Best Equestrian Camping near Summerville, GA

If you’re looking for amazing scenery, this is not the place. It is, however, a free, primitive camping site just a short 5 min drive (or walk) from the Rocktown trailhead. The close proximity to the many wonders of Rocktown is a dream for climbers. Meant we could spend most of the climbing, rather than making a long approach. My group went for several days over thanksgiving 2018, and the weather was absolutely beautiful. Nights turned a bit chilly, so make sure to pack layers if camping in the fall or winter season. I think you’re technically supposed to have a Georgia outdoors permit to stay here (which we did), but we did not encounter a single ranger during our six-day stay. Check the Rocktown forum on Mountain Project for up-to-date info on permit requirements.

The road leading up to the campsite is extremely rough and washed out. We were in a Subaru Outback, and it was a very slow-going, bumpy ride — we bottomed out several times.

You can pretty much set up camp anywhere there’s open ground. Plenty of trees around for hammock camping as well. My group of 10 people had no problem finding open areas to set up camp together. There are several man-made fire pits, and plenty of wood and brush lying around to scavenge for fire-making. There are no water hookups, so make sure to pack plenty of water with you. There is also an area at the campground for equestrian camping, though we didn’t check that out, as, alas, none of us had horses.

Down a long and winding (and dusty) gravel road into the WMA is the Davis Pond camp site, a real gem with shady trees and a fishing pond. 

This lightly developed site has two picnic tables, and two lantern posts near the tables. However, it can easily accommodate many more campers in the space and has multiple dirt-and-rock fire pits.

While there is a two-station pit toilet, it's a bit of a horror show with a lot of trash accumulating in the structure. Another downside, after I set up my tent I noticed that some hornets were flying into a nearby dead tree. I quickly moved to another spot but luckily noticed it before it got dark.

There's a gravel parking lot with a trail map and sign in sheet right next to the camping area. 

In addition to the multiple trails (for hiking, ATVs, and horses) closer to the entrance to the WMA (and far from the camp) is a shooting range.

It was a beautiful campground. The site we were on was not ideal. As soon as we stepped out the door we had to go up an incline to get to our picnic table. Our camper was pretty level and most of the other sites looked much better than ours, but that is what we get for booking late. The sites were packed in together, but everyone one was really nice. They had a clean bathhouse with laundry. There was a playground, small splash pad, and the beach area for swimming in the lake. My kids had a great time with all there was to do. The paths around the campground were paved, so they enjoyed riding their scooters around.

Lake Guntersville State Park, Guntersville, Al

We visited Lake Guntersville State Park for, you guessed it, a Trail Run event! This is an old school state park with a lodge and campground. They have incorporated new school though by adding a zip line area next to the lodge. 

  Then you have the lake, the Tennessee River runs through Lake Guntersville , (from the Ohio River, through Decatur, Al to Chattanooga , Tn) so a float trip through the area would be feasible with at least one over night stop at the Lake Guntersville Campground which is right on the lake. 

The campground is spread across a wide area, not much shade though. Not a lot of privacy, you are gonna see a lot of your next site neighbor. The sites are not huge, however they are large enough to set up base camp for your outdoor activities. Open year round. The showerhouse was heated and maintained, not horror movie scary at all.

Directly across from the campground entrance is a trailhead that goes UP the “hill” to the lodge and a pretty sweet view of the surrounding area. 

 The main attraction is the water sports, but the trails are challenging and worth exploring. You can spend a week and do something different every day including just sitting on the lodge deck and taking in the scenery.