High Falls State Park sits approximately 50 miles south of Atlanta with sites scattered across wooded terrain that surrounds a 650-acre lake. The park features multiple camping loops with varying levels of shade and privacy between sites. Most glamping sites near Jackson offer water and electric hookups with temperatures averaging 80-90°F during summer and 40-50°F in winter months.
What to do
Hiking trails: High Falls State Park offers easy hiking paths suitable for all skill levels. One visitor noted, "The trails are easy to get to and the falls are a nice sight," making it an accessible option for nature exploration with minimal preparation required.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Sinclair Campground provides direct access to the lake with dedicated fishing areas. "Nice views of the lake from the campsite. Lots of wildlife noises at night," reports one camper who stayed on site 11 near a fishing pier.
Kayaking: Many sites at Dames Ferry State Park offer direct water access for launching kayaks. A visitor mentioned, "We launched our kayaks and swam from our sight so easy and convenient. Quite, relaxing and secluded the lake is situated within the forest with no homes near or around the water."
Mountain biking: Fort Yargo State Park maintains multiple biking trails that connect with hiking paths. According to one reviewer, "Mountain bike trails and hiking trails inside park. When I have more time we plan to go back and take it all in."
What campers like
Lake views: Many campsites at High Falls State Park provide direct lake access. "We tent camped here on site 112 on the lakeside camping area. We had a view of the lake and enjoyed renting a double kayak from the state park," noted one visitor who appreciated the spacing between sites.
Clean facilities: The restroom facilities at Hard Labor Creek State Park are consistently maintained. One visitor reported, "The bath houses/comfort stations are brand new (including laundry rooms) and the camp hosts keep them spotless! The campground roads are newly paved and there are a couple of new sites."
Playground areas: High Falls offers child-friendly amenities centrally located in the campground. "This campground is great if you have kids. The playground is centrally located. Trails are easy to get to and the falls are a nice sight," shared a camper who rated their experience five stars.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Hard Labor Creek State Park uses site-specific reservations. "HLC swapped over to 'site-specific' reservations..meaning that you must choose a particular site when reserving. This is VERY useful if you're familiar with the campground and have a favorite site but it can be a shot in the dark if you're not familiar with the campground."
Water quality: Some parks have mineral-rich water that may affect taste. "There was some sediment in the water from the spigot and it seemed to have a bit of a chlorine taste. I would suggest bring your own water or a water filter," advised a camper at Indian Springs.
Swimming restrictions: High Falls State Park does not permit swimming in certain areas due to safety concerns. "Swimming is not allowed but there is a pool, it cost $5 person," noted one visitor, while another warned, "Do not swim in falls - dangerous."
Tips for camping with families
Walk-in sites for privacy: Fort Yargo State Park offers walk-in sites that provide more seclusion. "If you're like me and appreciate a bit of privacy when camping, the walk-in campsites at Fort Yargo are the place to go. Just a short 1-2 minutes walk from your car and bathrooms, but you feel much more secluded than the campsites in the regular campground."
Off-season visits: Camping during weekdays provides a quieter experience. "Spent 7 nights. The weekend nights were so crowded with cars spilling into the camp roads, loads of large groups at each site. Felt very claustrophobic. On weekdays the park became a (lovely) ghost town," reported one Hard Labor Creek camper.
Buddy spots: Hard Labor Creek offers unique paired sites. "We did ride through the other 2 loops and saw a neat 2 in 1 buddy spot you can put two campers on. That would be neat," mentioned a visitor who enjoyed the spacious accommodations.
Tips from RVers
Level sites: Stone Mountain Park Campground provides well-prepared RV pads. "The campground is a good campground— clean and fairly easy for our big fifth wheel to get in to. Be careful and follow the Campground signs and not your GPS because you might come in a different way and have to navigate an overpass that, for some rigs, is too short!"
Power quality: Some electrical hookups at Indian Springs State Park experience voltage issues. "The RV spots aren't that great. They have power fluctuations a lot," noted one camper who still rated the overall experience favorably due to other amenities.
Hook-up options: Some sites offer unexpected full hookups. "Nothing indicated on the reservation it had sewer connections. Had we known we would have taken showers in our own camper," mentioned a visitor at Hard Labor Creek who discovered their site had more amenities than advertised.
