Cottonwood Patch Campground

Star3.12
46 reviews
Cottonwood Patch Campground

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens U.S. Forest Service (Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest) site

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Cottonwood Patch Campground
No fees available
Campsite Fees
A free Day Use and Trailhead Parking Area is located just before entering the campground and a free single-unit picnic site is located across from...
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Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00
Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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What Campers Say

3.12

Mixed Reviews

Based on 46 reviews

35 Google reviews

Most mentioned

sceneryquietrestroomsfriendly

"Reviewers describe Cottonwood Patch as a small, rustic, riverfront campground in the North Georgia mountains, especially popular with horseback riders. Many love its beauty, quiet, and sense of escape, while a few note maintenance, cleanliness, and flooding/standing water issues, especially around horse use and busy weekends."

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Best Time to Camp at Cottonwood Patch Campground

The campground transforms beautifully with each season, offering something special year-round. Summer brings warm days averaging in the mid-80s, perfect for riverside relaxation and wildflower walks through meadows bursting with color. Spring awakens the valley with carpets of blooms, while autumn paints the surrounding hardwoods in brilliant hues. Even winter stays relatively mild, with daytime temperatures hovering around 50 degrees, making it an ideal escape for those seeking solitude in the quieter months.

Spring (Mar-May)

Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.

Best
Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm days. Most facilities open. Reserve ahead.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Off-season, limited services. Check for closures before visiting.

Planning Tips

    About Cottonwood Patch Campground

    Tucked into the scenic Alaculsy Valley along the Conasauga River, Cottonwood Patch Campground offers eight secluded sites behind a peaceful gated entrance in the heart of the Cohutta Mountains. While designed with equestrians in mind—complete with trailer spurs, hitching rails, and water troughs—this campground welcomes all adventurers seeking a gateway to wilderness exploration, maintained through a unique partnership between Back Country Horsemen of North Georgia and the U.S. Forest Service.
    A multi-use campground focused primarily on equestrian camping but also welcoming traditional car campers. Facilities support horse trailers and horses (hitching rails, high line posts, two horse troughs); campsites are trailer-accessible with gravel spurs and designated unit numbers. The campground is gated (combination provided at reservation) and contains one main loop with eight sites.
    Historical SignificanceStep back in time to when the Alaculsy Valley hummed with life and industry. From the late 1800s through the 1930s, this valley supported a vibrant community before transforming into a bustling logging hub in the early 1900s. Powerful Shay locomotives once hauled timber along rail lines that carved through these mountains, and today's trail system follows those same historic railroad beds deep into the wilderness. Every ride or hike connects you to the footsteps of loggers, settlers, and the industrial heritage that shaped these mountains before they returned to their wild state.
    Weather and SeasonsThe campground transforms beautifully with each season, offering something special year-round. Summer brings warm days averaging in the mid-80s, perfect for riverside relaxation and wildflower walks through meadows bursting with color. Spring awakens the valley with carpets of blooms, while autumn paints the surrounding hardwoods in brilliant hues. Even winter stays relatively mild, with daytime temperatures hovering around 50 degrees, making it an ideal escape for those seeking solitude in the quieter months.
    Natural Features and SceneryThe Conasauga River flows past your campsite, its waters joining with the Jacks River just downstream in one of the Southeast's most biodiverse aquatic ecosystems. Planted cottonwoods and sawtooth oaks shade the camping area, while the surrounding mixed hardwood forest creates a natural cathedral that shifts from spring's wildflower displays to summer's deep green canopy and autumn's fiery palette. With the boundary of the Cohutta Wilderness practically at your tent's doorstep, you're positioned at the threshold of one of Georgia's most pristine backcountry areas, where the river's song provides a constant, soothing soundtrack.
    Geological RegionAlaculsy Valley of the Cohutta Mountains (Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest), north Georgia
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    Campsite details

    Sites SizeEight sites total: three sites can accommodate two horse trailers with two trucks; five sites accommodate a single truck and trailer. Each site has a graveled trailer parking spur.
    Sites PrivacyCampground is flat and open with large trees scattered throughout (partially shaded in summer).
    Total Campsites8 campsites
    Recommended CampsitesThere are three sites sized to accommodate two horse trailers with two trucks and five sites sized for a single truck and trailer; park only on the gravel parking spurs. Each site includes a graveled trailer parking spur, picnic table, fire ring, and lantern post. Extra vehicles may park in the adjacent parking lot. Gate combination required for access and provided at reservation.

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    Reserving a campsite

    Tents
    Tents are not allowed
    RV vehicles
    RV vehicles are not allowed
    Primitive
    Primitive are not allowed
    Reservable
    Reservations are allowed

    Site layoutOne main loop containing eight designated sites. Campground is flat and open with large trees; each site has a graveled trailer parking spur and is marked by a unit number at the entrance. Hitching rails and high-line posts are around the perimeter.

    Amenities available

    Fire rings
    Picnic tables
    Vault toilets

    Activities you can enjoy

    Primary recreation includes equestrian camping and traditional car camping, with opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. The campground serves as a base for access to trails and nearby natural attractions such as the Conasauga River and Cohutta Wilderness.
    Hiking
    Trail access from campground includes the start of the Iron Mountain Trail (open to hikers and horses). The Cohutta Wilderness nearby contains extensive, minimally managed backpacking trails that can be arduous and require map-and-compass orienteering; GPS is unreliable in the Wilderness.
    Fishing
    Fishing on the Conasauga River is a listed activity; the watershed supports many fish species (notably 76 fish species) and is managed under Georgia DNR regulations. The river contains rare species like the Federally Endangered Blue Shiner.
    Wildlife viewing
    Good opportunities for birdwatching and observing non-game species (birds, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles) and abundant plant life including seasonal wildflowers; naturalists encouraged to observe but not collect.
    Water Sports
    Snorkeling at Conasauga River Blue Hole (1.5 miles north, maintained by Cherokee National Forest).
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    Campground rules

    • Pets are not allowed
    • Each campsite includes a fire ring; no additional explicit fire restrictions or policies are provided in the source materials.

    Hazards

    General hazardsCell phone service is unreliable. Water in horse troughs is not potable. Hunting occurs in the area (Cohutta WMA) — hikers and riders should wear blaze orange during hunting seasons. Cohutta Wilderness trails are rugged, minimally managed, and may be blocked by downed trees; GPS is unreliable in wilderness areas.

    Weather at Cottonwood Patch Campground

    39
    °F
    Dec 11
    Thursday
    Clear sky
    Precipitation: 0%
    Humidity: 62%
    Wind: 9.5 mph
    Clear sky

    Weather History
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    Good to know

    Proximity to water featuresLocated along the Conasauga River just above its junction with the Jacks River; cold water is piped from a nearby stream to troughs in the campground (not potable).
    HostThis campground and its facilities are maintained by volunteers of the Back Country Horsemen of North Georgia (BCHNG) with support from the U.S. Forest Service.

    Campground Map

    Cottonwood Patch Campground
    Driving directionsFrom US Highway 411, turn east onto Old Highway 2 in Cisco, GA. Follow Old Highway 2 for approximately 7 miles; upon crossing the Conasauga River the road turns into Forest Service Road 16. Approximately 1 mile, turn left onto Forest Service Road 16A.
    Accessible from US Highway 411 via Old Highway 2 which becomes Forest Service Road 16; final access via Forest Service Road 16A.
    Nearby places
    Cisco, GA (reference point used in directions
    Old Highway 2 followed for approximately 7 miles to reach Forest Service Road 16)

    Reviews from booking and map sources

    3.1
    46 reviews
    Mixed Reviews
    Mixed Reviews
    Cottonwood Patch Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews
    Reviewers describe Cottonwood Patch as a small, rustic, riverfront campground in the North Georgia mountains, especially popular with horseback riders. Many love its beauty, quiet, and sense of escape, while a few note maintenance, cleanliness, and flooding/standing water issues, especially around horse use and busy weekends.
    Review Summaries
    Based on 46 reviews

    What Campers Love

    Campers consistently praise the beautiful scenery, riverside setting, and tranquil, remote feel, often calling it their favorite place or “home.” The campground is highlighted as horse-friendly with...
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    Based on 46 reviews

    Common Concerns

    Several reviews point out that the campground is primarily designed for horses, which can mean horse manure around sites and, in wet weather, standing water mixed with it. One reviewer in 2020 noted...
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    Based on 46 reviews

    Pro Tips & Recommendations

    Reviewers suggest coming prepared for a primitive experience: there are no services and no cell phone service, and the road in is a rough gravel/dirt road where drivers should use caution. Be aware...
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    Based on 46 reviews

    Camper Quotes

    "Beautiful scenery, outstanding river access and fishing! Never saw so many fireflies!!" "This campground seems to be designed more for those with horses, since there are tie-ups for horses all...
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    Based on 46 reviews

    Accessibility Features

    Access is via a gravel/dirt road that several reviewers describe as rough or “crazy,” so low-clearance vehicles and those uncomfortable with mountain gravel roads should take extra care. Within the...
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    Based on 46 reviews

    Pet-Friendly Features

    One reviewer specifically mentions it as “Dog or horse friendly,” and others describe frequent horse use, horse tie-ups at sites, and good trail access for horses or on foot, confirming that it’s...
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    Based on 46 reviews

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    Last updated December 10, 2025
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