Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Walter F. George Lake, GA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Georgia camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Walter F. George Lake, GA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$23 - $30 / night
TravelerSuper well maintained tent sites. The tent footprint is elevated by railroad ties, preventing flooding and it made it very convenient to put my boots on in the morning. Established trash/food hang poles as well as picnic tables next to the fire ring with fold over grill capabilities.
LegendProvidence Canyon State Park, Lumpkin, GA
https://gastateparks.org/ProvidenceCanyon
Providence Canyon State Park is tucked away in the southwest corner of Georgia...but offers a surprising beauty as a result of erosion. As you enter the State Park, it is fairly linear running alongside the roadway. Day use appears to be the high volume.
Two children’s playgrounds, two picnic pavilions and two restrooms are positioned along the upper rim as you head to the visitor center. The visitor center offers location specific clothing, souvenirs and some snack items...along with additional restrooms.
Opposite the first playground, on the right side of the roadway when you enter the park is a Methodist church from 1832 and a small pioneer cemetery that offers a realistic view of the hardships faced by these adventurous folks.
The actual“Georgia Grand Canyon” is barely visible as you make your way to the visitors center. But once you’ve paid the daily use fee($5) and signed in...you can choose the trails you desire to explore. An upper rim trail, fenced by split rail, travels the canyon rim... is easiest and offers a splendid Birdseye view and wonderful photo opportunities..
Hiking down into the shallow canyon affords a worthwhile close-up view and nicer photographs (in my opinion) especially with the backdrop of azure skies. Because the canyon and formations are merely sand and clay, they are fragile. As I briefly climb upon my soapbox, the plethora of posted warning signs are not heeded, so violators climb and scramble for their coveted selfies...defacing the natural beauty and causing more damage. While warning signs make threat of prosecution, without consistent or constant enforcement it will continue.
Once on the canyon floor, you have a few options...but for the best views hang a left and follow the small wooden Canyon 1-5 signs. All the reviews state canyons 4 and 5 are the nicest...and they are...but if you explore the canyons in numerical sequence, each gets better as you go. With fully leafed trees and foliage, viewing is tough in canyons 1-3. Signage is absent as to where the trails end, as past hikers tread further and higher in each canyon. Canyons 4 and 5 offer more prohibitive signage.
The canyon floor is a mixture of wet and dry sand. In areas a steady stream of water flows. It was dry weather on my visit so I can only assume the water would be deeper during or immediately following rains. During my late October visit, water wasn’t deep enough to enter your hiking shoes. Heed the heat and drinking water warnings during hot days, Little to no breeze in the canyon.
I did not travel the longer backcountry trail on this visit, so defer to other reviewers comments on its enjoyment.
Camping: You have two choices...a handful of Backcountry Primitive Camping that require a backpack into the canyon and 3 Pioneer Group Campsites. It’s easy to miss Pioneer Campsites 1& 2, as they are located beyond the gated park and down a two track gravel drive. Unfortunately, from the campsite, the roadway can be seen through the trees and traffic noise is loud when traveling by. During normal sleep hours (midweek) night traffic was sparse, but still disruptive. Because of road construction during my visit, it wasn’t excessive during daylight hours.
Pioneer 1-3 are essentially group sites designed to accommodate larger camping parties. But for one tent and two people $43.00 was an exorbitant price, especially with merely a pit toilet, two picnic tables and a fire ring...NO electric, NO water. But I’ve found Georgia parks a tad steep in cost in comparison to other State’s parks.
Interestingly, time zones shift from Eastern at the visitors center to Central Time at Pioneer Campsites 1& 2...so be cognizant of the switch. Pioneer 1 group site boasts a newer pit latrine with a solar spot light for nighttime...and was amply stocked. Previous campers removed the two large picnic tables from beneath the shed style shelter to the campfire ring area. The picnic tables are large and heavy, so without a group present, you won’t be moving them back to their rightful location.
For a tent camping location...there is negligible flat ground to pitch a tent, but if you are a hammock camper there are plenty of trees. The grounds at Pioneer 1 where strewn with plastic and pop tops, cigarette butts, partially melted plastic ware and snack food wrappers littered the wooded area. Not cool. A lidded plastic garbage can is tethered to the shelter so there is no excuse.
Pioneer site 2 had a grassy field, flatter area for tents and further down into the canyon past Pioneer site 1.
Pioneer site 3 is appears to be the coveted group site with ample flat, grassy field for tents, area for parking and a huge shelter. The long winding gravel two-track is also located immediately to the left upon entering the main entrance so you have the“security” of the park’s front gate being locked at 6:00 p.m.(A pavement sensor permits egress if you need to exit, but you won’t be driving back in til morning when they reopen.)
Overall, if you shared the site as a group, defraying the cost...midweek camping would not be bad. After visiting the canyon for a couple hours, there is not much else to visit in the immediate area, so bring a book.
Wildlife: you’ll likely hear some owls calling out throughout the night and woodpeckers in early morning. Small yellow finch’s were abundant. Mention of wild hogs in the park as well.
Final thoughts: A one time camping visit is sufficient for my tastes. Even at half the price, I’m not sure I’d camp here solo. However, I will likely visit the canyon in the future to see possible changes due to further erosion.
GuideStayed December 2019 for a long weekend. The sites are all very nice with fire ring, lantern pole, picnic table, small counter height table, and concrete pad for your camper or tents. Ample additional parking available. Bathrooms were well maintained. We stayed in the Oakwood loop. River Chase loop has the best playground. Staff were very friendly. Several dump stations as well as a dog park. Would like some more hiking trails.
ScoutFree. Found a good spot with a view of the water. Watched the alligators and birds on the water. Was able to easily launch a canoe as there is a boat ramp. Vault toilets were available. Picnic table, fire ring, and grill at each campsite.
TravelerCotton Hill campground was a great pick. Staff-Helpful Location-Ft Gaines, GA Site-97/98 nicely shaded with lake access 20 steps away. Amenities-clean bathrooms, water, electric close by. Site-tent site clean and included bench, prep table, fire ring, park grill, and hooked post to hang food, trash from. Wildlife-deer every morning, bald eagles, kingfishers, huge white and grey herons, alligator.
Recommendations-bring or buy live bait for fishing..none close by. Tent site is crushed/compacted fine gravel and is difficult to get pegs into..bring a hammer and metal pegs. Would definitely come again.
GuideThis campground offers beachfront sites where you can walk right out from your site to the water. If you get one of the sites that does not have direct water access, there is a beach, park and gazebo that everyone can access. Like the other COE parks we've seen, each site has a fire ring, prep table, picnic table and that really cool hook-pole! This campground has a lot of pull through spots, but only two bathrooms. Our kids had a great time hanging out here and we were unofficially awards the best hammock set up. Undoubtedly the most! This was a very user friendly campground. Lots of birds to see and a great view of the dam, which led to some dam good jokes. Lots of pull through sites.
Some thoughts from our kids- https://youtu.be/uCebtz0rawk
GuideWe did the primitive site for an overnight hike in. We loved it! Definitely need your map to get through the lower canyon area. When they say follow the creek, they mean walk In it until you find the path. Don’t venture out at night, came across some angry hogs!
LegendMy seasonal five-star rating is based on being here in the offseason. There is just something about having a campsite right on the water that is so peaceful. However, in the summer, I would imagine the water would be clogged with boats zooming around, and we would not find it so peaceful or enjoyable (but many others would).
There are four sections to this 130-site campground: Mallard Point, Oakwood, Creek View, and River Chase. The only sites that are reservable are in the Oakwood and Creek View Sections. Only Mallard Point and Oakwood were open when we were there; I’m not sure if it was because of flooding or just low occupancy. Based on Elaine H’s review, we had reserved Site 50 in the Oakwood section for two nights and we were not disappointed. We were right on the water, which gave us a little concern after the host said the water was expected to rise (some of the sites had some water) but we didn’t have a problem. Not much separation/privacy between sites but most people were in RVs (didn’t see any tents). Each site has a large picnic table, fire ring, lantern hook, and food prep table.
Bathrooms were very clean AND heated, which was nice as the temperatures dipped below freezing at the end of February. Each section has laundry facilities ($1.50 each for wash/dry) The map showed two dump stations, one at the very end of the campground and one located in the Oakwood section but again, only the one in Oakwood was open when we were there. Sadly, no recycling.
There are two very short nature trails but no other hiking trails. There is a fenced-in dog park. If you are not a boater, there is not much to do but again, it was very peaceful at the end of February.
RangerWe visited Providence Canyon and was amazed by the size of this park. We were skeptical as the area is sometimes referred to as Georgia's little grand canyon. I still have a problem with that comparison but what a great place to visit. We did not camp here as the park only has a few hike in campsites and we had our A-Frame camper with us. We were able to park the camper at another Georgia state park (Florence Marina) very near by which made this a good area for a day trip. We hiked the canyon trails which was very interesting but be prepared, the canyon floor can be wet and the dirt is red, you will get dirty. There's also trails that allow you to hike the canyon's perimeter which offers views from a higher vantage point, this allows you to really see the size of these canyons. There are numerous picnic tables scattered throughout the upper area of the park with a restroom. This area can get really crowded in the summer which makes parking a challenge so plan accordingly.
A great way to spend a day outdoors!
Tent camping near Walter F. George Lake in Georgia offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Walter F. George Lake is Kings Pond/ Fort Benning with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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