Cooper Creek Campground is absolutely the most beautiful, off the beaten path, places I've ever…read moretraveled and it's practically in Atlanta's back yard! Located on the beautiful and noisy Cooper/Mulky Creek just an hour north of Dahlonega up Hwy 60 and then up some of the most beautiful and winding mountain roads that make you think you're never going to get there! By the time you turn on to Forest Service Rd 236 (a beautiful and peaceful dirt mountain road that climbs up through the pine and hardwood forests), you realize there is something amazing waiting for you. And there is. Cooper Creek Campground is like reaching a little slice of heaven. Fifteen campsites scatter through out the lush forest, and five of them sit right on the banks of Cooper/Mulky Creek. I advise getting there early during the week so you can get a creek side spot ... there is nothing like it! The creek is rocky and noisy and if you fish, the trout are plentiful! I walked the loop and all of the campsites were beautiful and within easy walking distance to the creek. As a solo hiker and camper, I chose spot #1 for the way the creek opened up and the trees opened up around my tent site to give me a clear view of a beautiful moon. I also liked the quiet solitude of this site ... few cars passed here since it's on the back loop. The campground hosts also live two spots up. As an avid (delirious almost) rock stacker, I fell in love with this creek. The rocks are amazing and perfect for stacking and balancing. It was so relaxing I stacked till after dark and was up just after sunrise stacking again! The pine cones in camp are plentiful, so I got a good pine smoke going and didn't have the first mosquito or black fly. I'm telling you ... this place is heaven! After dark a bunch of deer came through my camp and lapped at the creek for almost a half hour. Two fawns frolicked in the fern thickets next to my tent for a while and were bouncing around like puppies! With the light of the moon, I felt like I had a front row seat for natures big show that night! Also, there are synchronous fireflies here, which surprised me. Just after dark during the Summer Solstice, I thought it was kids playing with flashlights, but it was fireflies, all blinking in unison! It was amazing! I can't WAIT to go back! In fact, now that I'm home, I'm missing it. Cooper Creek is open year round and keep their gates open 24 hours a day. You won't get a phone signal here, so you may as well turn it off ... the solitude is amazing! Each site has a tent pad, grills, lantern pole and a picnic table. There are also bear bins that are an easy walk from each site for discarding trash. For hikers, you won't be disappointed. There are five interconnected trails that start in or near the camping area (Yellow Mountain Trail- 3.2 miles, Connector Trail- 0.4 miles, Mill Shoals Trail- 0.9 miles, Shope Gap Trail- 0.6 miles, and Cooper Creek Trail- 1.7). I found myself hiking in and out and exploring trail after trail. The abundance of trees at Cooper Creek keep the temperatures down, much cooler than up on the main road. I paid $10 a night for my site. There are faucets for drinking water and there are two vaults for bathrooms. There are no electric hook ups or dump stations. Primitive camping at it's finest! There are no reservations ... everything is first come, first serve. Have fun everyone!

The visitor center is phenomenal! Movie was down for some reason. The gift shop has loads to choose…read morefrom and the rest rooms were clean and there were many stalls available. There is almost a museum quality to the taxidermy animal scene they have in the middle of the room and along the walls. Truly a special visit! The hike to see the inspirational point and the swinging bridge wasn't too strenuous for my 4 or 5 year old for people's reference when considering it. We are an active family who hikes etc. There were a lot of warnings but we found it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Great hike. The guy with the maps at the front desk should win an oscar for his "it's only two…read moremiles for that loop with the suspension bridge you'll be fine". The stairs up are no joke, especially in the summer. Felt accomplished after completing and had some stunning views!

We stayed in the Rushing Waters Treehouse at River Falls at the Gorge and had a fun visit overall…read more The cabin is cute, rustic, and feels fairly new. One of the unique features is that the back deck has large tree trunks coming through the floor and roof. They add to the treehouse atmosphere, although they aren't actual live trees and do sway, so don't plan on hanging a camping hammock from them. One thing to know before booking is that there's a short hike down to the cabin from the parking area, about 1-2 minutes on a downward slope trail with rocks. We packed light, so it wasn't an issue, but it could be an unpleasant surprise for elderly guests or anyone bringing heavy luggage. The treehouse cabin next door, River Pines, has a shorter walk, and the other regular cabins have parking at the cabin. The back deck overlooks the river as well as a few long-term RV sites. There is a path behind the cabin leading toward the river, but the waterfront areas directly behind the cabin are occupied by the leased RV sites. To access the river, walk to the right toward the tubing entrance, or continue past the playground and bathhouse to the main riverfront common area, which is also a convenient tubing exit point. There's parking near the common area, making it easy to bring coolers, chairs, floats, fishing supplies and other gear for an afternoon by the water. The tubing was the main event and very relaxing. The website listing is somewhat vague, but the cabin does include linens (sheets and bath towels), kitchen basics (dishes, utensils, cookware, dish wash basics), a refrigerator, small oven/stove, microwave, toaster, broom and charcoal grill. Bring your own pool towels and shower essentials. A few downsides: there is no fire pit, only 1 parking spot, and the main bedroom mattress has poor support and dips in the middle. Some arcade machines were broken or took quarters without working. The biggest drawback was the value. Our stay came out to more than $600 for two nights after the cleaning fee. The $95 cleaning fee felt steep considering guests are asked to wash and put away dishes, leave the cabin tidy, and take out trash. This price would be worth it if it had designated river access directly behind the unit. The campground is largely RV residential. Overall, it's a unique and enjoyable place to stay, especially if you're visiting nearby Tallulah Gorge State Park. We enjoyed our stay as a one time experience. The front office staff were very friendly and accommodating. Our friends stayed in the honey bear cabin, which was about a 10 min walk from Rushing Waters. Although not as charming or spacious as Rushing Waters, we liked their screened porch, extra bedroom and easy access as you can park right in front of it. Plus, it has a firepit.

This place is gorgeous.. we had the best time and went with a large group of all ages from 9-60…read more Yes some sites are tight and the bathrooms and showers are meh but if you want mother nature at her finest.. who cares about that stuff?!? The restrooms and showers were clean. The water was hot and it was fine. The pool was clean, and yes, we bumped into snakes BUT...our grandkids were living. Their best life and could have cared less... we all had the best time and the staff are wonderful and it's so peaceful and gorgeous there. I can't wait to go back with my snake grabber, of course if you are in need of a posh designer restroom, I highly recommend camping on the gulf.. that's where all the no fun is. Enjoy. If you're looking for a great time and to listen to the peaceful river, then this is your spot.

Me & my BFF of 34 years just spent 4 days at this campground with my 3 youngest kids. Hands down -…read moreTHE BEST. The people there are so nice. The owner helped me and my friend with an absolute disaster of a situation without missing a beat. He is incredibly kind!!!!! The lodge is super fun- one night had a country singer that was stellar. Huge fire pit outside. Nice ambiance. The campsites are spacious and private. We are already planing a trip next year and hopefully we won't end up being a PITA to the owner again

What a beautiful location! Why do you come around here? River rafting!!! Also great sunsets and…read moreviews so we hear....(tip Belle Farm for sunset views... According to our rafting guide) Owners just bought the place, and we will no doubt be back. Small lodge, cabins and rustic. Sites wide open and by a stream for tent camping and a few RV sites with water and electricity only... for now. I'd expect upgrades as the community continues to support local owned small businesses. The lodge has a bar, usually has food (during non covid times) and a pool table. You can enjoy a bonfire with the owners or just chill with your family. The area is beautiful, 5 minutes from phenomenal rafting and 25 minutes from the cute up and coming downtown Clayton. The comfort station was clean, stocked with some basic necessities in case you forgot yours. This was a great hidden gem

Great Atmosphere! Owner & staff were top notch! Zip lining was amazing!!! Go! You won't be…read moredisappointed!

I had an amazing time! Great wildlife, great guides, Xzavier has many dad jokes haha, definitely…read morerecommend! Last line is really long and it's more than enough room to do some tricks!

Me and my boyfriend stayed at in the woods for a night in a sleeper cabin and it was so fun. The…read morepool area is always open and gorgeously lit at night. Unfortunately the hot tub was closed but with the temperature the pool was like a nice middle ground (not too cold). The website is currently not fully functional so we called and talked to Hoke who is the most delightful and he got us in very easy. The rates are much cheaper than elsewhere (granted we haven't tried anywhere else yet) and the experience is laid back and cozy. The sleeper cabin doesn't come with a bathroom but the pool is very close and has a community one which I'm not complaining about ;) Pool clubhouse was fully stocked with complimentary snacks, everyone we met was very welcoming and helpful and overall we will definitely be going back and next time for more than just 1 night lol.

Making the reservation was easy. Everyone there were very friendly and went out of their way to…read moremake me welcome. This was my first experience at a clothing optional campground. It was an amazing experience in every way. It only took about 30 minutes for me to adjust and really enjoy the freedom. The pool was beautiful and well maintained. I stayed in my rv trailer and all the hookups were easy.

I recently arranged a boat rental with Big Water for an assorted group of family members. Some of…read morethese people can be pretty vocal about their feelings, and NOBODY had anything bad to say! From the first employee we encountered at the gate (very nice young lady who gave good directions) to the last everyone was friendly, professional and helpful. The boat (pontoon) was clean, in good repair, and powered by a Mercury engine. I mention this because Mercury engines have a longstanding reputation for reliability. So, one less thing to worry about. I should also mention that my wife is disabled, so getting into the boat was a little more difficult for her. The employees at Big Water didn't hesitate to come to her aid and make the process as easy as possible. It was a small thing, but it meant a lot to us! Lake Hartwell was beautiful, and I would absolutely rent from Big Water again!

Lost a toe nail on the dock and Just had to pay 18 freaking dollars 6oz of sunscreen do betterread more