Camping at Three Forks
Mar 24th, 2009 by Admin 1
Nearest Town: Ellijay, Ga
Directions: Take 575/515 to Ellijay and head East on 52. Go about 4.8 miles, take a left onto Big Creek Rd. Go about 14 .7 miles , when pavement ends, continue about 4.4 miles. Take a right onto FR 58. After you enter the Blue Ridge Wildlife Mgmt area camping is allowed in designated areas along the creek or you can continue to the Three Forks camping area adjacent to the Benton MacKaye trail.
Campsite Fee: FREE
Campsite Amenities: Stone fire ring, some have tent pads
We headed up to Three Forks on Friday afternoon to take advantage of the nice weather. We planned on camping at the sites next to the Benton MacKaye trail, but we spotted a really nice creekside site along FR 58 before we got there. The site we picked had a huge tent pad, two fire pits, lots of area for the kids to roam, and about 500 feet of frontage on Noontootla Creek. It was great for our family of four, but could easily have accommodated three more tents and a lot more people.The site was pretty clean and free of trash considering there are no trash cans there so you have to pack your own out.
Our site was right next to the road, but was situated below it so if cars went by, it wasn’t that noisy and still felt very private. The sites are so spread out (about 1/4 mile apart) that the occasional sign of life was welcomed. We personally enjoy the seclusion, but it’s a luxury we are not always afforded while camping.
This is a great location for fishing or hiking the Benton McKaye and Appalachian Trails. Definitely check out Long Creek Falls. It’s a great place to picnic or let the kids play for a while.
Your site is quite informative!! We are getting ready to head up to this site for a day hike/picnic Saturday and I was wondering how easy it is to locate? Meaning I have now idea what FR 58 is and have spent more time than I care to mention scouring Google Earth. Any additional driving hints would be warmly welcomed! Thanks for all your work on this site it is truly appreciated!
Josh
FR 58 is a Forest Road which are typically dirt or gravel (watch for pot holes) giving you access to the Appalachian Trial, Benton MacKaye Trail, Long Creek Falls and fishing along the Noontootla Creek. If you follow the directions above and then take a right on Forest Road 58 you will see these campsites along Noontootla Creek on your right which are basically large clearings approved for camping.
Thanks for checking out the site and let me know if you need any additional information. I will see what I can do to help! Make sure you check out Long Creek Falls while your there.
http://www.campnpost.com/hikes/long-creek-falls/
Its either FR or FS for forest service. seems to change depending on where you go but there both usually just a dirt road in the mountains.
Found it without a problem! What a great site for camping. Thanks again for the site; we would have never found so many great places so close to Canton!
Josh,
You are more than welcome! Thanks very much for the kind words and continuing to give us great feedback. We’re glad the site is helpful to you guys and its in large part why we wanted to start campnpost. We hike and camp a lot and its not always easy to find accurate information on a particular trail or camping spot so we figured we’d give it a shot.
IS THIS CAMPING AREA SUITABLE FOR A POP UP TRAILER? IS IT FLAT TO SET UP? ARE THE ROADS MANAGEABLE?
Great web site, thanks for all the great information! I had been told about this camp site before and I’m looking forward to trying it out now that I have learned where it is (thanks to your site).
No problem Mike, glad we could help out if even in a small way. Hope you have fun out there!
me and a friend were want to come down from ohio and camp fiday and saturday March 19&20 could we get a spot? and can you drive a car to the site?
Dustin,
There are a number of sites along the river and during this time of year its usually not that crowded. No guarantees and its a long drive but I’d say you guys should be able to get a spot. If not, there are more spots where it intersects with the A.T. a little ways up the road and a few more spots at the top of FR 58 but I’d recommend staying lower in elevation to keep warmer.
Thanks for the great info. Aside from harrassment from a park ranger, we had a great time. We were able to set up our hammocks literally a few feet from the stream and sleep peacefully to the sounds of a bubbling brook. If anyone’s looking for something fun to do whil they’re there there always tubing and kyaking on the cartegay river in elligay. Off HWY 52, theres a rental place. talk to woody, cause he’s the man. my dog swam the whole river. rapids and all !!! Fun times
Excellent ideas here, have emailed my mum so expect a big reply!!
Nice post, keep up the excellent work
Thank you. We’re still around and will keep trying to add to this thing.
Too bad you guys got harassed! Glad to hear you had a good time. Yeah, we liked the Cartecay for tubing last time we went back in the Spring but still haven’t kayaked that one yet. We have been around to several others kayaking thought. The Toccoa, Etowah, etc.. Still trying to get some of the posts out.
How hard the sites to spot from the road? and can you get a pop up in there? think we are gonna try it out this weekend… just hope they are not taken, do you know of any others if they are?
Mike,
They are close enough to the road to spot. Unless there already taken there are a few that you could get a pop up on. I believe there are a few beyond where you cross the Appalachian Trail heading up the mountain further. Great time of year for it! Good luck and have fun.
Thanks! were are gonna give it a shot. ill post back and you know how it goes.
Mike,
Good deal! Its been a little while since I’ve been up there but last time the dirt road was getting a bit rough and needed some maintenance so be as careful as you can.
I love primitive camping, esp off a creek or river. I have two large, high energy dogs and always take them with me. It’s hard to find sites that are secluded enough to let them run free & not have to be tied up:( I definitely don’t want anyone to be bothered by them. Is this a place for us?
Had a great time… although zero luck finding a spot off fr58. The area was really nice, hope to camp along the creek there sometime.
We found a nice spot off of fr69 by a creek. The sites were alot further apart, which allowed the pup plenty of space to run around.
Cool. Well I’m glad you guys found a spot at least. I figured with this weather it could be difficult to find a spot but thought you’d probably find one somewhere in the area. Hope you guys had fun!
Yeah, you should be just fine with the dogs here. Let us know if not but I think it’ll be fun…
Yeay fun fun fun.. I was experience a hiking activity to pass 7 rivers. You know what it’s fun and cool.
1/19/11
Can you reach Springer Mountain from the directions you have listed above?
Thanks a ton!!
You can but you’d basically be going all the way up this dirt road take and back down part of another. Your best bet will be the FS road across from the little white church which will be on your left. Here is some directions that will get you where you want to go. http://www.campnpost.com/camping/benton-mackaye/
Have fun!
Stumbled across your site, while doing some basic research on campimg in this area…GREAT SITE !! … What are your thoughts on camping along this stretch at this itme of the year…( the heart of the summer in Georgia) Will be making the drive up from Atlanta, early Saturday morning, for a one day and night stay.. Then back home sometime Sunday
Is this area in deep forest, where I can at least escape the bulk of the mid day sun ? what about the creek itself ? are there areas deep enough to get in, take a dip and cool down ?
One last question….can you gather your own firewood around the area, or do you recommend bringing your own supply.
Many thanks….
GWS
A great place to visit, the hike from Three forks to Springer Mtn. difficult but well worth it. Unfortunately while on that hike someone came to my camp site and stole my sleeping bag, camp chair and other items; ruining the overnight portion of my trip. The area is very desolate and I never saw any other campers or cars on the forest road, which makes my crime more perplexing.