Northwest Georgia offers primitive tent campsites near White Oak, Georgia within rolling hills at 700-900 feet elevation. The region contains multiple wildlife management areas with dispersed camping options. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall provide more moderate conditions in the 60-75°F range.
What to do
Climbing at Rocktown: Access world-class bouldering from Sawmill Lake Campsite, located just "a short 5 min drive (or walk) from the Rocktown trailhead." A camper noted, "Come here to try your hand at rock climbing and spelunking. The permit was 15 dollars to access Rock Town and the Caves."
Cave exploration: Petty John Cave sits within walking distance of Sawmill Lake Campsite. According to one visitor, "This is a nice primitive camp site just a 2 min walk from Petty John Cave." At Blue Hole Dispersed Camping, campers can explore Ellison Cave trail, as one reviewer mentioned: "We stayed 3 days 2 nights here in our 21' pop up camper with our generator. Road is pretty well maintained, spots are good size, some only large enough for tent/car camping. We were never bothered and it's right down the road from blue hole and Ellison Cave trail."
Hiking the Cumberland Trail: The 1.8-mile hike to Lockhart's Arch Shelter crosses Middle Creek on a suspension bridge. A hiker reported, "The hike in to this shelter is moderate, passing beautiful views at Julia Falls Overlook, and a cool suspension bridge as it crosses Middle Creek." Another camping option is the Fiery Gizzard Trail near Foster Falls Campground, which one camper called "a CHALLENGE! Boulder field Delores! With gorgeous scenery!"
What campers like
Free dispersed sites: Many tent campsites around White Oak offer no-cost camping. A Blue Hole visitor stated, "Land pass required. No alcohol is permitted. This is a wildlife management area. The camp sites are first come, first serve. They are free. Only 2 sites with tables."
Swimming opportunities: Foster Falls Campground provides access to waterfalls with swimming areas. "Beautiful spot any time of year but we like to go when it's warm enough to swim in the waterfall," reported one camper. Another added, "In addition to Foster Falls, which can get somewhat crowded in the summer, there are some really great smaller falls and swimming holes nearby."
Fishing spots: Davis Pond Campsite offers fishing opportunities. A camper described it as "a real gem with shady trees and a fishing pond." Another visitor mentioned the site has "a huge meadow area. Tons of spots to pitch a tent or park vehicles."
Private tent sites: Some camping areas provide separated sites. "This is what camping should be!! Free, first come first serve, with some fire pits and picnic tables and plenty of room to pitch a tent," one Davis Pond visitor wrote.
What you should know
Access road challenges: Many forest roads require high-clearance vehicles. At Hunter's Check Station Campground, campers noted "road noise and traffic" can be an issue. For Davis Pond, a visitor warned about "a long and winding (and dusty) gravel road into the WMA," adding that "the last 1/2 mile gets a little dicey and needs a vehicle with some clearance."
Wildlife encounters: Ticks are common in warmer months. One Blue Hole camper reported, "stepped out just to see the clearance on a turn and got in with 4 ticks on me." Hornets and other insects can also be problematic, with a Davis Pond visitor noting, "after I set up my tent I noticed that some hornets were flying into a nearby dead tree. I quickly moved to another spot."
Limited facilities: Most tent sites near White Oak have minimal or poorly maintained amenities. At Davis Pond, a visitor described the toilet as "a bit of a horror show with a lot of trash accumulating in the structure." Hunter's Check Station Campground reportedly has "most of the camp spots are littered with peoples leftovers (clothes and trash)."
Tips for camping with families
Accessible waterfall hikes: Foster Falls offers kid-friendly trails with waterfall views. A visitor reported, "Our 2 and 5 year old walked from our campsite down to the falls and back up easily, and enjoyed having a trail that led to the falls overlook for nightly post-dinner walks."
Spacious group sites: Davis Pond accommodates large family gatherings. "If you are coming with a group this is an awesome spot. We counted 5 fire pits but you could literally fill the meadow with dozens of tents easily," one camper explained.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience unexpected noise disruptions. At Foster Falls, a camper noted, "There is a farm nearby with a rooster that spent the better part of the day crowing, which can be distracting when you have a toddler you are trying to get to sleep."
Tips from RVers
High clearance requirements: Forest service roads may challenge RVs with low clearance. A Sawmill Lake camper with a 23-foot camper advised, "I came from the west and had no problems getting my 23ft camper up the mountain. There were a few people that stayed in a tent for a night or two here and there, but I didn't see any other RV/Campers so every spot was open."
Permit requirements: Several dispersed camping areas require permits. The same RVer noted, "You do need a land pass to be here, the website is on the sign coming in and it was around $60."
Weather precautions: Strong winds can affect safety in forested campsites. A reviewer warned, "Trees fall easily so if it's windy be careful where you park."
