Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Hartwell Lake, GA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Hartwell Lake is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Hartwell Lake, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$25 - $60 / night
"There are several large play areas in walking distance. There appeared to be beautiful lake views from almost every site. We very much enjoyed our stay and plan to return for a longer visit."
"Perfect for kids, right on the lake. Loved the playground 😊
warning! Don’t feed the geese! The campers next to us fed them and the next day we woke up with goose poop on everything!"
"There are primitive, walk-in sites that had the benefit of added privacy, but with 3 little kids, bathroom proximity was a higher priority this time around. "
"There are multiple cabins scattered around the lake but they are a good distance apart from each other so you won't be disturbed by your neighbors."
$17 - $85 / night
"The sites are shaded, and flat with a gravel drive and tent pad. We hadn’t planned on staying here but were pleasantly surprised to find a few vacancies on the first Saturday in November."
"The drive down is washed out a bit but a 2 wheel drive Tahoe handled it. Getting back up if it had been raining would probably not be guaranteed, so watch the weather carefully."
$20 / night
"Chickens and horses on site. Playground and lots of fun. Sites are wooded and quaint. Roads are a little narrow, but passable. One of our favorite sites."
"We fished right next to our camp site and then relaxed with a camp fire listening to the sound of the River."
$20 - $30 / night
"This is a very nice horse camp facility. Well maintained and clean. Trails are wonderful and well-constructed to avoid deep mud."
"Some of the best Horse Camping in the Mountains, Great Horse trails that follow the Chatooga River."
$15 - $30 / night
"I unfortunately haven’t been able to return to this location for quite some time now but I remember it fondly. Spent many nights and days here during middle school with my local horse club."
"Passed through on a bike packing trip and we were the only non-horse people there. Campsite was clean, with bathrooms and water available."
"The first campsite we stayed at was on the Green Valley Trail, the second one was on the Panthertown Valley Trail right near the Schoolhouse Falls Trail, and the third was on Mac's Gap right past the Granny"
"The sites near the middle of Macs Gap trail are huge and there is easy access to a couple streams. Bring a good map and stick to the trails that your map covers."
$4 - $20 / night
"My friend and I hiked the Raven Cliff Falls loop trail a while back and have added it to our list of top 10 favorite trails."
"Wonderful trails with breath taking views and technical climbs plus discrete camping."
$55 - $650 / night
LegendVery nice quiet park with a small campground (21 sites, all with electric and water). The sites are shaded, and flat with a gravel drive and tent pad. We hadn’t planned on staying here but were pleasantly surprised to find a few vacancies on the first Saturday in November. There is also an equestrian campground located several miles from the main campground. The main feature is a covered bridge, the longest one in Georgia, that is located ¾ of a mile from the campground (an easy walk).
A nice perk was laundry facilities outside the restrooms. The restrooms were very clean.
There are seven miles of hiking trails, five miles of bike trails, canoe rentals, and we saw several people fishing.
There was also a nice day-use area with picnic tables within view of the covered bridge.
ScoutThere are nine campsites. Sturdy highline posts are provided but you need to bring your own ropes and other highland gear. Vault toilets are provided but no shower facilities. Campsites each offer electric and water hookups, nice tent pads, lantern hooks, and big picnic tables. This is a very nice horse camp facility. Well maintained and clean. Trails are wonderful and well-constructed to avoid deep mud. My only complaint is the lack of really good, accurate trail maps to print out and carry with you of the horse trails on both the Georgia and South Carolina sides of the river. This is my new favorite mountain horse camp.
GuideI unfortunately haven’t been able to return to this location for quite some time now but I remember it fondly. Spent many nights and days here during middle school with my local horse club. Trails were clean although a little to narrow in some spots, especially when needing to pass another horse and rider but there is plenty of wide open areas that allow for the perfect opportunity to stop and rest. If you ever have time I also recommend stopping by stump house tunnel which is near by its 2 adventures for the price of 1! Writing this review makes me want to go back!
ScoutSome of the best Horse Camping in the Mountains, Great Horse trails that follow the Chatooga River.
GuideWe stayed at three different campsites throughout our trip (went backpacking 4 days, 3 nights - could have just set up camp and day hiked, buttttt didn't necessarily think that through).
The first campsite we stayed at was on the Green Valley Trail, the second one was on the Panthertown Valley Trail right near the Schoolhouse Falls Trail, and the third was on Mac's Gap right past the Granny Burrell Falls Trail.
All the campsites were beautiful, but the Green Valley Trail campsite was our favorite. It was the most secluded and in an utterly beautiful location. There was foliage covering it from the trail and there was a creek steps away which made it easy to get water and make for. The Panthertown Valley Trail campsite was our least favorite, but that is because it was right off the main trail and not secluded whatsoever and kind of disappointing compared to the Green Valley campsite. It was also dirty with water bottles and socks and lots of mud from horses stepping all over the place. We were also woken up at 2AM by a group of loud hikers which left us concerned because it was down pouring and they were being extremely belligerent. However, we camped here because we were exhausted and wanted to stay near Schoolhouse Falls to be able to swim around and get wet and there were some unknown animal tracks in the sand near Schoolhouse Falls. We stayed on Mac's Gap for the same reason - to be near Granny Burrell after a long day - and even though it was the most crowded trail, it was a lot of fun. There was a pack of llamas we were next to and they were so sweet (part of a boys camp), and we felt the safest from predators (read: bears). Even though there were a lot of people, I felt a strong sense of camaraderie.
You will need a bear canister, practice the Bearmuda Triangle, and make sure to bring a poop shovel. Pack out what you packed in.
ScoutHappy to find a reliable way to source RV horse camping
GuideWell laid out campground with some good spots, especially further back in the campground. But definitely set up and geared for horseback riders. Passed through on a bike packing trip and we were the only non-horse people there. Campsite was clean, with bathrooms and water available.
GuideIn the midst of all the Covid claustrophobia, it felt amazing to get up to the mountains and feel like being alone was normal. The site was great, the bathrooms are amazing, and the campground was everything you'd hope an RV/tent-camping place would be. There are primitive, walk-in sites that had the benefit of added privacy, but with 3 little kids, bathroom proximity was a higher priority this time around. The waterfalls are closeby and you should really try King's Creek (30 min hike), Reedy Branch (10 min walk) or Yellow Branch (1.5 hr hike), they're some of our favorites. Hidden Falls is also a hike that starts from the campground, about 1.5 hrs each way. So lovely and remote!Being able to get up in the morning and go to the falls without having to drive 1+ hrs to get there made it just dreamy for our crew! The fire pit was easy to cook over, there's a mini-golf area and a playground that was closed still while we were there. We loved it and will definitely be going back, my 5yo hails our time there as "best of the summer" everytime we ask :)
ScoutGood people run this place. Bath houses are very clean. We have tent camped and now taken our RV. Tent sites right on the river. You can tube down and get out right at your site. Three Falls waterfall is just up the road. You can get tubes at the office. Chickens and horses on site. Playground and lots of fun. Sites are wooded and quaint. Roads are a little narrow, but passable. One of our favorite sites.
Horse camping near Hartwell Lake in Georgia offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian-friendly amenities, making it a perfect getaway for horse lovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Hartwell Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Hartwell Lake is South Cove County Park with a 4.6-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Hartwell Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Hartwell Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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