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Trip to Georgia - need advice
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550 Posts
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January 24, 2013 - 7:15 am
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I'm in the planning stages of a trip post-Labor Day weekend that includes staying in Northern Georgia near Dahlonega.  We've never been to this area, so any advice on campgrounds would be most appreciated.

Our primary purpose for visiting this area is to mountain bike at Bull Mountain, Georgia Pinhoti Trail (Dalton) and Chicopee Woods (Gainesville).  So I'm trying to find a campground that is centrally located to the three locations.  I think I have two that may work, and would appreciate it if someone who's stayed there can provide some information.  The two campgrounds I've found in the area we want to visit are:
1. R-Ranch in the Mountains
2. Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge

Any from the group ever stay in either of these?

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January 24, 2013 - 9:57 am
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I can't offer direct advice about either park or even a good park in that area, but I will say this much.  Georgia's State Parks are exceptional in quality to most private parks that I've visited.  The facilities are in good repair and well designed in all of those that I've visited.  Amicalola Falls is a park on everyone's punch list, so even without having been there, I would recommend it.

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January 24, 2013 - 12:52 pm
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BelchFire - thanks for the information. I was leaning towards the stare park myself, and from the pictues I've seen online it looks really nice.

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January 24, 2013 - 4:37 pm
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Hey Mtn. Bikers, I live in the Gainesville area. I have stayed at R-Ranch which is a private campground. It's okay, in a valley between moutains. Amacola is a pretty good state park. But if your planning on driving Hwy. 53  to Dalton it is very curvey! I would also recommend maybe you could look at some campgrounds around Lake Lainer in Gainesville/Cumming area. I have camped at a few like River Forks Park which is run by Hall Co. Parks Department. Also quite a few Corp. of Engineers parks around the lake. Hwy. 369 to Ga. Hwy. 20 to Interstate I-75 to Dalton. I forgot to ask, where will you be riding you bike the most- Gainesville or Dalton area?
Jimmy

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January 24, 2013 - 9:58 pm
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Jimmy -

Our primary motive is to ride Bull Mountain in Dahlongea, it is an IMBA Epic ride (http://www.imba.com/epics/bull.....ntain-epic. We thought we'd also try either Chicopee Woods (Gainesville) or Georgia Pinhoti Trail (Dalton) while we're in the area. Thought it looked like Dahlongea was in the middle and would give us he option of hitting one of the others. 

We are only in the area for 2.5 days (driving from Bryson City) do you have any recommendations for roads to avoid towing from Lake Fontana area to Dahlongea? MAPQUEST is giving me 3 options  :-

After Dahlongea we're heading north through eastern TN and central KY before heading back to NJ.

Would appreciate any advice on roads to avoid while towing  😉

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February 1, 2013 - 11:41 am
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Mtn Bikers, Hot Alert if you haven't seen. Especially if you were going to Bryson City/Cherokee via Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg or thinking of using heading back to NJ via E TN.
A mudslide has closed route 441 out over the mountain from TN to NC and will probably be awhile before it is reopened. Just will need to stay tuned as to when it will reopen. It's a big throughfare so imagine they will try to hurry.
On CG's, Amiacola as well as Vogel, Moccasin Creek, Unicoi and Ft Mountain are close to Gainesville/Dalonaga and as Fire Capt Jim said, several COA run CG's on Lake Lanier, will just need to see if are open when you are going.

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February 1, 2013 - 12:25 pm
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FW Arcadia - thanks for the "heads up". We are planning our trip late summer/early fall, so hopefully the mudd slide mess will be cleaned up by then  🙂

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February 1, 2013 - 1:19 pm
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Dawn,
Just remember, if you hear banjo's, paddle or in your case pump faster... 😮 😮

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February 1, 2013 - 2:56 pm
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Take THAT, all you Georgia REDNECKS!!!! 

(oh.  wait.)  :-X

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February 1, 2013 - 3:11 pm
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One film like "Deliverance" (reputation is in ruins) and everyone forgets about "Gone with the Wind".
Sorry Georgians, but I just couldn't resist. :-[
Besides, One of my favorite business trips down south was a week in the Atlanta.

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February 1, 2013 - 5:23 pm
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Mtn Bikers, guess I reallly didn't pay attention as to your timing, I'm sure 441 will be open by then.
Oh, and as to places to stay, if all else fails, 🙂 my driveway is only 18 miles from Dalonaga (was over there last Tues) and have 30 A service and a firepit (but no dump facilities)  🙂

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February 1, 2013 - 8:30 pm
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FW Arcadia, We have been busy PM each other with Info. If all works out, they might join us for the Fall Rally if the dates line up!
Hopefully we can have others from all over the United States to come and see our Southern Hospitality and hopefully will want to come back for more each year!  :baseballhat:

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February 1, 2013 - 8:47 pm
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And the good thing about having everyone gather in Georgia is that we've got a lot of rock underground. Imagine if everyone showed up in Florida on all that sand! Why, mercy me! We'd all have water up to our knees.  :guitar:

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February 2, 2013 - 9:16 am
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I resemble that remark, Judy 8)

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February 9, 2013 - 4:52 pm
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If you don't need hook-ups, you can camp in the Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area.
There is a camp area on Fs28-1 Rd between Winding Starr Gap Rd and Wahsega 4-H Center, and on Jones Creek Rd (My favorite camping area).
Both places have individual sites with tent pads, and they are free.

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April 14, 2013 - 10:49 pm
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[quote author=GeorgeofGeorgia link=topic=2205.msg20567#msg20567 date=1360446758]
If you don't need hook-ups, you can camp in the Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area.

George, I would love to try some camping like this.  And "free" is my favorite price.  Are these places reasonably accessible?  We're towing our pop-up with a minivan and can't get too far off the beaten track.  Is there a good resource for identifying the more accessible camping sites within the WMAs?

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