Best Equestrian Camping near Rome, GA

If you’re looking for amazing scenery, this is not the place. It is, however, a free, primitive camping site just a short 5 min drive (or walk) from the Rocktown trailhead. The close proximity to the many wonders of Rocktown is a dream for climbers. Meant we could spend most of the climbing, rather than making a long approach. My group went for several days over thanksgiving 2018, and the weather was absolutely beautiful. Nights turned a bit chilly, so make sure to pack layers if camping in the fall or winter season. I think you’re technically supposed to have a Georgia outdoors permit to stay here (which we did), but we did not encounter a single ranger during our six-day stay. Check the Rocktown forum on Mountain Project for up-to-date info on permit requirements.

The road leading up to the campsite is extremely rough and washed out. We were in a Subaru Outback, and it was a very slow-going, bumpy ride — we bottomed out several times.

You can pretty much set up camp anywhere there’s open ground. Plenty of trees around for hammock camping as well. My group of 10 people had no problem finding open areas to set up camp together. There are several man-made fire pits, and plenty of wood and brush lying around to scavenge for fire-making. There are no water hookups, so make sure to pack plenty of water with you. There is also an area at the campground for equestrian camping, though we didn’t check that out, as, alas, none of us had horses.

I stumbled upon this campground after changing route on my trip. There wasn't a lot of information online, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This place blew me away!! Campsites are only $10 for the night which is truly a bargain when you see what you get. The campground is used mainly for rock climbing and the rock formations are incredible. You are way up on a mountain and the views are spectacular. You can pick a spot right next to a mountain rock or pick a spot with views for miles and miles that are breathtaking. The bathrooms and showers were close by and clean.

Heard about this place from a co-worker and I was not disappointed.

Check in is easy, either call and leave a deposit or drive up and pay. They let you peruse the sites before paying which was nice.

Hosts stop by to introduce themselves and how to contact them if needs arise.

Everything is well maintained from the roads, campsites, unpaved trails, and bathrooms. I was impressed with how clean everything was despite being a campground.

Trails are great for running or just nice stroll, and there is a small lake onsite that could be used to fish with convenient benches around it.

The only downside would be that the campground is close to a highway, so occasionally there will be loud subs or burnouts, but not to the point that I’d remove a star.

Overall great experience and will be camping here frequently.

Campground Review:

Over the past year my wife and I have gotten much more into rock climbing and particularly into bouldering since we have such great gyms in birmingham. We were very excited to visit Cherokee rock village because of the amazing climbing and the great views. We were not disappointed at all. The climbing seemed to go on and on and you would never run out of top rope, lead, and bouldering routes and the area is well maintained. In terms of camping you pay an additional $5 per car and it is a free for all in terms of where you can set up a site. There is also a pump for drinking water. The camping here is clearly set up for people who want to climb and stay over the night which was perfect for our purpose. There is also a playground for kids and a covered picnic area that could be used for groups. We did some hiking in the rocks and they were impressive to see even without having climbing gear. If you are in the area and willing to take a little drive up the mountain this site is well worth your time.

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Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At this campground, I tried out the new TredAgain Hawthorne Boots. It is really great to have a pair of shoes that can go straight from the office to the trail and the style of these boots are perfect for both situations. Some of the things I really loved about the Hawthorne boots are:

1. Style: I initially picked these shoes because I liked how they looked on the website and I was even happier with them when they arrived in the mail. The design and color is very unique and worked with the clothes I wore to the office but also fit in out on the trail. The leather is a dark green and the folds at the top of the laces are very interesting. I also liked how the earthy colors keep them looking clean even when hiking outdoors.
2. Comfort: These shoes are made with recycled tire rubber soles, which I discuss more below, and have a very thick and impact absorbent base. When walking around this was a wonderful feature and they were incredibly comfortable. It also makes them very durable across multiple terrains. I would say they are perfect for light trail hiking but probably not suited for any heavier duty trekking.
3. Environmental Impact: One of the major pluses to buying shoes from Tredagain is that they make them from recycled tire rubber that would otherwise be sent to a landfill. Being an outdoor enthusiast I am always trying to decrease my waste footprint and these shoes were a great step in that direction.

The shoes do run a little big so maybe go a half size smaller than what you usually wear.