North Georgia Mountains

[Bears_Den]

Looking at a possible trip up there in late July or early August. Looking for some experienced recommendations in the Blairville, Blue Ridge, Ellijay area. Read a few reviews on RvParkReviews but some of the reviews people post are more about poor WiFi or no WiFi at all, no laundry facilities. That stuff doesn’t bother me, what I want to know is how private are the sites, are there things to do in the area, is it kid friendly even though we are empty nesters. Are there views of the mountains, DW likes to pottery shop and I enjoy quaint little places to shop and eat and just relaxing at the campsite. Names of specific campgrounds would be nice so I can go to their websites and even look at reviews . Thanks in advance for he suggestions.

[CharlesinGA]

I was at Black Rock in my 24 ft Motorhome, and traveling with my co-worker, he was in his Ram 3500 quad/long bed with a 30 ft Avion TT behind it. No real issues up or down to the park, there were several other long rigs there when we were. Yes, in the switch back (there is only one) you have to look ahead as you are in the other side of the road, (and there are a couple of near 90 degree curves) but that is true for virtually anything longer than a car or pickup.

Some of the sites are listed at 40 ft and a few at 50 ft. There is one site that is probably 60 ft or more deep, would be a issue backing into it as it is not angled like some of the others. While I might not recommend it for a 40 ft triple axle fifth wheel, a truck and a 27 ft trailer would not have any issues.

I just finished looking over the park web site and the reservations web site and cannot find anything that specifies a 25 ft max recommended length. I will agree you need to exercise due care and caution and as the web site says, "RVers should be comfortable driving on steep, winding roads.".

Charles
Looking south toward Town of Clayton from Visitor Center

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Sunset view from the deck on the campground loop.

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Both of us. Thats a 35 to 38 ft Class A you can see thru the trees just above the Avion. Its the next site over.

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[Retired_JSO]

We’ve stayed at Track Rock and Crossing Creeks. Vogel was a bit too small for us. We plan to try Rivers Edge just outside Murphy NC later this summer.

[Horsedoc]

Retired JSO wrote:
Black Rock should not be a recomedation to a guy pulling a 27’ trailer up that hill where the max RV is recommended at 25’. Just driving up there in our long wheel base truck requires me to be in the oncoming lane at many switchbacks.

Exactly! I tried to figure out a nice way to say that and could not.
you nailed it. Too small and too steep for anything of size

[FF286]

Someone mentioned wood ring branch earlier, that’s one of my favorite local parks. All sites are on the water and all but one or 2 are very easy to back into. I believe those 2 have remarks in the description to let you know. There is not much to do there but swim, and relax.
I believe the lake is 500’ deep. We take out kayaks when we go there and once I put my fish finder on and about 100yds from the camper I was over 350’ of water. That a strange feeling.

[Walaby]

x3 on Black Rock. Went up there with just my truck, and grateful I didn't try to pull the trailer up there.

I agree they are nice sites.

Mike

[Keithk3628]

Retired JSO wrote:
Black Rock should not be a recomedation to a guy pulling a 27’ trailer up that hill where the max RV is recommended at 25’. Just driving up there in our long wheel base truck requires me to be in the oncoming lane at many switchbacks.

Agree with RetiredJSO

Camp at Unicoi, Moccasin Creek, or Talulah Gorge and visit the Black Rock SP in your truck. I was staying at Moccasin creek SP when we visited Black Rock and we all said the same thing, glad we didn't haul the Rv's up here.

Both times we visited Black Rock there were tow trucks attending to Rver's up there, go visit and you will see why. It really is a great park, but without my 5ver was better.

Keith

[Retired_JSO]

Black Rock should not be a recomedation to a guy pulling a 27’ trailer up that hill where the max RV is recommended at 25’. Just driving up there in our long wheel base truck requires me to be in the oncoming lane at many switchbacks.

[CharlesinGA]

OP should consider Black Rock Mountain State Park. This is East of where they intended to go, but the park is the highest elevation park in the state, the campground being something like 3500 ft. Its relatively cool in the summer. Nice campsites with electric and water and there are two restroom/shower houses.

The park has good views, and a couple of trails to walk, and you will find easy access to two or three large "Georgia Grown" food and produce markets along US 23. The Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center is located right in Mountain City, where the turn off to the park is. If you are not familiar with the Foxfire series of books, Google it, this is the origin of those books.

Going north is the town of Dillard and there is a restaurant called the Dillard House, which is rather famous for its food and service. Franklin NC is just a short distance up the road and you can visit the Gem and Mineral Museum in the old Jail house.

Also on US 23 south of Clayton is Tallulah Falls State Park which also has a campground is a very scenic area.

The only issue with Black Rock Mtn SP is the 7 or 8% grade for a mile and a half or so up to the park. The campground is situated along the top of a ridge, and one site in particular I recall, if you make a wrong turn out of the camper door you are in for quite a drop. Generally the sites are very nice and there is a lot of trees and vegetation around.

If you are staying at more than one GA park this year, consider a Friends of Georgia State Parks Membership. For $65 you get one annual pass and one free night of camping, For $90 you get a annual state park pass, and two nights of free camping, and for $105 you get three nights of free camping and two annual passes. The annual passes allow you to enter any GA park without paying the day use fee.

https://friendsofgastateparks.org/node/1076

Charles

[slapshot12]

Thank you FF

[FF286]

slapshot12 wrote:
We’re going to Fort Mountain next week and I’m getting conflicting info if my 39’ Momentum will fit in the CG without tagging a tree. Some say it’ll be snug, but be careful and it’ll fit, and others say don’t even try it. Can anyone with actual experience advise?

I’d narrowed it down to Vogel or FM and the available pull thru sites at FM looked to have easier access.

You should fit in ft mountain. We have been there many time, with a 30’ 5er. One of my coworkers took his 43’ raptor, it was tight I’m sure, but he got in.

[slapshot12]

We’re going to Fort Mountain next week and I’m getting conflicting info if my 39’ Momentum will fit in the CG without tagging a tree. Some say it’ll be snug, but be careful and it’ll fit, and others say don’t even try it. Can anyone with actual experience advise?

I’d narrowed it down to Vogel or FM and the available pull thru sites at FM looked to have easier access.

[FF286]

Wood ring, Vogel, and fort mountain are All awesome suggestions. Vogel probably has more hiking trails close by, every site at woodring is on the water, fort mountain is definitely kid friendly, With a lot of hiking trails in the park.

[LibertyMan]

In my opinion Vogel State Park near Blairsville is what you are looking for. It makes 1 of our top 5 parks in the southeast. It does not have views of the mountains from the campground but many of the sites sit right on a creek. Sites are also spacious with many things to do within a short drive. There are some decent campground reviews/videos on YouTube about Vogel, check them out and see if this is what you are looking for.

[jaycocamprs]

Fort Mountain State Park is about 20 miles west from Ellijay. Nice large park with lots off hiking/bike trails. Woodring Branch on Cartes Lake is a Corp park again 20 miles west of Ellijay.

Been to two campgrounds over near Hiawassee, GA. Bald Mountain Camping Resort and River Bend Campground. Have been to each more than once. But this east of your target area

garmp wrote:
.
Morganton Point Recreation Area on Blue Ridge Lake (COE Park).

Morganton Point Recreation Area is part of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Lake Blue Ridge is a TVA lake