Lake Conasauga Campground

About

Lake Conasauga Campground is a remote mountain retreat in the Chattahoochee National Forest, accessible via 15+ miles of gravel Forest Service roads through the Cohutta Mountains. At 3,150 feet, it hosts Georgia's highest-elevation lake, where temperatures run 10-15 degrees cooler than the surrounding valleys. The 17-acre lake was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940 and offers swimming from a dock, fishing for bass, bream, and catfish, and boating with electric motors only. The campground has 30 sites across two loops. The Lower Loop provides views of the lake while the Upper Loop sits in a forested setting above. Each site includes a gravel parking spur, gravel tent pad, picnic table, lantern post, and fire ring with grill. Flush toilets with sinks and potable water hydrants are available throughout. Bear-resistant trash receptacles are provided. Hiking options include the 1-mile Lake Loop Trail, the 2.8-mile Songbird Trail through a beaver pond songbird management area, and the 4-mile round-trip Tower Trail. The adjacent 45,000-acre Cohutta/Big Frog Wilderness offers 91 miles of backcountry trails. Nearby attractions include Barnes Creek Picnic Area with its waterfall and the Gennett Poplar, the second-largest tree in Georgia.

Directions

From Atlanta: Take I-75 N to I-575, which becomes Hwy 515, and continue to Ellijay. Take GA Hwy 52 west for 5 miles to Gates Chapel Road. Turn right and travel about 7 miles to end of pavement. Continue on Forest Road 90 about 2 miles to stop sign. Turn right onto Forest Road 68, continue 3-4 miles to T-intersection, turn left to stay on FR 68, then continue 4-5 miles to campground entrance. From Chatsworth: Take US Hwy 411 N for 3 miles to Eton. Turn right on Old CCC Camp Road. After 5 miles the pavement ends onto Forest Road 18. Continue 3-4 miles to fork, take left fork onto Forest Road 68, continue 5-6 miles to T-intersection, turn left on FR 68, then 4-5 miles to campground.