2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Tent camping options in the mountains surrounding Young Harris, Georgia range from established campgrounds to backcountry sites along the Appalachian Trail. Raven Cliff Falls provides primitive tent camping with multiple access types, including drive-in and walk-in options. Blood Mountain Shelter on the Appalachian Trail offers hike-in tent camping in a more remote setting, accessible only by foot and providing a true wilderness experience.
Most tent sites in the area feature basic amenities with fire rings and some have picnic tables, but limited services beyond these essentials. Many primitive tent campgrounds lack drinking water, requiring campers to either pack in their supplies or filter water from nearby streams. Tent campers should be prepared for rustic conditions, particularly at backcountry sites where vault toilets may be absent. Access roads to many dispersed camping areas can be challenging, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles, especially after rain when creek crossings become difficult. A camper wrote, "Take the gravel road past the Raven Cliff Trail parking lot to find many great campsites. A few are available before you get to a water crossing, and there are at least a dozen more after the water but only cross in a AWD/truck."
The tent camping experience in this region offers genuine seclusion and natural beauty. Sites are often situated near water sources, providing both scenic value and practical access for filtering drinking water. Many backcountry tent sites feature tree cover suitable for hammock camping as well as ground tents. The area's primitive tent camping areas serve as excellent basecamps for hiking, with several popular trails nearby including sections of the Appalachian Trail. A review mentioned that "We camped here in June with a group of our close friends. It was a bit humid and warm, which is no surprise for a North Georgia summer, but still well worth the peace and relaxation." Wildlife encounters are possible, and proper food storage is essential as this is bear country, with some sites providing bear boxes or hanging systems for food storage.
"I’ve camped at this location multiple times and each time was better than the last. It feels like a very primitive spot with the ease of car camping."
"Raven Cliff Falls is another popular spot in Northeast Georgia. Its on one one of the most scenic highways and s in a great location if you want to venture into Helen, Brasstown, Bald, or Hiawassee."
"We didn't stay in the shelter and instead set up our tent near an overlook nearby. Perfect place for sunrise and sunset."
"While most AT shelters have a bathroom nearby, this one doesn't. Also there isn't any water available."
"If you’re anywhere near Helen, GA on an ADV Bike, this summit is for you. There are three routes up the mountain so you never have to double back."
"Great site, plenty of space, very private and peaceful."
"A relatively moderate 2.4 mile (round trip) hike with primitive camping/ backpacking campsites alongside High Shoals Creek."
"Rough drive up, AWD recommended. Great secluded campsites 0.5-1.0 mile hike-in. Moderate hike, downhill to campsite, uphill to get out."
"Makeshift fire rings and tent spots are at most sites. No water so get some on the way in. No cell service either. Great stargazing, lots of trees/shade and hammock spots."
"This area is great for 2 reasons- it tend to be cooler in temps in the summer because of the shade and higher elevation."
"Now, to this point, I've only seen about 50 other miles of trail and campsites, but in that 50, I'd say this was one of the best. It was truly a "camp"."
"I visited Bristol Fields for a planned primitive camping event with a group."
"Great shelter with close water access, Bear box for food storage, and a fire pit. Kept us dry in the rain!"
"This is an iconic location early on the AT. The hostel is a row of bunk beds nestled into a long room. A shower and video collection are available."
from $25 / night
"this place was a great place for fishing, exploring and hiking, great place to back pack into and tent camp."
"I’ve stayed at this location plenty of times."
ScoutI camped here with a friend last weekend and absolutely loved this place! It's a cute little site with a great host, clean bathrooms, free firewood, and super friendly dogs, goats, and people. I would for sure stay here again and recommend.
GuideParksville Lake RV Campground is an absolute gem! I had a fantastic stay here. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the sites are nice, spacious, and wonderfully shaded by the trees. We loved the layout of the RV loop, especially the outer section where a peaceful creek flows right past the sites—the sound of the water at night was perfect. The restrooms and showers were exceptionally clean and well-kept. I had Starlink connectivity at my site and my WeBoost cell signal booster gave me up to three bars on AT&T. The campground host was incredibly nice, welcoming, and helpful. It's a wonderful, relaxing spot, and I will definitely be back!
ScoutWe stayed for a week in late October. Quiet and secluded but right outside of Franklin. Very. Nicely decorated. Has small campstore, very nice laundryroom, and a guest event center. Rick, the campsite host, helped me get backed in and asked if I needed any more help. Some pull-throughs. Some sites are a little tight but others really nice. We will definitely come back.
ScoutWhatever person or group of persons designed the campground were clueless as to how to develop a campground. Sites are packed in the most preposterous configuration to have tents, trailers motorhomes all jammed together nearly touching each other with zero privacy. Come for the hikes and views of the gorge but come with the lowest expectations for the campground and you’ll be fine
TravelerMy son, daughter-in-law, and twin grandchildren, and I camped here to watch the full solar eclipse in 2017. We had a beautiful tent site. There was a little playground that the kids really enjoyed and abundant shade at the camping site. Bathrooms were clean, wood for campfires was available, and we had a wonderful time.
GuideA sign on the gate says that the area has been closed "due to vandalism and unauthorized activity".
GuideThis is one of several USFS campgrounds that are within a few miles of each other. The cost is only $8/night, first come first served. The sites are fairly large with about half of them on a wide, clear creek. There is no running water, but there are bear proof trash cans and vault toilets that were fairly clean, but didn't smell great.
There is free potable water and an RV dump station about a mile away at the North River Game Checking Station on River Road near the Spivey Cove campground..
The campsite was clean with picnic table, fire ring, and a lantern post. The fire ring was almost full of ashes and it appears that campers have to clean them out themselves.
The Green Cove Angler store is a couple miles away and has ice, firewood and other camper things.
Unfortunately, while we were there, it was bear hunting season and another camper had multiple barking and baying dogs that went on and on for hours.
ScoutWalk to trail sites, clean bathrooms, sites close together…water and electric at site. Sites are sloped gravel.
ScoutBeautiful Campground, but Absolutely NOT Family-Friendly! I rarely leave negative reviews this strongly, but our experience at Turkey Creek Campground was so disappointing that I feel compelled to warn other families. First, I’ll give credit where it’s due. The campground is beautifully maintained, and the creekside sites are incredibly peaceful and serene. It’s a lovely setting, and during the day, the owner is friendly enough and seemingly hospitable. Unfortunately, the hospitality comes to a screeching halt the moment the clock strikes 10 PM.
We were two families camping together with six well-behaved kids who absolutely love the outdoors. We understand and respect campground quiet hours. We weren’t looking to throw parties, blast music, or disturb anyone. But apparently, at Turkey Creek,“quiet hours” doesn’t mean keeping noise to a respectful minimum. It means absolute silence, complete darkness, and seemingly no normal human activity whatsoever.
I’m not exaggerating.
* We were told to turn off ALL our lights at 10 PM.
* We were confronted for opening our vehicle’s trunk because it made a brief beeping sound.
* Our children were startled by a large spider near the bathhouse, and the owner actually yelled at them to be quiet.
* One evening around 11 PM, we were talking quietly INSIDE OUR OWN TENT, barely above a whisper, when the owner approached our tent door to reprimand us for talking.
* On another occasion, he approached us to complain that our children had left TWO STICKS on the ground near the bathrooms. Two sticks! At a campground surrounded by woods, where the kids had just walked down a wooded trail to reach the bathhouse!
And don’t even think about enjoying a little background music while sitting around your campsite. Music of any kind played through a speaker is prohibited, regardless of volume. Apparently, even a little John Denver played quietly while enjoying the mountains is too much to ask. I fully appreciate that some people camp specifically for peace and quiet. We respect that, too. But there is a massive difference between enforcing reasonable quiet hours and making paying guests feel like they’re constantly being watched, monitored, and reprimanded for simply existing. The owner’s enforcement of these rules felt excessive, confrontational, and completely out of proportion to what was actually happening.
Instead of relaxing and enjoying our family vacation, we found ourselves walking on eggshells, worried that the smallest sound, light, or ordinary childhood behavior would result in another confrontation. What makes this particularly frustrating is that our kids were doing exactly what we’d hope children would do on a camping trip: spending time outside, exploring nature, enjoying each other’s company, and making memories away from screens. Yet somehow, even that seemed unwelcome. If we hadn’t already paid for five nights, we would have packed up and left after the very first night. That’s how uncomfortable the experience became.
If you are someone who wants a meticulously maintained campground where everyone retires to complete silence and darkness by 10 PM, Turkey Creek might be perfect for you. But if you’re a family hoping to enjoy a campfire, share some laughs, quietly socialize in the evening, and let your children experience the simple joys of camping, I cannot recommend this place strongly enough AGAINST it.
There are so many beautiful campgrounds in this area, and I cannot imagine choosing to return somewhere that made our families feel so unwelcome. Beautiful property. Extremely disappointing hospitality. Absolutely terrible experience for families. We will never return.
Tent camping opportunities near Young Harris, Georgia range from primitive dispersed sites to established facilities within the Chattahoochee National Forest. Most sites sit at elevations between 2,000-4,500 feet, contributing to cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowlands. Winter camping often experiences temperatures 10-15 degrees colder than nearby towns, with occasional snow at higher elevations between December and March.
Waterfall hiking trails: Several campgrounds provide access to waterfall hikes within 5 miles. At Raven Cliff Falls, the namesake trail offers a moderate 5-mile round trip trek ending at a spectacular waterfall. As one camper noted, "Raven Cliff Falls trail is a 2.5 miles hike that ends at a breathtaking waterfall, but the trail doesn't quite end there. Once you arrive at the falls there's plenty of room to roam the dozens of rock structures."
Water recreation: Wildcat Creek features natural water slides and swimming holes perfect for summer cooling. A camper at Wildcat Creek Campground #2 Upper shared, "This area is great for 2 reasons- it tends to be cooler in temps in the summer because of the shade and higher elevation. The water is crystal clear and cool and best of all, there is a cool water slide for adults and kids to have fun and cool off with."
Summit camping: For experienced hikers seeking views, Blood Mountain offers tent sites at higher elevations. "We hiked up to Blood Mountain from the Byron Reese Trailhead. We didn't stay in the shelter and instead set up our tent near an overlook nearby. Perfect place for sunrise and sunset," mentioned one camper who visited the area.
Creek-side tent sites: Many campers appreciate pitching tents within earshot of moving water. A camper at Low Gap Creek reported, "The camp ground was beautiful with fire pits and some even had grills to use over the fire. Half of the sites are on one side of the river and the other on the other half."
Solitude and separation: Dispersed sites typically offer more privacy than developed campgrounds. At Indian Grave Gap Campsite, a reviewer noted, "Three campsites in the immediate area. Two are on one side of the road. You have to cross thru one to get to the other. All three have creek access. We picked the single on the other side. Not a lot of flat ground options. Each site is huge."
Base camp versatility: Many tent campers use these sites as starting points for multiple activities. "It's about as far south as you can go and still get that nice cool NC shaded air. The views were amazing and it was far enough removed from everything that only nature sounds are heard at night," shared a visitor describing their experience camping in the area.
Road conditions: Many dispersed sites require navigating unpaved forest roads. One camper at Wildcat 1 advised, "I would recommend not going after it has rained or snowed, or if you do, leave your vehicle on the trail and unpack from there. I may or may not have gotten stuck and needed a hand to push my car out."
Winter preparedness: Higher elevation camping around Young Harris requires extra gear in colder months. A camper mentioned, "I would recommend triple checking the temperatures because it is a bit high in elevation and can cause some pretty drastic fluctuations if you're not ready."
Wildlife awareness: Bears are active throughout the region, particularly in summer and fall. One Raven Cliff Falls camper warned, "We were visited by a bear two of the nights. The bear took our neighbors dog food they forgot to pack out. So pack out all food items and trash or hang a bear bag."
Accessible waterfall options: For families with younger children, select trails with shorter distances. A visitor noted, "Low Gap Creek campground is very remote, down a dirt road. No cell service and I only saw 2 other people," making it ideal for families wanting privacy but still having access to amenities.
Camp selection strategy: Families often prefer sites with more amenities. "Wildcat #2 is about 4 miles up a gravel road from #1 and provides no amenities but great dispersed car camping sites in the national forest. Spots are huge and spread out, great for groups as multiple cars and tents can easy fit," shared one Bristol Fields Horse Camp visitor.
Night sky viewing: Clear mountain nights offer exceptional stargazing opportunities. A camper reported, "Total black at night meant excellent star gazing and the creek was the loudest thing out there. Excellent get away with no electronics to speak of."
Size restrictions: Most tent camping areas near Young Harris have limited accessibility for larger RVs. One RVer noted, "We stayed in the parking lot in our small rig. (Under 26 ft) we had our super quiet generator running and had no issues. Stayed overnight and then went on the 5 mile hike to see the different water falls."
Water crossings: Some roads to dispersed camping require crossing shallow streams. A visitor cautioned, "To get to the other side you must drive through the river on the road that passes through it. When I went it was about 2-3 inches deep and moving quickly."
Alternative accommodations: For RVers wanting more comfort, consider staying at established campgrounds while day-visiting tent camping areas. One visitor to tent camping sites in the region shared, "A nice feature someone created was a 'dam' of rocks with a round pool to sit in," highlighting natural features that can be enjoyed during day visits from more developed camping areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Young Harris, GA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Young Harris, GA is Raven Cliff Falls with a 4.5-star rating from 29 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 125 tent camping locations near Young Harris, GA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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