Stayed here with a group of friends in the tent only area. We had an absolute blast. The tent area isn't as busy as the RV section is, there were a few other people camping but it was still pretty empty. We would drive over to the RV area when we needed showers or real bathrooms. There was a portapotty nearby the tent section. We loved the trails throughout Highlands Hammock, we even found some wild oranges!
After one of my favorite stretches of hiking we got to this campsite along the AT. We were warned about bears in the area so were very cautious about hanging our bear bag a little extra distance away on the opposite side of the creek. The creek was absolutely freezing cold in July, it was great to rinse some clothes and ourselves off. It was definitely one of our best nights sleep listening to the water!
On a week long backpacking trip we came across this wonderful spot after a long day. Our guide book mentioned a cemetery down the road and we decided to check it out. What we found was an oasis. Trail angels had dropped off two jugs of gatorade, There was a pavilion with picnic benches and a fire ring with a pile of firewood. There was a typical campsite restrooms and it even had a sink.
This is one of my favorite camping spots to get away! It's way down a long dirt road, there's a bunch of dispersed camping spots along the river side so water is pretty accessible and the sound puts you right to sleep. The AT cuts right nearby and its a short hike to Long Creek Falls. This area is pretty secluded, you may see 3-4 other camping parties but that'll be it!
The hike up to the campsite might be a lot but once you're up there the views are worth it. While most AT shelters have a bathroom nearby, this one doesn't. Also there isn't any water available. I've heard plenty of horror stories about the mice at this shelter so we stayed in our tent nearby. The tent spots aren't really the greatest - the few flat spots get taken pretty early and there really is only a few. We ended up sleeping at an angle and pretty uncomfortably considering the rocky terrain, but the view makes up for it!
I've camped here at least 3-4 times in all the different seasons/weather. Springer is an easy weekend backpacking get away. The shelter is only 1 mile away from the nearest parking lot, or you can start at Amicalola and hike the 8 miles for the Approach Trail. The shelter is standard and water is nearby (last July it was just a small trickle but still filled our bottles). The shelter is close to the terminus of the AT - definitely recommend setting up, eating dinner, then heading back to the terminus to watch the sunset there!