High in the mountains northwest of Ellijay, a 19-acre spring-fed lake sits near Grassy Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The Forest Service calls Lake Conasauga the highest lake in Georgia. It has a small campground, swimming, fishing, and trails to a fire tower, and the Forest Service points to its cool summertime temperatures.

It is also remote. The last stretch is gravel Forest Service road, and the Forest Service warns that cell service is limited.

2026 season update

The Forest Service posted that the campground would reopen Oct. 22, 2026, and stay open through the night of Nov. 1, closing for the season on Nov. 2. During that window, drinking water is not provided, so bring your own. Restroom toilets and sinks are available for non-potable use. The normal season runs from mid-April (possibly later if there are water leaks) to Oct. 31.

What to do

  • Swim and paddle. Boats are limited to electric motors only, so the lake stays quiet.
  • Fish. The Forest Service lists lake fishing among the activities.
  • Hike. Trails lead to the Grassy Mountain tower and to the Songbird Management Area, which the Forest Service describes as rich in plants and birds.
  • Mountain bike and picnic. There are group and single picnic sites.

Camping

Sites cost $15 a night and are reserved through Recreation.gov. Holders of America the Beautiful interagency passes get 50 percent off one campsite if they enter the pass number when booking.

Rules posted by the Forest Service:

  • Each site holds one family or up to five adults, and must be occupied the first night.
  • Two vehicles at most per site, and only street-legal vehicles in the campground.
  • A 14-day stay limit.
  • Dogs must be leashed at all times. See our dogs guide.
  • Quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Alcohol is prohibited in the entire recreation area.
  • RVs are limited to 24 feet. Site 28 is ADA compliant.

The campground has restrooms with sinks and flush toilets.

Getting there from Ellijay

The Forest Service’s directions from Ellijay:

  1. From the town circle, take GA-52 west for 5 miles.
  2. Turn right on Gates Chapel Road. After about 7 miles it turns to dirt and gravel and becomes Forest Service Road 90.
  3. At the stop sign, turn right on FSR 68 and continue to a T-intersection at Potato Patch Mountain.
  4. Turn left to stay on FSR 68 for another 4 to 5 miles to the entrance.

From Chatsworth, the route runs north on US-411 to Eton, then up Old CCC Camp Road and FSR 18 to FSR 68. Gravel roads in the Cohuttas can be rough after storms; drive slowly and give yourself daylight.

Nearby

The Cohutta Wilderness and Jacks River Falls are in the same part of the forest, and Fort Mountain State Park is a little farther west on GA-52. The Conasauga Ranger District office is at 3941 Highway 76 in Chatsworth (706-695-6736), open weekdays 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Sources and further reading

Facts in this article were checked against these sources on October 30, 2026. Hours, fees and seasons change, so confirm before you go.