Closed

Closed indefinitely due to road hazards. Wildcat Road has sustained four landslides since 2019; only the first has been repaired. Slides 2-4 await federal emergency relief funding with no announced reopening date. Hiking access is permitted but no vehicle access is available. No camping, fires, or trash pickup during closure.

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Road Maintenance: West Cowpen Road (FSR 17)

Temporary delays can be expected on West Cowpen Road (FSR 17) from 10/17/2026 through 11/13/2026 due to road maintenance.  Road maintenance will be conducted from the GA DNR West Cowpen Check Station on Old Ga Highway 2 to its intersection with Mill Creek Road (FSR 630).  Be aware of heavy…

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Prescribed fire on Oconee Ranger District at Jasper County

#BurnAlerts – Oconee Ranger District The Oconee Ranger District will apply prescribed fire over the next several weeks to improve timber stands either before or after operations. The burn units are located in Putnam, Jasper, Jones and Greene counties. Smoke may be visible along adjacent…

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Muskrat Road, FS 218, Temporarily Closed

Forest Service Road 218, Muskrat, is closed due to a road cave-in after recent heavy rain.  Visitors may still access the parking lot for Windy Gap trail system.

About

Wildcat Creek Campground #1, also known as the Lower campground, sits at 2,420 feet elevation in the North Georgia mountains west of Lake Burton. The campground is positioned along the headwaters of Wildcat Creek, which flows directly adjacent to the campsites and is seasonally stocked with rainbow trout by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. A valid Georgia fishing license and trout stamp are required. This is a primitive tent-only campground accessed via Wildcat Road (Forest Road 26), a steep, narrow gravel road with single lanes and turnouts. The road conditions make it unsuitable for RVs or trailers even when open. Potable water is not available at this site, so campers must bring their own water supply. The campground has been closed indefinitely since Wildcat Road sustained four landslides beginning in 2019. The first slide has been repaired, but slides 2-4 remain and await funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Relief program. Hiking access to the area is still permitted, but there is no safe vehicle access to the campgrounds and no services are available during the closure.

Directions

From Clayton, GA, take U.S. Route 76 west for 9.7 miles to State Route 197. Turn left onto Route 197 and go 5.1 miles to West Wildcat Road (Forest Road 26). Turn right onto West Wildcat Road and go 2.8 miles to the campground.

Amenities

Water No
Fires Allowed —
Toilets —
Dump Station No
Wifi No
Pets Allowed —
Showers No
Electric Hookups —
Water Hookups —
Sewer Hookups —
Camp Store No
Price $5 - $10

Vehicle

Max RV Length —
Max Trailer Length —
Big Rig Friendly No
Pull Through Sites No

Contact

Phone +1 (770) 297-3000

Cell Service

AT&T Yes
Verizon Yes
T-Mobile None

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