Desoto Falls Recreation Area

De Soto Falls Recreation Area, Dahlonega, Georgia, United States
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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
View all amenities

Available sites

23 total sites
RV Sites 15 sites Check Availability Tent Sites 8 sites Check Availability

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)

Verified Only

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

David D

Verified

November 29, 2022 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: B

2

.

Karen Z

Verified

November 30, 2022 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: B

5

Campsite 18b couldnt have been any better. Right next to the creek. Absolutely lovely! Off-season bathroom situation not so lovely but not at all a reason to not camp here. We enjoyed our entire 4 day/3 night stay!

Jim K

Verified

December 4, 2022 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: B

5

We have been here many times and love it. We had a full Thanksgiving dinner this time. Weather was great.

Grace H

Verified

December 10, 2022 • Stayed at: 21, Loop: B

5

Great site, it was quiet and close to the facilities. There was very spotty coverage but it was easy to find.

Leonardo S

Verified

December 18, 2022 • Stayed at: 20, Loop: B

4

Very nice location, my RV spot was nice and flat, and there were nearby out-houses for toilet use. Relatively quiet location. It's a no utilities campground so keep that in mind...you'll be off-grid.

Brian D

Verified

January 11, 2023 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: B

2

My visit to Desoto Falls was miserable, but at no fault of the campground. Weather was horrible! Stormed all night. When I went to leave the next morning, I couldn’t get out of the campground because a tree had fallen across the road. Luckily I had a strap and was able to pull it out of the way.

DEBORAH B

Verified

January 12, 2023 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: B

4

Beautiful location. No cell service, or StarLink available while there. The weather was very bad for our stay, so will be coming back to enjoy another time.
I was disappointed at having to pay a registration fee that was more than the camping fee.

Robert M

Verified

January 21, 2023 • Stayed at: 14, Loop: B

4

Camped with a large group and everything went good. Snowed and 20 degrees. Good waterfall hikes.

Curtis J

Verified

January 25, 2023 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: B

2

Requiring use of Recreation.gov is fine. Adding a fee of 8$ for the privilege of using that site which is as much as an 80% markup is ridiculous.

Campground was clean. Some loud people, but we reasoned things out. Very quiet after midnight.

Stacy N

Verified

January 27, 2023 • Stayed at: 4, Loop: A

5

It was GORGEOUS! The hike to the lower falls wasn’t bad at all, and being able to have coffee by the river was incredible. 10/10 would use this campsite again.

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.

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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

Learn more about Dahlonega

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service