Best Dispersed Camping near Cisco, GA

Dispersed camping near Cisco, Georgia centers around several primitive sites in the Cohutta Wilderness and Cherokee National Forest. Free camping options include Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area, SongBird Trail Camp, and Murrays Lake Primitive, all located on public forest lands. The Conasauga River area offers multiple dispersed sites with creek and river access, including Conasauga River Camp and several sites in Tennessee just north of the Georgia border. Most sites are located on unimproved forest service roads requiring careful navigation.

Access to these dispersed camping areas typically requires travel on rough gravel forest roads where high-clearance vehicles are recommended. The Ball Field site sits at the base of Bald Mountain with nearby trailhead access, while other sites are positioned along creeks and rivers. No drinking water, electricity, or sanitation facilities are available at these primitive locations. Cell service is reported as intermittent or non-existent in most areas. Roads leading to camping areas can become challenging after rain, with several sites featuring notable elevation changes and potential mud conditions.

The primitive camping areas around Cisco provide opportunities for hiking on trails like Tearbritches and Emery Creek. Campers have access to natural water features including the Conasauga River and various creeks. Several camping areas accommodate multiple vehicles and setups, making them suitable for small group gatherings. Wildlife sightings are common, with bears present throughout the region requiring proper food storage. Local reviews mention the remoteness as both a challenge and benefit. "This is fairly remote for eastern U.S.," notes one camper about Ball Field camping area, while another mentions that "all sites have at least 1 fire ring, most had multiple" when describing primitive camping along Big Creek.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Cisco, Georgia (37)

    1. Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area

    5 Reviews
    Crandall, GA
    8 miles
    Website

    "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.) "

    "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"

    2. Jack's River Falls Trail/Cohutta Wilderness Backcountry Group Camp

    4 Reviews
    Cisco, GA
    9 miles

    "This is a tough trail but good for teens looking to challenge themselves in the back country. The views are amazing with rock falls. Camping is primitive as back country can be but worth the trek."

    "Obviously very close to the river to filter water from. We didn't see any wildlife at this site, but we did see a copperhead at another earlier in the trip, so be aware!"

    3. Conasauga River Camp

    2 Reviews
    Cisco, TN
    6 miles

    "Lovely little spot next to a very swimmable and warm crystal clear river - very popular with locals, and I imagine would be packed on weekends."

    "My go-to spot gets picked up during the fall A lot but best dispersed site I’ve found in a while"

    4. Conasauga River - Dispersed Site Sheeds Creek Road

    1 Review
    Cisco, TN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 338-3300

    "Right on the river and pit toilets close by."

    6. SongBird Trail Camp (Cohutta WMA)

    1 Review
    Crandall, GA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 695-6736

    7. Lost Creek - Cherokee NF

    9 Reviews
    Reliance, TN
    21 miles
    Website

    "The lost cove campground can be found deep in the wilderness of the Cherokee National Forest outside of Benton, TN. The campground is operated and maintained by the USFS."

    "We chose a spot next to the creek. Was clear and flowing due to a lot of rain the few days before we arrived. Sites had concrete picnic tables and a pad. We had to clean ours when we arrived."

    8. Big Creek Primitive Camping Area

    1 Review
    Reliance, TN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 338-3300

    "This is a great off grid camping spot along a creek. There are about 7 spots here with most of them each able to hold multiple vehicles and set ups."

    9. Creekside Camp

    1 Review
    Reliance, TN
    13 miles

    "No picnic tables or pit toilets. Flat campsites next to a very nice creek."

    10. Goforth Creek Campground A

    2 Reviews
    Reliance, TN
    16 miles
    Website

    "This campsite is a backcountry site located along the Goforth Creek trail and is the closest to the parking area. It is also the largest of the sites with room for several tents."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Cisco, GA

66 Reviews of 37 Cisco Campgrounds


  • Steve V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2022

    Big Creek Primitive Camping Area

    Remote Primitive Camping

    This is a great off grid camping spot along a creek. There are about 7 spots here with most of them each able to hold multiple vehicles and set ups. We had 3 vehicles (two with rooftop tents and one with a small teardrop trailer) and we still had room for more set ups in the spot we set up in. All the sites have at least 1 fire ring, most had multiple.

    This is primitive camping, so there are no facilities (no bathhouse, no power, no dump station, no trash, ect). It's all pack it in, pack it out. We had no service with Verizon. 

    This is also bear country, so you need to practice bear safety with your food and trash. We did not see any bears in camp, but did spot one just down the road the morning we were leaving. 

    There is hiking in the area and there are areas in the creek deep enough for wading and soaking. 

    This is along Forest Service Road 221 which this section of FS 221 shares driving trails such as the Big Frog Loop, the Georgia Traverse, and the Trans America Trail (TAT), so there could be lots of traffic with overlanders, adventure bikers, and off-roaders.

  • hThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 4, 2024

    Hidden Creek Campground

    Pretty Decent Place to Stay

    A little farther off the highway than I wanted to go, but definitely a solid free campsite. There are a few substantial pot holes, so wouldn’t recommend for someone driving a super low vehicle. Also GPS isn’t perfect. It will take u to someone’s private property next door. Look for the big wooden sign that indicates that it is for public use.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2024

    Creekside Camp

    Very primitive

    No picnic tables or pit toilets. Flat campsites next to a very nice creek.

  • Cole T.
    May. 14, 2021

    Prentice Cooper State Forest Dispersed

    Great

    Prentice Cooper is an amazing place and offers two campgrounds and several backcountry camping spots. There is a campground not too far after pulling in the gravel road that has some really nice spots. The other campground requires you to drive down a gravel road for approximately 7 miles and then down some trails that require high clearance. This campground is nice and tooked into the woods with a pond nearby. There are several OHV trails in prentice Cooper and the place can get very crowded on the weekends. Definitely recommend going during the week.

  • Roy B.
    Nov. 6, 2021

    Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area

    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.

  • Steve V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 19, 2022

    Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area

    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.

  • Roy B.
    Oct. 13, 2021

    Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area

    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

  • Michael M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2022

    Blue Hole Dispersed- Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA

    Good dispersed camping at the blue hole

    It has a blue hole an caves no electricity or running water but the camp sites are pretty good. An the do have a handicap access area for rvs to do disperse camping also an parking for the bluehole ...no one to bother you!

  • Ava R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 13, 2023

    Prentice Cooper State Forest Camp

    Quiet but muddy

    This is a great FREE spot right outside the hunters entrance of prentice cooper state forest. There are about 12 spots and it wasn’t crowded when we came on a Saturday. It is a bit muddy but it is manageable.


Guide to Cisco

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Cisco, Georgia, where nature enthusiasts can enjoy serene landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities. This area offers several well-reviewed spots for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Scenic Views at Jack's River Falls Trail/Cohutta Wilderness Backcountry Group Camp

  • Nestled deep in the woods, this site provides breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the rushing waters of Jack's River.
  • The area is perfect for groups, with ample space to spread out and enjoy the natural beauty.
  • Visitors can filter water directly from the river, making it a convenient spot for those who love to hike and camp.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Cisco, Georgia

  • Always practice Leave No Trace principles to keep the environment pristine, especially in popular spots like Lost Creek - Cherokee NF.
  • Arrive early to secure a good spot, as many areas operate on a first-come, first-served basis, particularly during weekends.
  • Be prepared for limited amenities; for instance, Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area has no drinking water or toilets, so plan accordingly.

Activities to Enjoy While Free Camping Near Cisco

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Cisco, GA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Cisco, GA is Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area with a 4.6-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Cisco, GA?

TheDyrt.com has all 37 dispersed camping locations near Cisco, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.