Good Campsites in GA?

[eightiesguy]

A couple of friends and myself are planning a trip through GA on the AT for the first week of June. According to my research there are campsites at the following mile marks: 2.5 Stover Creek Shelter 4.1 Three Forks (USFS 58) 5.8 Logging Road 13.6 Justus Creek 16.3 Gooch Gap 25.5 Jarrad Gap 26.9 Bird Gap 27.2 Slaughter Creek 27.3 Camp Sites 31.6 Bull Gap 34.7 Baggs Creek Camp 47.4 Campsite (West side of AT) 47.8 Rocky Knob (Flat Area) 50.5 Unicoi Gap (GA 75) 51.8 Rocky Mountain 54.1 Cheese Factory Site 57.7 Steeltrap Gap 61.3 Addis Gap 64 Campsites 64.2 McClure Gap 67.7 Campsite 73.2 Wheeler Knob Campsite 75.4 Bly Gap Am I missing an obvious campsites? Are there any really good (but little known) sites we should keep an eye out for? I know i've left the shelters off of the list, and most (if not all) either have tent pads or allow camping, but I'm trying to compile a list of sites so that we don't have to rely on shelters every night of the trip. Thanks Phil

[Footslogger]

There are a lot of campsites in GA but the key is water availabilty ...unless you're planning on carrying it all with you. I would decide roughly how many miles/day you want to hike and then consult either the ALDHA Companion or the Thru Hikers Handbook to determine where the reliable water sources are located. Water is the priority. Campsites are plentiful.

'Slogger

[Dances with Mice]

A couple of friends and myself are planning a trip through GA on the AT for the first week of June. According to my research there are campsites at the following mile marks: 2.5 Stover Creek Shelter 4.1 Three Forks (USFS 58) 5.8 Logging Road 13.6 Justus Creek 16.3 Gooch Gap 25.5 Jarrad Gap 26.9 Bird Gap 27.2 Slaughter Creek 27.3 Camp Sites 31.6 Bull Gap 34.7 Baggs Creek Camp 47.4 Campsite (West side of AT) 47.8 Rocky Knob (Flat Area) 50.5 Unicoi Gap (GA 75) 51.8 Rocky Mountain 54.1 Cheese Factory Site 57.7 Steeltrap Gap 61.3 Addis Gap 64 Campsites 64.2 McClure Gap 67.7 Campsite 73.2 Wheeler Knob Campsite 75.4 Bly Gap Am I missing an obvious campsites? Are there any really good (but little known) sites we should keep an eye out for? I know i've left the shelters off of the list, and most (if not all) either have tent pads or allow camping, but I'm trying to compile a list of sites so that we don't have to rely on shelters every night of the trip. Thanks Phil

For backpacking tent campsites, there are absolutely hundreds in Georgia. You're never more than 20 minutes away from a perfectly useable primitive campsite. You will practice LNT, right?

Here are some of the best, I've camped at least once at each: Long Creek Falls at about 7 miles, Hickory Flats Cemetery about 8 with huge shelter, indoor privy and a 2-person hiker-powered merry-go-round to play on (100 yards west on first gravel road crossing after the Falls, don't miss it even if you don't camp there!), Justus Creek. Gooch Mtn shelter area has prepared tentsites. Gooch Gap. The Woody Gap quarry area (walk between the picnic tables on the north parking area, continue 100 yards back to the quarry). Many more, and that's just the first 20 miles.

The Blood Mtn camping area immediately south of Blood, at the base of the mountain, deserves special mention, it's a lovely area with each tentsite situated with a view of a large, quiet cove and a great watersource nearby. Admire the beautiful handlaid mortorless rockwork along that section of the Trail while you're there.

[Hikerhead]

Yeah, what Footslogger said. Most of the ridge tops are flat as are the gaps. Just carry enough water.

[orangebug]

There are other campsites available now that will disappear by June. Leveltop Mtn, north of Neel's Gap has many campsites that are swallowed by wild flowers pretty quickly.

Long Creek Falls is great, but camping there isn't exactly LNT given how close you stay to the water.

[Dances with Mice]

Long Creek Falls is great, but camping there isn't exactly LNT given how close you stay to the water.

Nor at 3 Forks. But I meant in the area, not directly at the base of the Falls. There are clearings at the blue blaze / AT intersection.

[Hikerhead]

Hickory Flats cemetary is a great place to camp. About 1/2 mile up from Long Creek Falls and take the gravel road to the left. When I hiked this with Kerozene we stayed there. It has a privy, picnic shelter, whirly gig. About 10 or 15 maintainers were there and had a great fire going. Pittsburg was there, Ladybug was there. I can't ever forget Crosscut and his stories. He was staying there in a trailer. I even played a little whiffle ball and almost got sick on that whirlygig thing. This was a great place to camp.

I just now saw that Dances with Mice had already commented on this place.

[greentick]

There are several areas in the first quarter mile on the ridge of Wildcat Mtn with awesome views at sunset and in the AM just north of Testanee (sp?) Gap. They are on the blue blaze trail to the Whitley Gap Shelter (1.2mi off trail). Bring water if staying on the ridge. The shelter has a great water source (at least in January).

[Gray Blazer]

Swag of the Blue Ridge? What is a swag, anyway?

[Dances with Mice]

Swag of the Blue Ridge? What is a swag, anyway?

Nothing to write home about, really, it's just a long gap in the Blue Ridge. http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.8361&lon=-83.66

Memorable partly because in the 1960's there was a plan to extend the Blue Ridge Parkway south, thru GSMNP and down into GA. The road would have crossed the Blue Ridge right at the Swag and obliterated a great deal of the AT.

The GATC planned and began building an alternate route for the AT. The trails cut for that purpose then are now the Benton Mackaye and Duncan Ridge Trails.

[Kerosene]

There's also a few nice tentsites atop Ramrock Mountain, a mile or two south of Woody Gap. No water, but a lovely view with the Atlanta skyline in the distance.

I was impressed by the location and number of tentsites just north of Neels Gap. I think it was Sheeprock Mountain that also had a great dry site.

[Ridge]

Out of the 75 miles of trail in GA you can probably camp on roughly 50 miles of trail. Just stay off the other 25.

[eightiesguy]

Wow... Thanks for all the great replies. My friends and I appreciate your recomendations. And as always, LNT is not just a motto, it's a way of life. Keep the suggestions coming.

[Whistler]

There are millions of places off of the Georgia AT. I like Preacher's Rock/ Big Cedar Mountain, just up the hill from Woody Gap. I also like the the Stover Creek/ Three Forks area... Cowrock Mountain has some nice views...
-Mark

[Uncle Wayne]

There are several areas in the first quarter mile on the ridge of Wildcat Mtn with awesome views at sunset and in the AM just north of Testanee (sp?) Gap. They are on the blue blaze trail to the Whitley Gap Shelter (1.2mi off trail). Bring water if staying on the ridge. The shelter has a great water source (at least in January).

One of the best, although dry, is on the AT ridge line of Wildcat Mountain. If you're going North, it's about 50 yards before the sign pointing to Whitley Gap Shelter. It has an overlook into Town Creek gorge and a view of Cowrock Mountain.

[Bianchi Veloce]

How about Poplar Stamp Gap about half way between Unicoi Gap and Tesnatee Gap? Was thinking of doing an over nighter there in a few weeks. My old guide book reports a stream near by. Is that stream a realible water source in early October? Thanks.

[Oddjob]

There is an unmarked spot off to the left (NOBO) about 2 miles south of the NC Border. The site is up on a knoll that is perfect for water runoff and there is a small creek if water is scarce. There was a primitive fire pit when I was there in May '06 and should still be there. Nice Flat ground, perfect for tenting.

[Pokey2006]

You already have it on your list, but I have to give special mention to Justus Creek. Lots of established campsites to choose from, all within sight and sound of the creek. Out of six months on the trail, this remained among my top five favorite places to camp.

[Bulldawg]

Wow, I found this thread on Google and decided to revive it a little. I am doing a small section this Thursday thru Saturday and need to find a good site for Thursday night. I am starting at Unicoi and going to Dick's Creek. Now I know most of you will say "Oh, thats just a two day hike". Well maybe it is for you guys, but I am nursing some sort of muscle pull that get aggravated every time I hike with any weight to amount to anything on my back, so I am not going to push myself, especially since I have to arrange a pick up with my wife. Would hate to tell her to pick me up Friday night and not show up due to slowing down through the hike.

Anyway, I am looking to stop Thursday somewhere just shy of Young Lick Knob Thursday night. I want to get a little past Tray Mountain shelter since it throws off my plan for the rest of the hike. But I don't want to attempt Rocky, Tray, and Young Lick on the same day, so I plan on stopping short. I hammock so almost anywhere is OK, just wondering where some of you might pitch camp if you were me. I am looking at somewhere between mile 57.5 and 57.8. Thanks in advance for the advice!!

[Dances with Mice]

Anyway, I am looking to stop Thursday somewhere just shy of Young Lick Knob Thursday night. I want to get a little past Tray Mountain shelter since it throws off my plan for the rest of the hike. But I don't want to attempt Rocky, Tray, and Young Lick on the same day, so I plan on stopping short. I hammock so almost anywhere is OK, just wondering where some of you might pitch camp if you were me. I am looking at somewhere between mile 57.5 and 57.8. Thanks in advance for the advice!!

Steeltrap Gap. Great campsite with marked water source that is flowing (though it's way, way downhill). You may use less energy getting water at Tray.

And wonderful water bars, freshly cleared, on either side of the Gap. Magnificent water bars, as a matter of fact. Perhaps the best of any on the entire Appalachian Trail.