Dispersed camping in the Chattahoochee National Forest near Lula, Georgia offers primitive camping opportunities at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 3,500 feet. The forest contains over 867,000 acres across north Georgia, with free camping sites scattered throughout backcountry roads. Weather varies dramatically by elevation and season, with mountain sites typically 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands.
What to do
Waterfall swimming: Explore the swimming holes at Soggy Boot Campground where "You can also hike up or down the stream to get to other beautiful small falls that are perfect for swimming in during the hot summers."
Stargazing: The mountain elevation provides excellent night sky viewing opportunities at Corbin Creek Tray Mountain which sits "within the few dark areas within north Georgia" making it "worth it if you're into astrophotography."
Hiking the AT: The Appalachian Trail runs through the area, with multiple access points near campsites. At Justus Creek Campsite, hikers enjoy "one of my favorite stretches of hiking" with the creek providing a place where "it was great to rinse some clothes and ourselves off."
What campers like
Creek-side sites: Many campers appreciate waterfront campsites like Dicks Creek Falls Campsites which has "a sandy area at the water" and sites "along the stream with ample space for at least two or three tents."
Fire rings: Most primitive sites include established fire rings. At Soggy Boot, visitors found "a very flat area, a fire pit, and creek surrounded by forest and mountains."
Solitude: Several locations offer privacy despite their free access. Miller Branch Camp is described as "Single spot off of the road but very nice! Pretty much have the woods and mountains to yourself."
Large group spaces: Some locations can accommodate bigger gatherings. As one camper noted about Indian Grave Gap Campsite, "Each site is huge. We decided to spread out but that meant having to do a lot of walking back and forth for stuff."
What you should know
Navigation challenges: Finding these free camping sites can be difficult, especially after dark. Regarding Soggy Boot Campground, one camper shared: "We came looking for this campsite past dark and after a half hour of driving on a gravel road we gave up searching and just parked on the side of the road for the night."
Vehicle requirements: Many roads require higher clearance vehicles. For Jones Creek Dispersed Campground, "you can drive to the locations on a decent narrow dirt road."
Limited amenities: Pack in all necessities. Almost no sites have restrooms, trash service, or potable water sources. Some sites like Preacher's Rock have "no water nearby. And the bathrooms are 40 minutes mountain down."
Variable conditions: Site quality and cleanliness can vary. Jones Creek is described as having "years of careless debris around" while one camper mentioned that at Soggy Boot "there was trash everywhere when we got there."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming access: Choose sites near gentle water features for recreation. High Shoals Falls Trail Dispersed has "cool waters of High Shoals Creek" that "offer rewarding refreshment after a day of exploring."
Wildlife awareness: Bears are present in the area, requiring proper food storage. At Justus Creek Campsite, campers "were warned about bears in the area so were very cautious about hanging our bear bag a little extra distance away on the opposite side of the creek."
Supply planning: The nearest supplies are in small towns like Hiawassee. As noted about Indian Grave Gap: "The closest town is Hiawassee. Had a grocery and an outfitters if you need supplies. There's only two sit down restaurants—one had an hour wait; the other had run out of food."
Tips from RVers
Vehicle size restrictions: Most dispersed sites cannot accommodate large RVs. At Corbin Creek Tray Mountain, "It's more Jeep friendly than full size vehicles, to get a spot down by the creek. But it is possible to get a full size 4*4 truck down the switch back."
ADV motorcycle camping: For those on adventure motorcycles, Indian Grave Gap summit is ideal as "There are three routes up the mountain so you never have to double back. There are more primitive sites at the top of the mountain on both sides of the fork. Suitable for tents and hammocks."
Site selection timing: Arrive during daylight to find suitable spots, as Soggy Boot campers found: "the campsites are hard to find in the dark - we ended up just stopping at the first clearing from a fork on the gravel road we saw to set up a tent."
