Fort Mountain State Park offers elevated camping experiences in Georgia's mountains at 3,000 feet elevation. Visitors can choose from traditional campsites or specialty accommodations while exploring the area's diverse ecosystem and historical sites. The park sits adjacent to the Cohutta Wilderness, one of the largest wilderness areas in the eastern United States.
What to do
Waterfall hunting: 5 miles from campground. At Cloudland Canyon State Park, visitors can hike to several spectacular cascades. According to one camper, "The trails are what really makes this an all-around great campground. Several hikes for all levels. We did the Benton Falls hike and it was lovely! 3 miles RT. Fall color was just peaking."
River rafting: 30-minute drive. The Ocoee River provides world-class whitewater adventures near Adventures Unlimited Campground. A visitor noted, "The Ocoee River was the site for the 1996 Olympics whitewater events. There are numerous outfitters for everything you can do on the river, and this place is the best we've visited."
Backcountry camping: Cohutta Wilderness. For those seeking solitude, the Hickory Creek and Conasauga River Intersection Backcountry Campground offers primitive sites. "This particular campsite was a really great spot for group trips. There are many large campgrounds and it is right on a large river so there is plenty of water to purify and drink."
What campers like
Wildlife encounters: Fort Mountain campers regularly spot native wildlife. One visitor reported, "For our camping group, this place was amazing. We had bear visitors, something they'll warn you about upon arrival. The bears just added to the appeal of this place though."
Platform camping: Unique tent experience. Fort Mountain offers raised camping platforms. A camper explained, "I'll be honest. I've never slept outside of a tent. I've always wanted to, but never had the guts to do it... The site itself was in a beautiful location, had a hand pump on site, and also had a shared bear proof storage box."
Lake activities: Swimming and fishing. Woodring Campground at Carters Lake provides water recreation options. A visitor mentioned, "Carters Lake is a great deep lake, clean and private. Bring your kayaks cause y'all wanna explore the lake plenty of little swimming holes."
What you should know
Bear activity: Common in area. Multiple campgrounds report bear sightings. A Fort Mountain camper stated, "Two other couples at two separate platform sites had encounters with a bear the same weekend I was here. Needless to say, I did it! I slept outside of a tent!"
Elevation challenges: Some steep roads. Amicalola Falls State Park has significant elevation changes. "I read a lot before my trip, so I knew to expect the 25% grade incline going up to the campground. I wasn't however expecting the challenging parking in the campsite."
Campsite selection: Varies widely. At Cloudland Canyon, site differences matter. "The East Rim campground is the thing of nightmares - sites on top of each other, no vegetation, no trees, right next to road, zero privacy, but next to outlooks. The West Rim campground is VASTLY superior with tons of privacy, tree cover, great terraces."
Tips for camping with families
Hot weather strategies: Lake options. For summer trips, Chester Frost Park offers cooling alternatives. "This place is definitely somewhere you wanna bring your kids they would love it! There is a man made beach with a playground and loads of camping lots next to the river!"
Insect awareness: Seasonal concerns. Be prepared for bugs, especially in summer months. One camper at Chilhowee Recreation Area advised, "The one downside is that the site can be particularly buggy certain times of year since it is right on the water. I would highly suggest checking out this area when the leaves are changing in the fall."
Glamping near Chatsworth, Georgia: Comfort options. For families wanting luxury camping near Chatsworth, several parks offer glamping alternatives to traditional tent sites. At Cloudland Canyon, "The yurts are spaced away from each other and off the road, and offer a lot of privacy; the loop that serves the yurts is not connected to any other road, and has a shelter, playground, and bathhouse."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Check ahead. Some sites require equipment for leveling. One RVer at Fort Mountain noted, "The site had about a 5 inch difference sloping towards the road. I used rocker blocks maxed out (about 4 inches in height) and still was not level."
Road navigation: Some challenging access. Many glamping destinations around Chatsworth have steep roads. An RVer at Chilhowee Recreation Area warned, "Coming up the mountain has some steep grades and a few switch backs that you can't see around. There are often oncoming vehicles who are often driving to fast and not considering those of us in large vehicles."
Dump station access: Plan accordingly. Some parks have limited facilities. As one Chilhowee camper explained, "There is only one dump station and it's on the other side of the campground. From the B loop, you have to traverse about a 120 degree switchback to get to it. My friend who was there pulling a 5th wheel decided not to try it."
