Lake Conasauga Campground
The Lake Conasauga Recreation Area is a remote recreation area located within the Chattahoochee National Forest in northwest Georgia. Getting to Lake Conasauga involves a beautiful forested drive along 15 or more miles of graveled mountain roads through the Cohutta Mountains. Visitors may occasionally see bear, deer, and turkeys on their drive. Wildflowers can be found blooming from February through November in various parts of the mountains. Completed in 1940, Lake Conasauga was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) under the guidance of the U.S. Forest Service.
More like this: reservable in Georgia · pets allowed in Georgia
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 29 |
| Host/management | 7 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 25 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
29 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Lower | Back-in | 8 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 14 | Lower | Back-in | 8 | Gravel | Partial | 5 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 15 | Lower | Back-in | 8 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 16 | Lower | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 17 | Lower | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 18 | Lower | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 19 | Lower | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 20 | Lower | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 21 | Lower | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 22 | Lower | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 5 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Each campsite costs $15 per night. |
| Accessibility | Site 28 is listed accessible |
The Lake Conasauga Campground is a 30 site campground with two camping loops. The Lower Loop is located within view of the lake. The Upper Loop is a forested loop above the lake. Each campsite has a gravel parking spur, a gravel tent pad, picnic table, lantern post, and a fire ring with a grill. There is a restroom with flush toilets located in both camping loops (no showers, no hot water). Water hydrants are located throughout the campground. There is no electricity at this campground. There is no dump station at this campground. Cell phone service is very limited. A cabin for the campground host is located in the campground. Please respect their space and privacy. Driving on steep, narrow, winding, mountain roads is required to get to this campground. Tents, pop-up campers, and travel trailers under 25 feet are recommended for this campground due to access and campsite size limitations.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Mid-March to December 31 |
| Forest | Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest |
| Booking | First come, first served. Camp site must be occupied first night of stay. |
| Fees | Camping: $8/site/night, payable on-site. Campers may use the self-service fee tube to pay with checks or cash. Alternatively, load the Recreation.gov App on your mobile device before you arrive and use the app to pay via Scan & Pay with the QR code in the campground. |
| Rules | Dogs must be leashed in campground. Alcohol is prohibited in the entire Lake Conasauga Recreation Area. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Atlanta: take I-75 N to I-575. I-575 turns into Hwy 515 and continue to Ellijay. From Ellijay, take GA Hwy 52 west for 5 miles to Gates Chapel Road on the right. Turn right and travel about 7 miles to end of pavement. Continue on dirt/gravel road (Forest Service Road #90) about 2 miles to stop sign. Turn right onto Forest Service Road #68.
| Coordinates | 34.8608° N, 84.6498° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- This cabin is a private residence for the host and is not an office or a store.
- GPS is not recommended for navigating to this area as satellite service is regularly interrupted by mountains and trees.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - West Viniard Alexander
35 mi from the campground · 175 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Benton Shooters Supply ↗ | 22.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 23.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Dunlap Family RV of Chattanooga ↗ | 27 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Lakefront campsites at Lake Conasauga Campground near Chatsworth, Georgia.
Worth a stop
Barnes Creek Picnic Area: This small picnic area was historically used as a rock quarry by the Civilian Conservation Corps and U.S. Forest Service in the 1930s. The picnic tables sit near the base of a waterfall. A short trail from the parking area leads to an observation deck above the waterfall. Turn left out of the Lake Conasauga Campground and follow Forest Road 68 for 4.5 miles. Turn right and continue following Forest Road 68 for another 2.5 miles. Gennett Poplar: The Gennett Poplar is the second largest tree in the state of Georgia with a circumference of 18 feet. This tree was left by the Conasauga River Lumber Company as a tribute to the size of the trees that once inhabited the Appalachian Mountains. Turn left out of the Lake Conasauga Campground and follow Forest Road 68 for 4.5 miles. Turn right and continue following Forest Road 68 for 3.5 miles and turn left onto Forest Road 90. Follow Forest Road 90 for 2 miles and turn left onto Forest Road 241. Follow Forest Road 241 for 2 miles until it dead ends. Follow the trail upstream for 3/4 mile.
- 0.1 mi
- 4.5 miBarnes Creek Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 6.5 miSumac Creek Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miGrassy Mtn Tower1.9 mi trail · hiking
- 0.2 miLake Conasauga1 mi trail · hiking
- 0.4 miSongbird1.4 mi trail · hiking
- 0.5 miTibbs ATV Trail2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.7 miWindy Gap Bike4.4 mi trail · hiking, bike, motorcycle, ATV and 1 more
- 0.8 miEmery Creek ↗6 mi trail · hiking
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests begins about 1.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.9 miChattahoochee-Oconee National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,796,317 acres
- 2 miCohutta Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 37,033 acres
- 11.3 miBig Frog Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 8,502 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Wright HotelBuilding · Chatsworth · 9.3 mi
- Murray County CourthouseBuilding · Chatsworth · 9.4 mi
- Vann HouseBuilding · Spring Place · 12.8 mi
Natural features
Surrounded by forested mountains, Lake Conasauga is a 17 acre man-made lake located near the summit of Grassy Mountain in northwest Georgia. It is the highest elevation lake in Georgia, sitting at an elevation of 3,150 feet. No matter the route taken to get to Lake Conasauga, visitors will pass mountain streams, overlooks, and beautiful scenery. The Songbird Management Area is located within the Lake Conasauga Recreation Area. Centered around a large beaver pond, the Songbird Management Area provides a peaceful interpretive nature hike. Many bird species and wildflowers can be found along the interpretive nature hike in this area. Adjacent to the Lake Conasauga Recreation area is the 45,000 acre Cohutta/Big Frog Wilderness (the largest designated wilderness area east of the Mississippi River.). The Cohutta Wilderness contains 91 miles of arduous backpacking trails.
Recreation
A swimming and picnic area with a picnic shelter is located across the lake opposite the campground. A swimming dock is provided for visitors to take a swim in the cold natural spring waters of Lake Conasauga. There is no lifeguard on duty, so please swim at your own risk. Hiking trails include the Lake Loop Trail (1 mile loop), the Songbird Trail (2.8 mile loop), and the Tower Trail (4 miles round trip). A small boat launch provides boating access for canoes, kayaks, and small boats (electric motors only). Fishermen may catch bass, bream, and even an occasional catfish. A fishing dock is provided. The Lake Loop Trail provides various locations along the shoreline for fishermen to cast. A Georgia fishing license is required for those 16 and older.
Guidebooks for Georgia
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Lake Conasauga Campground?
Sites at Lake Conasauga Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. First come, first served. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Lake Conasauga Campground?
Each campsite costs $15 per night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Lake Conasauga Campground?
Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Lake Conasauga Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Mid-March to December 31.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Lake Conasauga Campground have?
36 sites, including 29 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Lake Conasauga Campground?
Lake Conasauga Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Does Lake Conasauga Campground have hookups?
Yes, water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Lake Conasauga Campground?
There is a restroom with flush toilets located in both camping loops (no showers, no hot water).
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Lake Conasauga Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Lake Conasauga Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Lake Conasauga Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Dogs must be leashed in campground.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Lake Conasauga Campground?
Site 28 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Lake Conasauga Campground?
A swimming and picnic area with a picnic shelter is located across the lake opposite the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation