A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service campground

Jackrabbit Mountain

Forest Service campground in National Forests in North Carolina, Clay County, North Carolina. 1,860 feet. 3.1 miles from Hayesville.

Managed by
Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina
Elevation
1,860 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
92 70 standard non-electric, 22 rv non-electric
Longest rig
80 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Clay County

Overview

Jackrabbit Mountain Campground offers scenic lakeside camping in the beautiful Nantahala National Forest of southwestern North Carolina. Campers can breathe the fresh air of the forest while enjoying numerous recreation activities, including hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, fishing and water sports at Jackrabbit Recreation Area. The campground contains three seperate camping loops; Loops A is open May - September, and Loop B and C is open May - October.

Recreation

Lake Chatuge has more than 130 miles of shoreline and plenty of water for recreation. Popular water activities include boating, jet skiing, swimming and fishing. Beach access fee is not included in camping reservation fee and will require on-site payment at fee collection station. Visitors who wish to stay on dry land can explore hiking, biking and shoreline fishing. Jackrabbit Mountain Recreation Area boasts several hiking trails, and the campground has paved roads for an easy afternoon of bicycling. Mountain bikers can get their wheels dusty on approximately 14 miles of bike-friendly trails.

Facilities

This large facility has three loops of well-kept campsites, some of which lie on the water's edge. Families can relax at the swimming beach (May - September), while anglers and boaters can use the boat ramp to access the water. The facility is also equipped with showers, flush toilets and picnic shelters.

Natural Features

The campground is located on a peninsula on Lake Chatuge, a dammed lake on the Hiawassee River. The site sits in a mixed deciduous and pine forest at an elevation of 1,860 feet.

Nearby Attractions

Local attractions include the Fires Creek recreation area and the Georgia Mountain State Fair, which occurs in late July each year.

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

What people do here

  • biking
  • birding
  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • jet skiing
  • kayaking
  • motor boat
  • mountain biking
  • non-motorized boating
  • paddle boating
  • picnicking
  • sailing
  • swimming
  • water access
  • water activities

The land around Jackrabbit Mountain

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.