Be advised that this campground is located off a dirt road, requires a stream crossing to reach and further hiking from the parking area to the dispersed camping area. Generally, Bear Creek Road (FS241 ?) is drivable for passenger vehicles but the final stream crossing should only be attempted with a high clearance and possibly 4x4 vehicle or duel sport motorcycle. Once in the parking lot, you will need to shuffle your gear another 150-250 feet across a small wooden bridge to reach the dispersed camping sites.

The sites are very pretty and located under towering trees. The stream you crossed is full of trout. The Bear Creek MTB and hiking loop is a further 1/4 mile up the dirt road.

We have stayed several times at this campground arriving by 4x4 and duel sport motorcycles. It’s not deep enough in to the wilderness to be considered a destination campground, Lake Conasauga, about another 30 minutes of dirt road driving should be your destination if that is what you are looking for. If you are looking for the spot to spend your first night on the road or you plan to hike or ride the Bear Creek loop, then this is a great campground. It’s about a 2 hour drive from the airport and the same from downtown Atlanta. It’s about 20 minutes to Elijay which has sufficient dining and shopping options.

It’s hard to predict site availability. We have visited in October and November and saw no one else while we have seen the small parking lot full on weekends in April and May with many cars parked out on Gates Chapel Road. This is a popular spot for day hikers and MTB riders.