Camping in the Chattahoochee National Forest

Primitive camping in the Chattahoochee Forest in North Georgia, offering a relaxing escape from Metro Atlanta.

Nestled North of Helen where the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River grow, the Chattahoochee National Forest covers 750,000 acres of rolling forested land with excellent hiking and camping areas.

It’s here, along FR 44, that we’ve found our favorite campsites – a string of primitive sites with stone fire rings and gravel turnoffs for parking off the side of the Forest Road.  Here, many streams converge and flow past the large campsites to meet with the Chattahoochee River downstream.  The sites are distributed along 3 miles of the Forest Road. Depending on the site you pick, your nearest campground will be up to a half mile from the next nearest site.

The proximity of the sites to hiking on the nearby Appalachian Trail, along with the serenity that the private campsites offer, make these a perfect weekend camping getaway that’s not too far from home.   Just North of the campsites on GA 75 is one of our favorite hikes, Indian Grave Gap.  Follow GA 75 North of FR 44 approximately 4 miles to Unicoi Gap, and hike northward on the Appalacian Trail toward Adidas Gap.  This 5 mile hike is strenuous but affords breathtaking views of the Chattahoochee National Forest from the top.

How to find the campsites?  It’s easy – take GA 75 North from Cleveland 17 miles (you’ll pass through Helen on the way).  You’ll pass Andrews Cove Campground on your right  - and several miles later, you’ll see a sign for the Upper Chattahoochee Campground and a turnoff for Forest Road 44 on your left.  FR 44 is gravel but easily drivable – follow along the road, enjoying the scenery, until you come across primitive campsites around 2 miles in on both sides of the road.

Camping here is free, and some sites are more private than others – though no cost means no facilities, so bring plenty of drinking water.  If you decide the primitive sites aren’t your thing and prefer full facilities instead, continue on FR44 for another few miles to the Upper Chattahoochee Campground, which offers 34 family campsites with full water and bathroom facilities at the cost of $12 a night (and very small sites that border with your neighbors) – but still shares in the beauty of the area and proximity to hiking. GPS Coordinates: 34.789946,-83.760924

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