Best Glamping near Hartwell Lake

We've stayed in the newer section of the Park several times now--each time, a different experience: waterfall hikes in Dupont, a segment hike to finish off the Foothills Trail, nearby mushroom hunt dayhikes around the lake, incredible climbs to impressive vistas. A recommended destination that always satisfies--whether you love to backpack, dayhike, camp or glamp!

We did a company retreat at the Yak Eco Camp and were amazed at how private the location was. What's more, it was so expensive around town and at tourist traps, we were happy to have the property to retreat to and have an HQ for our entire group. The host mentioned many more amenities coming to the property that will surely make this the most desirable glamping spot for all mountain bikers, hikers, etc. in the area. They're adding a huge sauna, cold shower and much more to cater to all ages.

My stay at Yak Brevard Glamping was nothing short of extraordinary. This unique gem tucked away in the heart of nature provided an immersive outdoor experience while ensuring utmost comfort.🏕️🌳 

The campsite was beautifully maintained, offering clean, stylish, and comfortable accommodations. The tents were spacious, blending rustic charm with modern conveniences– a true testament to the thoughtful attention to detail.🛏️✨ The surrounding natural beauty was breathtaking; waking up to the serene sounds of nature and enjoying the evening stars was a rejuvenating experience.🌄⭐ 

The staff were incredibly welcoming and helpful, adding a personal touch that made the stay all the more memorable. Their local knowledge and recommendations for hiking trails and activities were invaluable.🙌🏞️ 

And let's not forget the fun part– yaking! It's not every day you get to paddle down a peaceful river and take in such stunning views.🛶🏞️ 

Yak Brevard offers a fantastic balance of adventure and relaxation, making it a perfect getaway for families, couples, or solo travelers. I can't recommend it enough for anyone seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and reconnect with nature. Can't wait for my next visit!🌲💖

Tugaloo state Park: This Georgia State Park offers a multitude of activities from hiking, paddling, boating, fishing, swimming, putt putt, tennis/pickleball court and biking the park roads to name a few things. This park appears to be a local favorite and weekends were more active than weekdays during our 10 night stay at the camp ground. We really felt at home here due to the friendliness of the park staff and camphost volunteers. We loved the gravel sites, good Verizon cell reception 📶 and best of all the ease of access to our kayaks🛶. (Do check with the park office because some things like putt putt may be seasonal) 🔔 Another thing- should you want to rent a patio boat ⛴ - the park office has some numbers for you.

We stayed here in late October for 10 days and didn’t want to leave. The campground is laid out well with gravel sites, concrete picnic tables, fire pit, water, 30 amp and grey water drains throughout the campsite areas. 🚍Larger rigs—> Bring a dogleg/bone for double 30 amp.👍. Also- be aware some of the pull thru sites are almost buddy sites - your truck hauling your trailer will fit but your trailer won’t because another camper is sharing the pull thru lane with you. Rv’s with Tows won’t have this same issue. 🏡Cabins- I shared on the video that cabins 1-10 have less stairs if that is important to you. Yurts- some of these are on a hill- this means a walk up to restrooms ...but don’t worry, there is a nicely paved sidewalk. 🏕 no electricity at the walk in sites- you do have water, fire pit and picnic table. There is a group campground too.

We did 2 videos of this park- so there is lots of info about all the amenities at this park. ***This is a park we have put on our favorite list to camp host here in the future.

Tallulah Gorge is located in the far north east corner of Georgia. The campground is pretty tight, and difficult to maneuver with a large RV. The campground is managed by Georgia Power, and the Sites are right on top of each other. (To maximize revenue.) They do have water and electric and some with full hookups. There is a dump station and a small store for basic stuff. There are several nice hikes, including one along the bottom of the gorge that requires a free permit. They are limited, so secure one early if you want to hike there. The suspension bridge across the Gorge is a must, but there are a LOT of steps!

This is one of our favorite spots when going to north Georgia mountains. Beautiful views, friendly people & a little history to top things off. Definitely worth stopping for!

This is a beautiful park. All of Georgia’s state parks are nice, this is one of the nicest. Most sites are right on the lake. It’s very popular in summer and reservations are necessary. When we were there there was a heated dispute between two families over who had reserved a site! Great swimming and fishing! Full hookups, dump station!

It’s perfectly situated to visit all the cute towns in northern Georgia and they have well maintained sites, hiking trails, and a swim beach not far. You can buy wood and ice on grounds (honor system) and check in is at the interpretation center. This was the perfect escape from the city for us.

We have camped at Tugaloo State Park in Georgia on many occasions. It is literally around the corner from our home but we love to take a break and camp at this gem.  Most spaces are on Lake Hartwell.  They are clean and not too close together.  The camp director puts on many fun activities for the kids on the weekends from scavenger hunts to learning about the many animals that call this park home.  You have your choice of sunrise or sunset views.

Clark’s Hill is a Great Lake! HK is an OK park. It does have a nIce golf course and skeet shooting, kayak rentals, cabins, a restaurant and a pool. The campsites are nice enough. but. The entire park sits on a mound of ants. ants everywhere. ants of all varieties. And most of the lake access is solid Georgia red clay mud...

When traveling to Georgia by far one of the most impressive sites to see is the Tallulah Gorge State Park. When I was traveling around it was at the tip of every native Georgian’s tongue so naturally I had to check it out.  When I arrived off the highway I first came upon my campsite before reaching the Visitor Center.  I stopped into the camp office and on the weekday I was there, plenty of sites were available.  

I elected to snag an improved site so I could have power for my laptop while at the campground and followed the one way directions to the campsite which was nestled mid campground.  Though I was not in an RV they positioned me in a small pull thru site which was even and had a great pad base for my tent jus off the gravel improved area where my picnic table and fire ring were placed. I had plenty of room to park and maneuver.

The campground was pretty centralized to all the action at the facility with trails leading to the visitor center, a beach, tennis courts and trails.   

The big draw to this park of course is the falls, and seeing many falls before I was thinking it would be like many of those, however what I wasn’t expecting was how different the cascading falls would be as they stretched down the gorge and could be so uniquely viewed through various vantage points including the most impressive, a suspension bridge.

Getting to that suspension bridge was the easy part, down lots of stairs, but the return had people sitting and taking breaks or air and stopping at water stations. But oh what a view!!! This trail to the bridge was easily accessed from camp which made for on of the best features in my opinion of the entire camp!!

Tips:

• Stop in the visitor center to see the video which explains the Gorge in more detail, you will find some really interesting facts and feats which will blow your mind.
• Take in Goat on the roof, just a short distance down the road as a touristy stop must see!!

General: Smallish (50-site) campground; all sites have water and electric with the pull-through sites considered premium. An interesting thing about Georgia state parks is that when you arrive and check in, you become eligible for a senior or military/veteran “rebate” which is not available when reserving. 

Site Quality: Gravel driveways and most appeared level. The sites are spacious with foliage providing some separation between most sites. You would think by looking at the map that sites 12,18, and 20 would be most private/desirable, however, these sites are closest to Highway 441 and although you don’t see the highway through the trees, you will hear almost constant road noise (including engine braking from 18-wheelers) which does detract from the ambiance of camping. Each site has a large concrete picnic table, lantern hook, bbq grill, and fire ring. 

Bathhouse: Two bathroom/shower houses in the loop. Reasonably clean. Shower stalls were private with benches and hooks and the water was warm. 

Activities/Amenities: There is a playground in close proximity to the campsites. You can easily hike to the Interpretive Center (less than a mile) and from there, hike on several trails. I recommend the North and South Rim Trail Loop but there are around 1100 steps, and you do need to be in reasonably good shape. During peak autumn colors, this was a gorgeous hike! Note: you do need a permit if you plan to hike down into the gorge. We were told this is an extremely strenuous hike that takes 4-5 hours and only 100 permits are granted each day on the day you plan to hike. The Interpretive Center is open 8 am– 5 pm and the staff is very helpful. There is swimming in the summer, fishing, tennis, and spring/fall whitewater releases. There is also a gift shop with the usual t-shirts and souvenirs. There is a laundry room in the campground, however, several of the units were out of order. We didn’t use so cannot comment on the quality of the working units. 

We spent two nights here and enjoyed hiking on the North Rim and South Rim trails, descending to the suspension bridge but not all the way to the floor of the gorge.