contact

General Info

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Drive Time

59 min from Cleveland
1 hr 21 min from Chattanooga
1 hr 37 min from Rome
1 hr 50 min from Gainesville

Gabrielle D.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 16, 2022

Group camping

First location was Hickey Gap, we got there around 1 on a Friday and it was full so we headed to the primitive group camping site. Gravel road, lots of rocks included, and dust but if your not worried about your car do it! We had an suv but I saw a handful of sedans that made it up. We got to the group site at 1:20 or so and there was only one person at first but slowly people start trickling in. We stayed 2 nights but a lot of people stayed for 1. The look out driving up is awesome and the lake it gorgeous. Watch out for bears.

Month of VisitOctober

(12) View All

Steve V.

Legend

Reviewed Apr. 19, 2022

Large Dispersed Camping Field

This is a large field for dispersed camping along Conasauga Lake Road that is popular with both hikers (Emery Creek Trail and Tear Britches Trail both have trailheads here) and Overlanders (site is on the Big Frog Loop and Georgia Traverse). There are multiple fire rings established around the field and this field can handle many groups. No water or facilities here, but you can go down to the Lake Conasauga Campground about a mile away and use their facilities for a $5 fee. The field is fairly sloped, so you want to have some shoring if you are in a trailer, roof top tent, or van.

Month of VisitApril

(9) View All

Roy B.

Guide

Reviewed Nov. 6, 2021

Grassy Field in forested mountainous area.

This is a primitive group camping area close to Lake Conasauga. GPS is 34.86064073010609,-84.63659794105651. (Photos and this review are from my last stay here on 31 Oct- 02 Nov 2021.)

The camping field is at the base of Bald Mountain, altitude 4005'. Nearby Tearbritches Trail will take you to the summit of Bald Mountain and then down to the Conasauga River. The Emery Creek Trail is at the back of the camping area. There are some fire pits in the open field.

The cell connection is intermittent and usually only one bar(or no cell).

This area is fairly remote and the rough gravel forest service roads are best traveled by a higher clearance vehicle. 2x2 usually works ok though. (It takes patience and a while to get here.) This is a popular mountain bike area and the cyclists can easily hit speeds of 30MPH on the sketchy downhills.

Month of VisitNovember

(6) View All

Roy B.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 13, 2021

Remote. Field.

34.860688452654024,-84.63670121000321

Stayed here a number of times during each of the four seasons. Fairly remote for eastern U.S, (but I have watched, over the past 2 decades, Atlanta grow northward, and a lot of development in Ellijay and Blue Ridge areas, and it is a little depressing). Access is by gravel roads. There are bears in the area and they love food. (A fed bear is a dead bear-please don't leave any food out and scare them away if they come around.)

No amenities. Lake Conasauga is nearby which has some amenities. One can hike up to the top of nearby Bald Mountain and then hike down to the Conasauga River. One can look for butterflies, other insects, birds, flowers, etc. There are many trails in the Cohutta Wilderness, which is just to the north.

I will post some photos of nearby Bald Mountain and the trail head for Tearbritches Trail. Other photos of the area here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/albums/72157634085883873

(N34 51.670 W84 38.120) This leads over the highest western-most mountain in the eastern U.S., and then down to Bray Field at the junction of Tearbritches Creek and the Conasauga River(N34 53.897 W84 37.296)- It is a long steep grade down to the Conasauga(1-way distance is 3.4 miles)| 30 August 2013

Here are some notes I took about the vegetation in the area:

The north-northeasterly facing slope of Bald Mountain within a half-mile of the summit, elevation 4005'. Mostly New York Fern(Thelypteris noveboracensis) here, but also saw Hay-scented(Dennstaedtia punctilobula), Cinnamon(Osmundastrum cinnamomeum), and Interrupted Ferns(Osmunda claytoniana) in this immediate area. New York Ferns are common throughout the widerness| Tearbritches Trail, Cohutta Wilderness, N. Georgia Mountains| 30 August 2013

Month of VisitAugust

(4) View All

Tyler J.

Ranger

Reviewed Mar. 19, 2020

Dispersed & wonderful view of Southern sky

This is one of my favorite types of spots: remote, little light pollution, and deep in the mountains. I searched on terrain maps for some of the best south facing skies for a great view of the belt of the milky way. Go here on a new moon night in the summer and you're sure to have a great night of uninterrupted beauty!