A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Forest Service campground

Upper Chattahoochee River Campground

Forest Service campground in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, White County, Georgia. 2,191 feet. 6.3 miles from Helen.

Managed by
Forest Service Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Elevation
2,191 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
19 19 standard non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
White County

Overview

The drive up through the winding misty roads of North Georgia leading to this 19-site, developed campground is almost as breath-taking as the site itself. Although the drive leaves one feeling as if civilization has been left far, far behind, the ever-popular and beloved alpine village of Helen, Georgia is less than an hour away. Camping here, visitors can enjoy the pleasure of Georgia's number one vacation spot with shopping, dining, and entertainment in the City of Helen and many recreational activities.

Recreation

At the rear of the campground, visitors will find the short walking trail for the beautiful Horse Trough Falls. It is just a mile downstream from the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River. Recreational activities in this area include hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting. Right outside the campground, there is a Day-use picnic area for a nice break with the creek running just a few feet away. For those wanting to take the 7-mile drive along Upper Chattahoochee Road (FS 44 Road), you will find yourself outside of Helen, Georgia with many other recreational opportunities including rafting, kayaking, ziplining, and some great hiking trails.

Facilities

The campground offers 19 campsites, with picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern posts at each site. Portable potties are available for use while the process is completed to replace the current restroom structures. There are trash bins available for placing your camping trash. Please don't overflow the bins to help reduce the bear-human negative interactions.

Natural Features

Upper Chattahoochee River Campground is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest, a place of exploration and wonder. This National Forest is rich in history and is said to be a hiker's paradise with it's winding trails, scenic mountains, and rolling hills.

Nearby Attractions

You don't have to stroll far from your campsite to see the first of the nearby attractions with the Horsetrough Falls at the back end of the campground. Take a drive along the beautiful scenic Upper Chattahoochee River Road (FS 44 Road), and you can see many other waterfalls along the way while you are making your way to the many nearby attractions. Brasstown Bald is the highest peak in the State of Georgia at a height of 4784 feet above sea level is a 45-minute drive. Along the way you pass Unicoi Gap, one of the many areas of the National Scenic Appalachian Trail (A.T.) where hikers will cross Hwy 75 North coming out of Mark Trail Wilderness and heading into Tray Mountain Wilderness. Other attractions in the area include Anna Ruby Falls, Dukes Creek Falls, Ravens Cliff Wilderness, and many things of wonder in the alpine village of Helen, Georgia.

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

What people do here

  • camping
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • picnicking
  • scenic drive
  • wilderness

The land around Upper Chattahoochee River 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 September 9, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.