The mountains of North Georgia provide a unique camping experience with elevations ranging from 1,400 to 4,000 feet. Dispersed camping near Crandall, Georgia offers opportunities to explore dense forests with diverse wildlife, particularly in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer brings warm days with cooler evenings compared to lower elevations.
What to do
Waterfall hikes: 3 miles round trip to Benton Falls near Chilhowee Recreation Area. The trail offers varying terrain suitable for multiple skill levels. "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," reports a visitor to Chilhowee Recreation Area.
Mountain biking: 25 miles of trails accessible directly from campsites in the Chilhowee area. "25 miles of hiking and biking trails starting right from our campsite. F loop is very quiet during the week," notes a camper who enjoyed the extensive trail system.
Whitewater rafting: Olympic-caliber waters on the Ocoee River just 30 minutes from some camping areas. At Adventures Unlimited Campground, "We did the Classic Middle Ocoee Rafting Adventure, with Leon as our guide. He was awesome! He wore a Viking helmet and had vast knowledge of the river and area."
Cave exploration: Guided tours available at Cloudland Canyon State Park. "The Cave tour is a must, but prepare to get dirty," advises one visitor who explored the underground features.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Bear sightings common throughout the Fort Mountain and Cohutta Wilderness areas. At Hickory Creek and Conasauga River intersection, "There are many large campgrounds and it is right on a large river so there is plenty of water to purify and drink. There are also many trails leading in and out from this spot."
Fishing opportunities: Carters Lake access at Woodring Campground provides deep-water fishing in a relatively undeveloped setting. "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," shares a frequent visitor to Woodring Campground.
Platform camping: Unique elevated sites at Fort Mountain State Park offer a different camping experience. "I've never slept outside of a tent. I've always wanted to, but never had the guts to do it. I looked up information on the platforms (also called Squirrel's Nest) on the state park website. It looked doable to me!"
Water recreation: Multiple swimming areas across several parks with beach access and boat rentals. "We did hang out at the lake and fish (no bites), but the water was not appealing for swimming (lots of down trees/branches and very silty)," notes one camper at Chilhowee.
What you should know
Cell service varies dramatically: Fort Mountain has inconsistent coverage even with boosters. "We had inconsistent cell coverage even with a Winegard booster with AT&T and Verizon. Mornings were best reception and evening were not so good," reports a visitor.
Weather fluctuations: The higher elevations can experience significant temperature changes. At Cloudland Canyon State Park, "Although being there for the 4th of July, it was quiet. The downside is that getting to the main parts of the park are a drive away or a 2 mile hike with elevation."
Road conditions to glamping sites: Some luxury camping near Crandall involves steep access roads. "To get to this campground you have to go up a steep narrow windy mountain road. The camp sites are distanced well and the entire campground is in the shade," warns a camper about Chilhowee.
Seasonal facility availability: Water systems at some campgrounds are winterized during colder months. "No water this time of year but the lake can be accessed at the nearby boat ramp. Beautiful lake and forest. Have the place to myself for the most part at this time of year," explains a winter visitor to Woodring Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Reserve early for lake access sites: Waterfront spots at Chester Frost Park fill quickly. "One of the best places to be able to camp and boat. We where at Chester Frost for July 4th. Love staying on the lake front and watching the sun set," shares an experienced camper at Chester Frost Park.
Pack for elevation changes: Temperature fluctuations of 10-15 degrees can occur between day and night. A visitor to Fort Mountain advises, "We visited this park in early/mid November for 10 days. Keith and I hiked and played hard every day here- despite the early winter storm, gusty breezes and freezing temperatures that finally gave way to beautiful crisp days."
Consider glamping options for beginners: Cabins and yurts near Crandall provide comfort while maintaining access to outdoor activities. At Amicalola Falls State Park, "We really enjoyed our night here. It was beautiful and peaceful! The bathrooms could have been cleaner but overall it was great!"
Check site privacy levels: Some campgrounds offer more seclusion than others. "The West Rim camping loop is far more wooded and offers a greater variety of site size and privacy, and has an extremely quiet and peaceful vibe to it," notes a visitor describing Cloudland Canyon's different camping areas.
Tips from RVers
Road grade challenges: Multiple campgrounds have steep access roads requiring good vehicle power. "There is a long road up the side of the mountain to get to the campground, which is a tough pull for campers. But, on top is a nice camping area with lots of views," advises an RVer who visited Chilhowee.
Fill water tanks before setup: Not all RV sites have water hookups at individual sites. "NOTE: the RV sites do not have water hook-ups at each site. There is a water hook up to fill your tank as you enter the campsite area. Fill your tank and you are good to go."
Dump station locations: Some campgrounds have challenging approaches to their facilities. "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 and opted to pay to dump somewhere else."
Site selection matters: Unlevel sites can be common in mountain campgrounds. "We stayed on site 15 of the B loop. It was a great location, but in the center of the site once stood a large tree with a timber surround. The tree has been cut down, but the surround is still there, and we kept tripping over it."
