Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area
Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area offers visitors year-round recreation opportunities including camping, picnicking, boating, swimming and hiking, all centered around beautiful Lake Winfield Scott. The area is situated high in a mountain valley within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, approximately 80 miles from Atlanta, Georgia. The facility offers a rental cabin with electricity and water, as well as sites for tent and RV camping.
More like this: electric hookups in Georgia · reservable in Georgia · big rigs in Georgia · pets allowed in Georgia · group sites in Georgia
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 19 |
| Tent-only | 6 |
| Standard with electric | 5 |
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
| Group tent areas | 1 |
| group shelter nonelectric | 1 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
34 sites in 7 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | CABIN | Cabin | Gravel | Partial | No | 10 / 5 | Yes | |||
| P02 | Day Use Shelter - Large | Group Shelter Electric | Paved | Full | 15 amp | 100 / 3 | Yes | |||
| P01 | Day Use Shelter - Small | Group Shelter Nonelectric | Paved | Full | No | 30 / 2 | Yes | |||
| G01 | GROUP SITES | Group tent | Back-in | Gravel | Full | No | 25 / 8 | |||
| 021 | NORTH LOOP | Electric | Back-in | 15 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 022 | North | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 023 | North | Standard | Back-in | 15 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 024 | North | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 025 | North | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 026 | North | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | 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 5:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites P02, P01 are listed accessible |
Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area's cabin is a short walk to the lake, and can accommodate up to 12 people. A sleeping area upstairs is furnished with six twin beds and three double beds, all with mattresses. Visitors must provide their own bed and bath linens. The main floor houses a living room with wood stove (no wood provided), dining room and kitchen, which is equipped with a refrigerator, electric stove, microwave, assorted pots and pans, utensils, plates, glasses, cups and flatware. The bathroom has a flush toilet, shower and an electric heater. Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area's campground consists of 31 campsites configured in two loops for tent or RV camping. Showers, flush and vault toilets, grills, picnic tables and lantern posts are provided. The campground has no dump station. Nearby Vogel State Park has a dump station with a nominal fee. There are water and electric hookups on Site #12, 13, 14 and 15.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Blainsville, take U.S. 19/129 south for 10 miles. Turn right (west) on Georgia 180 for 7 miles. Turn right onto Forest Road 37 at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area entrance. From Dahlonega, take U.S. 19 north for approximately 20 miles. Turn left (west) on Georgia 180 for 7 miles.
| Nearest town | Suches, Georgia |
| Coordinates | 34.7403° N, 83.8920° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Crossings ↗ | 1.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blairsville RV Sales ↗ | 11.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 23.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Lake Winfield Scott Campground, Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia
Worth a stop
Suches, Georgia is five miles southwest of the recreation area and offers a general store and fuel station. Blairsville, Georgia is 16 miles north on U.S. Highway 19/129 and offers the nearest full-service grocery stores and shopping villages.
- 2.7 miDesoto Falls Day Use Pass ↗Day use
- 6.2 miRaven Cliffs Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.2 mi
- 6.4 mi
- 10.8 miBeasley Knob Ohv ↗OHV / range
- 13.2 miWhissenhunt Ohv ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miHelton Creek Falls0.1 mi trail · hiking
- 1.8 miByron Herbert Reece0.7 mi trail · hiking
- 2.1 miDesoto Falls0.9 mi trail · hiking
- 2.1 miFreeman1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.6 miBear Hair Gap2.6 mi trail · hiking
- 2.7 miLogan Turnpike1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
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
This campground sits inside Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.
- inChattahoochee-Oconee National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,796,317 acres
- 0.9 miRaven Cliffs Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 9,240 acres
- 1.5 miMark Trail Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 16,618 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
- Walasi-Yi InnBuilding · Blairsville · 1.5 mi
- Blood Mountain Trail ShelterBuilding · Blairsville · 2.6 mi
- Old Union County CourthouseBuilding · Blairsville · 10.1 mi
Natural features
The recreation area includes 18-acre Lake Winfield Scott, which forms the headwaters of Cooper Creek. The lake was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the surrounding forest, including deer, bear, wild turkey, grouse and songbirds.
Recreation
The Lake Winfield Scott Beach includes a designated swimming area, picnic tables, a bathhouse, pavilions (by reservation only), a playground and trash bins. Day-use hiking trails are found within the recreation area, ideal for a short stroll. A 0.4-mile trail parallels the lakeshore. In addition, the 1-mile Jarrard Gap Trail and 2.7-mile Slaughter Creek Trail both begin within the recreation area and connect to the Appalachian Trail. Lake Winfield Scott is open to hand-powered and electric motor boats only. Fishing for catfish, trout, perch, brim and bass is a popular activity. See the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for a complete listing of freshwater fishing regulations for the lake. A boat ramp and accessible fishing dock provide year-round lake access.
Guidebooks for Georgia
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
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 Winfield Scott Recreation Area?
Sites at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area?
Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area have?
34 sites, including 19 standard sites without power, 6 tent-only sites, 5 standard sites with power, and 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area?
The bathroom has a flush toilet, shower and an electric heater.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area?
Sites P02 and P01 are 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
Is there cell service at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area?
The Lake Winfield Scott Beach includes a designated swimming area, picnic tables, a bathhouse, pavilions (by reservation only), a playground and trash bins. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area?
Suches, Georgia. Suches, Georgia is five miles southwest of the recreation area and offers a general store and fuel station.
Source: Getting there