A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service campground

Toccoa River Sandy Bottoms Campground

Forest Service campground in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, Fannin County, Georgia. 1,835 feet. 6.1 miles from Morganton.

Managed by
Forest Service Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Elevation
1,835 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
6 4 tent only non-electric, 2 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
20 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Fannin County

Overview

This small campground is located along the banks of the Toccoa River just south of Blue Ridge, GA. This recreation area is the take-out for the 13.8 mile Toccoa River Canoe Trail. The recreation area offers camping, fishing and a canoe take-out.

Same day Reservations are accepted. Quiet hours 10pm to 6 am. Sandy Bottoms provides a rustic experience for the outdoor enthusiast to camp, swim, fish or just to sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Recreation

The Chattahoochee National Forest offers a variety of recreational opportunities that are not far from Sandy Bottoms. If you enjoy hiking, The Benton MacKaye trail is crosses the river at Shallowford Bridge, just ten minutes away. This trail also crosses the Toccoa River on a 260 foot long suspension bridge, accessible from highway 60. Fishing in Rock Creek and Mill Creek for stocked and wild trout is popular. The Chattahoochee National Fish Hatchery is also located on Rock Creek approximately twenty minutes away. The facility offers an informational visitor kiosk, outdoor raceway viewing, picnicking, and an Environmental Education Center. Popular hiking trails within a 30 minute drive - The Appalachian Trail, Benton Mackaye Trail, Aska Trails, and Cooper Creek Trails.

If Sandy Bottoms is booked, check out our other Forest Service Campgrounds that are less than thirty minutes drive away. Cooper Creek Campground, Deep Hope Recreation Area, and Frank Gross Campgrounds offer reservable camping, as well as fishing, hiking, kayaking, and picnicking. Hope to see you soon!

Facilities

There is one vault toilet that is reasonbly close to the group sites. No running water, no hookups, no electriticy, and no dumpstation available.

Natural Features

Toccoa River - Sandy Bottoms Campground is nestled on the banks of Toccoa River in the Aska Area of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Once you turn down Old Dial Road, the scenic drive to this campground offers surrounding views of the National Forest. The Toccoa River is visible for most of the drive, so it gives fisherman an opportunity to locate a good spot to fish as you travel to the campground. Experiencing all four seasons here in North Georgia makes camping a pleasant experience for everybody. During the months of October, North Georgia's trees put on a vibrant show. Summer's dark greens change to brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows which makes the camping atmosphere amazing. Thousands of visitors make the trip annually and we hope you will as well.

Nearby Attractions

Toccoa River - Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area is about twenty minutes south of Blue Ridge, Georgia on GA Highway 60. Just north of this campground is Aska Trails, offering 13 miles of hiking and mountain biking. If you turn down Rock Creek Road (FSR 69) you can find the Chattahoochee National Fish Hatchery, Frank Gross Recreation Area, and access to the Ed Jenkins National Recreation Area. Drive just a drive down the highway is Woody Gap Recreation Area, Chestatee Overlook, or Dockery Lake Recreation Area. Nearby water falls to visit are are Helton Creek Falls, Dukes Creeks Falls, Long Creek Falls, Fall Branch Falls, and Raven Cliffs Falls. Just a short drive and located within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, the Brasstown Bald Recreation Area & Visitor Center is a great place to visit. It is the highest point in Georgia, rising 4,784 feet above sea level with a 360 degree view of four states.

Towns within a short drive to visit are Blairsville, Helen, and Dahlonega, GA.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • accessible swimming
  • biking
  • canoeing
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • kayaking
  • paddle boating
  • paddling
  • swimming
  • tubing
  • water access

The land around Toccoa River Sandy Bottoms Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.