View from the Observation Deck
Foot Bridge(across from host site) that accesses the trail to the upper and lower water falls.

Featured amenities

Parking Parking
Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
River Access River Access

Available sites

23 total sites

About Desoto Falls Recreation Area

Desoto Falls Recreation Area is a U.S. Forest Service Campground located approximately 2 hours North of Atlanta in the North Georgia mountains of the Chattahoochee National Forest.  Desoto Falls offers visitors year-round recreation opportunities including camping, fishing, picnicking, and beautiful hikes to our nearby waterfalls. The campground is situated along Frogtown Creek with at an elevation of 2.1 ft above sea level, under a dense forest of deciduous and evergreen trees.   23 campsites are neatly arranged in two loops(upper and lower), with each loop having creek sites. The climate here is fairly mild and generally offers all four seasons, so it is a wonderful place to relax and experience each of these throughout the year. North Georgia is a playground for wildlife watchers. An abundance of Deer, Turkey, Bear and, small furbearers can be seen as well as bird watching. If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, come to Desoto Falls.   

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Apr 1 to Oct 31

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Pet friendly Pet friendly
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
River Access River Access
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Restrooms
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
  • Grill
  • Fire Pit
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
Water Access

Water Access

  • River Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

23 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 1, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 40 × 30 ft · Gravel
⛺ 10, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 11, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 12, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 27 ft · Gravel
⛺ 13, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 14, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 90 × 33 ft · Gravel
🚐 15, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 42 ft · Gravel
🚐 16, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 36 ft · Gravel
🚐 17, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 36 × 21 ft · Gravel
🚐 18, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 36 ft · Gravel
🚐 19, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 36 × 36 ft · Gravel
🚐 2, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 40 × 15 ft · Gravel
🚐 20, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 40 ft · Gravel
🚐 21, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 36 ft · Gravel
🚐 22, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 50 × 27 ft · Gravel
🚐 23, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 42 ft · Gravel
🚐 3, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 50 × 36 ft · Gravel
🚐 4, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 36 ft · Gravel
⛺ 5, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 6, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 7, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 8, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 9, Loop: B Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire

Reviews (323)

What Guests Are Saying

Desoto Falls Recreation Area offers a clean and well-maintained campground with beautiful surroundings and spacious sites, especially along the creek. Many visitors appreciate the friendly camp hosts and the proximity to hiking trails leading to stunning waterfalls. However, some guests note significant road noise from nearby traffic and mention that the facilities could use improvements, particularly the bathrooms. Overall, it remains a popular destination for those seeking a peaceful camping experience in nature.

Review Summary

4.3
323 reviews
5
57.0%
184
4
24.1%
78
3
10.8%
35
2
5.0%
16
1
3.1%
10

Gregory K

Verified

January 28, 2020 • Stayed at: 20, Loop: B

4

Several waterfalls nearby, Desoto, Helton Springs, and Raven Cliff.

Michael E

Verified

March 9, 2020 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: A

4

Bathrooms were shut down, but loved the campground and falls.

Amber E

Verified

March 13, 2020 • Stayed at: 12, Loop: B

4

Beautiful campground, very private camp sites. The river runs right thru the campsite which was great for us as we wanted to wake up early and fly fish. We caught a few small rainbow trout! The waterfall trail head is a short walk from the campground as well. Barbara, the campground host was really sweet and helpful and diligently does laps around the campground to ensure that everyone is following the rules and stays safe. Bathrooms are primitive with no running water so be prepared! They were clean and worked just fine.. its camping, not glamping!

The only complaint i had was that the winding interstate runs right above the campground on the ridgeline and you can hear vehicles squealing their tires around the sharp turns.. as well as semi trucks j-breaking. If they could put a speedlimit sign and have it enforced it wouldnt have been a problem at all!

Gary J

Verified

July 19, 2020 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: B

5

Excellent place to camp. There is plenty to do. We hiked, fished and even we canoeing in nearby lakes. There were very few insects. You do need to store all food in you car. There is a mama bear and two Cubs that wander through around midnight. I wish the park system would put in food storage bins near the tables.

roy m

Verified

July 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: B

5

I proposed to my wife at Desoto Falls 14 years ago and we still love camping there. Doug & Brenda are the best camp hosts.

Brandon S

Verified

July 27, 2020 • Stayed at: 16, Loop: B

4

Bathrooms were pretty gross. The smell was overwhelming. Three bears used my truck as a jungle gym. Otherwise, we had a great time camping, hiking, and playing in the creek.

Matthew S

Verified

July 29, 2020 • Stayed at: 1, Loop: A

5

Awesome campground! Very clean, safe and scenic.

Brian R

Verified

August 7, 2020 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: B

5

We spent 4 nights at the Desoto Falls Campground and enjoyed it immensely. We hikes he trails to the lower falls and upper falls with our dog every morning at daybreak as well as a number of other shorter trails we found throughout the area.
We were extremely impressed with the cleanliness of the campsite when we arrived and the campground hosts, James and Brenda, were constantly working around the entire campground weed eating, blowing off the leaves and doing general maintenance all day long.
We visited other water falls in the area, as well as hiked sections of the Appalachian Trail, hiked Brasstown Bald and Bell Mountain
and hiked trails at Vogel State Park and Lake Winfield Scott.

Joseph G

Verified

August 21, 2020 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: B

5

Very nice park. Great location and amenities but still simple and calm. Hosts were very kind

Michael D

Verified

August 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: A

5

Clean, quite, and a great experience.

Location & Directions for Desoto Falls Recreation Area

De Soto Falls Recreation Area, Dahlonega, GA 30533 United States

Elevation: 624 ft

Getting There

<p>From Blairsville, GA take U.S. Highway 19/129 South for 17 mi and the campground entrance is on your right. From Dahlonega, GA take Highway 19 North for 18 mi and the entrance in on your left. From Cleveland, GA, take 19/129 North for 16 mi and...

Nearest town

Dahlonega, GA - 17 mi

About 29 min to downtown

Highway access

Desoto Falls Recreation Area is accessible via U.S. Highway 19, with connections to U.S. Highway 129. It is approximately 17 miles from Blairsville and 18 miles from Dahlonega.

Policies & Rules

General

  • During non-peak season (November 1 - April 1), all water is turned off to the entire campground.
  • Be bear aware; keep all food in containers or locked inside a vehicle as much as possible. Remove all food from the area after eating and during nighttime hours. Dispose of garbage promptly in our bear proof garbage dumpster.
  • Limit of two vehicles per campsite except the double site (site #14), which is a maximum of 4 vehicles.
  • No generators, music or other loud noises during this time. Be respectful to other campground visitors.
  • Campfires are permitted in grills only.
  • Pets must be on a leash at all times.
  • Discharging of firearms and fireworks is prohibited.
  • Do not leave fires unattended; they must be fully-extinguished and cold to the touch before check-out.
  • Note: cell phone service may not work in some areas due to tower location and terrain.
  • No day use or picnicking in the campground. Please use the day-use area or the picnic area if you do not have a reservation.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 22, 2026

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Explore Dahlonega, GA

Population: 7,299

Nearby city: Alpharetta, GA

Approx. 49 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,450 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service