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Camping at Rocktown

Original Post
Oliver Sperin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 0

I was just curious where you are allowed to camp at Rocktown. I'm planning on going over Thanksgiving break and would rather not have to get a cheap motel. Haha.

george wilkey · · travelers rest sc · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 235

last I heard, you could still camp in the woods around the parking area. there is also a small camping area on the way in, just past the info center by the creek. if you stop at the info center there is a kiosk with a map that has camping marked.

David Peterson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 130

It's been a while, but if you take the road to the top of the "mountain/hill" past the trailhead, there's a wide open space where we used to camp. Few groups were there the last time we went. I assume camping is allowed there.

Oliver Sperin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 0

Ok, sweet. Thanks guys!

dryfarmer · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 0

About a year ago, I was told in a phone conversation with a ranger (or some kind of staff person, not sure) that you can only camp in designated areas. According to the Georgia DNR maps (link below), there are four designated camping areas in Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wilderness Area. Only two of them are at all convenient to the climbing though.

The commonly used by climbers camping area is at the top, near the boulders. Continue past the left turn for the boulders (or turn left if coming from the boulders), take your next right, you'll see a big meadow. Probably what David was describing above.

Then there is the camping at the bottom past the info kiosk that George mentioned, but not nearly as close to the boulders.

According to the staff person and info online, camping in the woods around the Rocktown parking lot, the boulders, or anywhere else that's not a designated area is not permitted.

I personally don't like telling other people where to pitch their tent, but it's probably worth considering that not following the rules could negatively impact future access.

Here's a map, might be hard to figure out if you haven't been there before, but it shows the camping areas: georgiawildlife.com/sites/d…

Adam Byrd · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 242

Oliver S you should also probably pick up a Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass. Georgia started this fee program in 2012 to access Wildlife Management Areas. It's only a few bucks.

ga.wildlifelicense.com/inde…

msm0711 McBride · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 35

Due to a build up of bad camping habits, camping at the trailhead is not allowed any more. However, just up the road at Sawmill Lake about 3/4 mile from the trailhead, is a WMA approved camping area. There's also the one at the base of he mountain. Also, be sure and have that Pass, especially on Sunday morning, as they do check for them.

MB2 · · Nashville · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 10

Correct MSOM0711:
Camping at Rocktown trailhead or along the road is not permitted.
[10 years ago everybody was camping there and basically left their waste (shXt) in big piles. Maybe that has something to doo with it]
If you are at Rocktown trailhad, go back out Rocktown road, turn left, go a couple minutes drive and turn right at the SIGN for Sawmill Lake. Then within mere seconds is a SIGN for designated camping. help yourself to any nice spot in the woods or fields.
Primitive camping, bring your own water for all purposes.
Bring a shovel or orange trowel. Bury your toilet paper. Ladies,too, pack out or bury TP after pissing.
And get a permit to be on the mountain, it's on a link at seclimbers(dot)org.

sharyl Crossley · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined May 2013 · Points: 0

It's hunting season too, be sure to check for closures.

Matt Looby · · Cincinnati, OH · Joined May 2011 · Points: 6,651

Is there space / flat ground to put a small pop-up camper at any of the nearby camping locations?
Thanks.

Brandon.Phillips · · Portola, CA · Joined May 2011 · Points: 55
Raiden wrote:Is there space / flat ground to put a small pop-up camper at any of the nearby camping locations? Thanks.
The Sawmill camp would be fine for that. The entrance to the campground is large open field with spots branching off back into the forest.
Matt Looby · · Cincinnati, OH · Joined May 2011 · Points: 6,651

Awesome, thanks man.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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